General Reports

[The Cane]

I watched it. Doesn't come close to what it was. The set looks like it came off the studio lot in Burbank.

There are several books which capture the scene better.

City of Night by John Rechy or the Al Goldstein autobiography. Even the movie Midnight Cowboy would be a better example.

I think they did an outstanding job with the set. I walked those same streets of New York and know from direct experience what they looked like. They captured that. And they did an excellent job of telling a story of how the porn trade (and New York) changed over the 70's and the 80's. And oh, the critics agree with me. Midnight Cowboy. Please!

[Artisttyp]

You want to know where the and how the mafia was involved in the New York City sex trade? Then watch this excellent series on HBO Max. Very real and based on (many) true stories:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixd8Tj9a25k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHd6tdIG4KI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwxwSI1s3fM

I watched it. Doesn't come close to what it was. The set looks like it came off the studio lot in Burbank.

There are several books which capture the scene better.

City of Night by John Rechy or the Al Goldstein autobiography. Even the movie Midnight Cowboy would be a better example.

[Hargow20]

I always walk across. The wait is way shorter. If you cross after 9 there is usually little if any wait. The other advantage is you don't have to worried about being pulled.

What is the quickest way to get back into US without standing in 3 hour lines? I'd like to go more often but this is discouraging.

[Jackie888]

What is the quickest way to get back into US without standing in 3 hour lines? I'd like to go more often but this is discouraging.

Get a Sentri / Global entry card.

Or come back between 2 am and 4 am.

[LuvMexicanas]

What is the quickest way to get back into US without standing in 3 hour lines? I'd like to go more often but this is discouraging.

I assume you do not have global entry given the question. With that out of the way, stick to weekdays and simply return 10 pm or later.

[MacNCheeze]

What is the quickest way to get back into US without standing in 3 hour lines? I'd like to go more often but this is discouraging.

Global entry / SENTRI. Adjust the time you're crossing, or go through Otay?

[ZeroDc4213]

What is the quickest way to get back into US without standing in 3 hour lines? I'd like to go more often but this is discouraging.

[Hargow20]

This is fairly surprising. They usually just make you purchase a FMM / Visa. Once I got my FMM / Visa they never hassled me. If they question you tell them you have a dental appt if it is during day. The other option is carry a copy of a prescription. I carry a copy of prescription in case I need it. Once you get the FMM / visa just carry it with you and show it to immigration Usually they don't even stop to question you.

I recently crossed the border at San Ysidro. At Mexican border control, I said I was there to go to a pharmacy. I got pulled into a side room, and after waiting 10 minutes, a border officer firmly told me not to cross for touristic reasons. He let me into MX, but he also scanned my ID. Ever since, I've been leery about returning until they lift the restrictions. But the bars are calling. Are they clamping down? Do I need to worry that he scanned my ID? Is there a better story I should tell at the border? Any insights would be much appreciated.

[The Cane]

I heard brothels run by Mafia but never knew where they were. There must be a lot of demand for commercial sex, prostitutes, escorts, gang bang, orgies by people with lots of money and power in a big and perverted metropolis like NY. What was shown with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in "Eyes Wide Shut" may be exaggerated with its slow, elaborate clergy-like rituals, but there must be lots of organized sex events every damn week in NYC with millions rich, horny perverts.

You want to know where the and how the mafia was involved in the New York City sex trade? Then watch this excellent series on HBO Max. Very real and based on (many) true stories:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ixd8Tj9a25k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHd6tdIG4KI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwxwSI1s3fM

[Turgid]

....Your brother must have done something very serious to get beat up by bouncers. Organized criminals running brothels usually don't want to involve with law enforcement and draw attention....

I was at home in bed when he came home all bruised and bloodied. He told me the woman short timed him, they argued and he tried to get money out of her hand bag. Very bad idea. That brothel had really nice women and I actually subsequently returned to it: then, a huge muscle bound goon would enter the room when they decide time is up, no warning, no knocking. Some other brothels also initiated that process. Not too long after that I switched to picking up street walkers and getting head in my car. No one anywhere in the world could have beaten a NYC hooker for BBBJCIM. That was my sexual preference for decades after that, I enjoyed it more than FS. Those were great times!

[BrotherMouzone]

I read the link you attached, it says that you can only use the FMM for one entry but that you can use it within 180 days?

In theory FMMs are only supposed to be used for one entry and are supposed to be surrendered every time you leave Mexico but that's never actually enforced. In practice you can leave and re-enter with the same FMM for as long as the FMM is valid, whether that be the 7 or 180 day FMM.

[Phordphan]

I read the link you attached, it says that you can only use the FMM for one entry but that you can use it within 180 days?

Technically, the FMM is only good for one entry / exit. If you fly into and out of Mexico they will make you get one when entering, and they will take it before you board the plane for home.

However, Mexicans are nothing if not pragmatic. There is no way to make everybody exiting at San Ysidro surrender their FMMs. And if there were, the lines would be horrendous. The same goes for entry. So, they let you keep your FMM when coming and going across the land border. At least for SY and Otay. I've never crossed with an FMM at any other crossing. Maybe others can comment on Mexicali, or El Paso, or Los Algodones.

[Cocr Brotheler]

I read the link you attached, it says that you can only use the FMM for one entry but that you can use it within 180 days?

It is good for up to 180 days multiple entries but make sure they give you full 180 days up front (or input when filling the form on-line yourself).

I filled one out on-line this last visit over LDW and think it saved me some time. I still had to wait for a border agent to inspect it and validate my receipt printed which I made sure I brought. A groups of 10 guys ahead of me without visas had to first be processed. I waited 15-20 min for the initial but got it stamped and signed and my 2 follow on visits over LDW flow I breezed right thru.

[Scbb1]

Sometimes the immigration officers will not require you to get a FMM form. Just show your form & the immigration officers will usually not check. When I first got mine they claimed it was a visa. I asked the officer to show me where it said it was a visa & they refused.

I read the link you attached, it says that you can only use the FMM for one entry but that you can use it within 180 days?

[Hadez]

Is proof of vaccination or testing required to re-enter for pedestrians at the San Ysidro port of entry?

No.

This is not realistic.