Ciudad Juarez

[Justsomeim]

mammiferously

I've just added that to my vocabulary, Thank you kind QB, keep the TD's rolling.

[Quarterback]

Yes, you will need to get there before 4 p.m. The best time is about 1 p.m.

Public restrooms in the bus stations. No showers.

Ladies Bars all throughout Juarez sell p*ssy. Check out Bar Las Americas on Ave. Americas for about 10 sexy women dressed-up.

Thanks, ML! - can you tell us which cross street or landmark the "Bar Las Americas" is close to?

[Meat Loaf]

I walked over the SF Bridge over the weekend & checked out the Salons De Bailes & a variety of the other attractions. Though I enjoyed walking up & down the pedestrian-only streets, my early & mid-evening visits to the "salons" didn't turn up much as far as hot happenin' chicas...I'll try to get down there for the recommended afternoon hours next time.

The new ladies' bar is nice & very convenient to the Hotel SF, but not any fuckable talent when I was in there between 8 & 9 on a weekend night. I finally caught up with PL's Marlena, but she seemed to have put on some weight since I met her several months ago. Club Hollywood didn't seem to have the one or two stunners that it had back in the winter, but still seems to me to be the most consistent as far as having multiple hot for-rent fuckables on hand (just watch the ROB variables...!) The Colorado had a few new attractions, one a slim doable returnee from recent years & another a slim "blonde" (lol!) newbie named Azul who was funny & spoke good Englez & looked to have a fairly nice rack. Also chatted up some SW a block north of the Colorado, but once I had gotten in close enough to talk, they turned out to be a little too much on the rough-trade side, and I wouldn't have walked into their third-world crib in a million years anyway. I got talked into checking out Cleopatra's & was pleasantly surprised to meet a tall, slender, mammiferously gifted hottie named Connie (another of the almost-looks-Asian variety of "Mexican" - what exactly IS that???), but DAYUUM she looked young...!

No problems for me lately with hassles from the Juarez street cops. I wasn't loving the attention I got from stateside LE when I slept in my car overnite at a local* interstate rest area, though. Has anyone ever tried to get away with sleeping it off in your car in one of the SF Avenue parking lots? Are there any public restrooms right around there?

*an hour or so out, really

Yes, you will need to get there before 4 p.m. The best time is about 1 p.m.

Public restrooms in the bus stations. No showers.

Ladies Bars all throughout Juarez sell p*ssy. Check out Bar Las Americas on Ave. Americas for about 10 sexy women dressed-up.

[Quarterback]

I walked over the SF Bridge a couple of times over the weekend & checked out the Salons De Bailes & a variety of the other attractions. Though I enjoyed walking up & down the pedestrian-only streets, my early & mid-evening visits to the "salons" didn't turn up much as far as hot happenin' chicas...I'll try to get down there for the recommended afternoon hours next time.

The new ladies' bar is nice & very convenient to the Hotel SF, but not any fuckable talent when I was in there between 8 & 9 on a weekend night. I finally caught up with PL's Marlena, but she seemed to have put on some weight since I met her several months ago. Club Hollywood didn't seem to have the one or two stunners that it had back in the winter, but still seems to me to be the most consistent as far as having multiple hot for-rent fuckables on hand (just watch the ROB variables...!) The Colorado had a few new attractions, one a slim doable returnee from recent years & another a slim "blonde" (lol!) newbie named Azul who was funny & spoke good Englez & looked to have a fairly nice rack. Also chatted up some SW a block north of the Colorado, but once I had gotten in close enough to talk, they turned out to be a little too much on the rough-trade side, and I wouldn't have walked into their third-world crib in a million years anyway. I got talked into checking out Cleopatra's & was pleasantly surprised to meet a tall, slender, mammiferously gifted hottie named Connie (another of the almost-looks-Asian variety of "Mexican" - what exactly IS that???), but DAYUUM she looked young...!

