General Reports

[Phordphan]

Most guys who travel to countries, but only see the P4 P nightlife, tend to vastly overestimate their numbers, and their economic impact. Tijuana is no exception. Guys show up, see loads of other gringos, and naturally think they're more influential than they truly are.

Well, I have news. Tijuana is far more than its pokey little red light district. If the Zona Norte were to disappear tomorrow it would barely be a blip on the economy of Baja California Norte in general, and Tijuana in particular. It would inconvenience some rich bastards, it would put others out of work, it would make some locals very happy. But Tijuana's economy collapsing? That's utter nonsense.

For those board members too frightened to venture south of Primera, I'll help out. You'll find that the Tijuana economy is humming along. You'll find every manner of business you can think of. Doctors, lawyers, car dealerships, restaurants, bars, clubs, antros, parks, the lot. Just like a real city. And, oddly, very, very few depend on the almighty gringo gracing them with their presence. I was in LOS Arcos last night, a upper-mid-range seafood restaurant with excellent food. It was around 8-ish, Thursday. The joint was almost full. Only a couple of empty tables. Guess how many gringos? The same holds true for just about every place you go outside of the Zona Norte and parts of Centro. Tijuana has managed to reinvent itself, and drunken obnoxious spring breakers, running up and down Revu, are no longer necessary.

Tourism still accounts for a chunk of Tijuana's economy, but it's much smaller than days of yore, and those tourists tend to come for the pharmacies, the very reasonable medical care, artsy-fartsy stuff, the great foodie scene, etc. A small percentage come for the ZN.

The elephant in the room is manufacturing. That's what's been driving the local economy for some time now. Loads of crap is manufactured in Tijuana, car parts, medical equipment, electronics, etc. There's something like 500-600 maquiladoras in Tijuana. The question is whether or not Trump's policies will affect these. They're not all American companies, certainly, but many are. If they were to be shut down I think the Tijuana economy would suffer a very significant blow. I'd hate to see that happen.

The upshot is that the Zona Norte isn't driving Tijuana's economy. Far from it. It's a lot like Disneyland, or a sports stadium. It generates a lot of money for a relatively few people. It also really doesn't provide much that can't be had elsewhere, at better prices.

[ScatManDoo]

Right after making my post I thought of "guilt-ridden". And stubborn.

[ScatManDoo]

Thursday, November 10,2016 12 ish. Baja Mex on the US side was 18.5 pesos tho the dollar. Exchange signs in Tijuana were at 18.3. Most importantly, HK exchange rate on the floor is 16.1. I am not clear what the business logic is for HK. Stability for the labor? For me it is great.

Hong Kong Bar has always used an in-house exchange rate that favors customers spending pesos in the bar (vs spending dollars). At least its always been that way for the most recent 12 years, which is when I began going to Tijuana. Your best source to ask the "why" question to would be the family that owns the bar.

My best guess would be that the family probably would never want someone pointing a finger at them and their policies and complaining that they are favoring foreigners at the expense of Mexican nationals. They may know & like many of their American customers, but I'm speculating that they feel closer ties to their customer base of locals, many of whom likely walk in with lots of pesos and few dollars.

For the Americans that choose to spend dollars in HK while knowing this (rather than getting pesos to spend in HK), you might call them a bunch of different names: lazy, stupid, generous, wasteful, powerful, impatient, care free, resistant, patriotic, spoiled, phobic, proud, or foolish. But they have never been in short supply.

[Captain Solo]

Got to admit Salt took some good pics of sexy, good-looking puta asses.

I can recognize a few of those asses in the pics. It's very nice to pin those spinners' asses down in bed and plunge into their tight, wet pussies.

I have to buy a new concealed camera with better low-light sensitivity to record all those sexy putas' moments. Hehe.

[Member #4450]

I have visited Tijuana one time and boned some attractive Mexican girls while there (see my write-ups in the ROD). One of the things that struck me was how I felt that I the "gringo" turista was the economic engine driving the place. It started with crossing the border. I paid taxis to take me to and from. I stayed in a hotel on the Mexican side and took some meals in the restaurant there. I paid to enter clubs like HK Club. I tipped bar tenders and meseros. I bought drinks for chicas. If I slapped one of their bubble butts that cost me a dollar. When I was ready to tap some Mexicana ass I paid the door man a little tip to take the girl to the short-time hotel where I then paid for the room. Then after enjoying me some foreign pussy I paid the tute her money. And on the way out I normally would tip the clean-up boys who prepare the rooms for the next "couple". When I was hungry, I stepped out onto the street to patronize one of the taco stands. And on an on and on! And that was just me! Gringo dollars grease the economic engine that keeps Tijuana running!

Yeap so they better treat us nice with a welcome smile because money talks and BS walks!

[SaltShaker]

Thursday, November 10,2016 12 ish. Baja Mex on the US side was 18.5 pesos to the dollar. Exchange signs in Tijuana were at 18.3. Most importantly, HK exchange rate on the floor is 16.1. I am not clear what the business logic is for HK. Stability for the labor? For me it is great.

I'm in San Diego getting ready to cross the border. After a few days of wild currency shifts on the market, it seems to have stabilized for the moment close to where it started. Not so much for the currency exchangers near the border. Saw them selling pesos on a range from 18.7 to 17.9. I guess it will be a while till they stabilize, depending on who gambled or bought pesos / dollars during the wild swing.

[Enrique Nieto]

Good point,

But don't buy what you read or hear in the Mexican news. The USA can do just fine without Mexico. Remember those US companies are going to pay big tax fines for taking the jobs to Mexico some of those companies will close down and probably move back to the US to avoid the penalty tax fines.

If US manufacturers decides to bite the bullet and pay Trump taxes they will be force to lower Mexican workers salaries.

Let's not Forget there are many other latin American countries they would be very happy to bring those US factories to their country.

Trump plan is very clear he just wants to bring the jobs back to the USA.

I think the Dollar will go much higher to the peso after Trump takes power.

Mexico inflation will be higher that's great for the Tijuana visitor bringing Dollars but the girls are well trained and they just keep jacking up the prices no matter what currency you have. So dollar goes higher and so are the prices.

It takes a little while for paying girls to increase there prices. 2006-2010 when Tijuana had a safety issue with drug cartels, I was sure that Tijuana zona will died but it survived. It will survive Trump too and probably is not going to any better or any worse at least for the monger.

[Once Sailor]

I'm in San Diego getting ready to cross the border. After a few days of wild currency shifts on the market, it seems to have stabilized for the moment close to where it started. Not so much for the currency exchangers near the border. Saw them selling pesos on a range from 18.7 to 17.9. I guess it will be a while till they stabilize, depending on who gambled or bought pesos / dollars during the wild swing.

[SaltShaker]

Time will tell. Arrived at HK November 10,2016 around 12 ish left around 7 ish. Several chicas told me this week was very slow. There was desperation on the HK floor. Discounting was great!

Without the American visitor Tijuana cannot survive everything from restaurants, the cab driver, hotels, bars, the zona will collapse.

It would probably look like Cuba within a year.

[Apache]

Whether you agree with their reasoning or not, Trump and those viewed as his supporters are not popular in Mexico now. This is just reality.

[The Cane]

Without the American visitor Tijuana cannot survive everything from restaurants, the cab driver, hotels, bars, the zona will collapse.

I have visited Tijuana one time and boned some attractive Mexican girls while there (see my write-ups in the ROD). One of the things that struck me was how I felt that I the "gringo" turista was the economic engine driving the place. It started with crossing the border. I paid taxis to take me to and from. I stayed in a hotel on the Mexican side and took some meals in the restaurant there. I paid to enter clubs like HK Club. I tipped bar tenders and meseros. I bought drinks for chicas. If I slapped one of their bubble butts that cost me a dollar. When I was ready to tap some Mexicana ass I paid the door man a little tip to take the girl to the short-time hotel where I then paid for the room. Then after enjoying me some foreign pussy I paid the tute her money. And on the way out I normally would tip the clean-up boys who prepare the rooms for the next "couple". When I was hungry, I stepped out onto the street to patronize one of the taco stands. And on an on and on! And that was just me! Gringo dollars grease the economic engine that keeps Tijuana running!

[Member #4450]

If locals don't want Americans in Tijuana that would be more detrimental to them than anyone else.

Without the American visitor Tijuana cannot survive everything from restaurants, the cab driver, hotels, bars, the zona will collapse.

It would probably look like Cuba within a year.

[Member #4450]

Why blaming Trump is the people who voted him because that's what the majority of people of this country wants.

Mexico doesn't let undocumented migrants from central America to stay in Mexico they get deported. Few years ago there used to be beautiful South American Girls working in AB with tourist visa one day the Mexican immigration officers came and took them away. Nowadays you won't find a single non Mexican working in the zona don't believe me ask the bar people.

The bad news for the Tijuana monger is if Trump starts deporting all illegal criminals they will probably end up in border towns like Tijuana Mexicali etc. Tijuana is already full of crime just think about all these criminals walking around you.

Trump said Non criminals illegals are going to be deported too To their country of origin and they need to apply for residence to be allowed to return.

This law is nothing new back in the 1980's Reagan signed the Amnesty and illegal aliens working in US factories were rounded up and deported but they keep coming back, also employers were supposed to ask for green card before hiring someone but no many did. If you want to have an idea how illegals were deported back in the 1980s watch the funny movie Born in East La.

An international border is an entrance to another country. You wouldn't leave your home door open when you're not home because the door is what secures your home from criminals and protects your values it's just common sense.

[Apache]

Mexicans ask me "Did you vote for la mujer o el racista?"

My Tijuana dentist is a highly educated and cultured Mexican. He told me he understands Trump's twisted rhetoric but thinks his supporters are 'even more scary.'

Of course gringo dollars will be always welcomed in the zona but I look for the hostility towards the stereotypical "ugly American" to increase. Those with contempt for gringos feel they have more justification to act on it now.

Don't want to be negative but I see more robbery/ violence towards gringos from both rateros and the policia. Be careful.

[Artisttyp]

As far as immediate repercussion. I would say no. However if things Trump does that may have a negative effect on the Mexican economy, it could make people more desperate which could increase crime.

I, as gringo looking as you can get was moving around all over the city the day after the election and I was still greeted warmly wherever I went. One thing I did notice during this election year was whether it was the cab drivers or meseros or bar girls everone had an opinion on american politics. I just don't remember it ever being like that before. Only thing that changed from election night to the next day was a slight increase in the amount of pesos you got for your dollar.

Now as far as having pesos in your pocket instead of dollars, so it is less likely you will be robbed by the police, don't know if I buy into that. Plain and simple regardless of what's in your pocket, if you are a gringo and you are in the zona norte you have a huge target on your back.

I had a few conversations with locals about the election. I assured them Trump's commentary was done to win the election. He will enforce immigration laws (as he should) and he will only deport criminals not the workers that are so important to our economy. Basically on par with Mexico.

Everyone I talked to seemed to care more about Mexico than America. After all it was an election for the *US President. What matters is our country. At the same time I hope Mexico continues to be our friend and that we can see eye to eye on a fix for the current situation.

Some hipsters at a cafe automatically assumed I was a Clinton supporter. Wrong Assumption. At least we agreed that Prop 64 (Legal Weed) was a good thing.

If locals don't want Americans in Tijuana that would be more detrimental to them than anyone else.