No problems for me lately with hassles from the Juarez street cops. I wasn't loving the attention I got from stateside LE when I slept in my car overnite at a local* interstate rest area, though. Has anyone ever tried to get away with sleeping it off in your car in one of the SF Avenue parking lots? Are there any public restrooms right around there?

*an hour or so out, really

[Cienega32]

Have things changed that much, or are you guys doing something wrong?

The bike cops get bored easy, I guess. When Fox was still in office, he was trying to legalize small possesion amounts so the local cops would spend less time shaking down the 'partiers' that might have a joint or two and spend more time on the big fish.

If you follow the news for Juarez, you may have read about the shoot-out between the military and some of the local Policia who refused to co-operate with the weapons inspections and drug investigations.

Like Dougie said - they'll behave for awhile - at least the ones that aren't entrenched in the cartel activities - before they go back to their 5 and dime ways.

[Cienega32]

I'm not much of a walker in JTown, I've occasionally walked to mps close to the PDN bridge, but will always prefer to drive.

Funny, I'm just the opposite. I've driven In and around Juarez 2 or 3 times when I first went there in '02. The main thing that turned me off was the line at the bridge. I would rather walk back to the car to avoid that and any possible Policia stops. 2 seater ragtops don't seem to blend in well down there.

Lately, I've been thinking about driving over when staying at Villa Manport but I still hop a cab by Caliente. There's one older driver that is always good for conversation (in English) about some of the older buildings in town. I always enjoy the bus ride back to the Santa Fe bridge when I leave.

[Meat Loaf]

Mugroso,

I don't know if your comment was meant to insite a conversation regarding police, but it did. I'm glad others were willing to be honest and detail their experiences. And like the one guy said about Colombia is true: The further south one travels from the USA the less we become prey.

I'm pretty much out of the Cd. Juarez scene so I really don't have nothing more to contribute beyond my reports posted in the "Reports of Distinction." Maybe oneday Mugroso will write something of value and get recognized by Jackson. (Just joking.) I wish you guys success.

Take Care Fellas' & Good Luck in Cd. Juarez.

Meat Loaf

[Tiny 12]

I haven't been to Juarez in 5 years but used to spend a lot of time there. I'd park in El Paso and cross on the Santa Fe street bridge, or park at my hotel in Juarez and usually walk or take cabs. I made maybe 15 trips. I walked everywhere, at all hours of the day and night. And I was never questioned or stopped by police, not once. My biggest fear was of the U.S. authorities, having to wait an hour in line and then worry about if they were going to disassemble my car.

Have things changed that much, or are you guys doing something wrong? Are you dressing more like Mexicans than gringos, trying to blend in, walking like you know where you're going? Dougie, are you still riding a bicycle? If you're driving a nice car with Texas plates, yeah, I understand you're going to get stopped. That happens to me about 1 out of every 3 times I go to Ciudad Acuna. But it's strange/sad the police are waging a war on pedestrians.

[Dougie]

As for the shakedown routine, I've had it before. Seems like if you're respectful, sober (or at least not completely wasted) and not carrying drugs you have nothing to worry about. Never had a dime taken.

Lucky you. I've been shaken down for money as have most folks who have visited Juarez more than just a few times. Looking to get "shaken down" again sometime within the next couple of months, it has been a while. Hopefully by the time I make it down the Federales and the Army will have whipped "Juarez' Finest" back into some semblance of a respectable police force and I will not get robbed by them again. The last time the Federales and the Army had to come to town to restore order the Policia behaved themselves for some time before lapsing back into their familiar ways. I had the good fortune to visit while the Federales were still in town. I was given "close scrutiny" by the Policia in the Zona, and the encounter did not cost me a dime.

[Justsomeim]

Just like with mongering, I guess we all have our own experiences and 'techniques'.

That's great info there, Thanks Cienega. I hope Jackson can mark this one with a report of distinction.

I'm not much of a walker in JTown, I've occasionally walked to mps close to the PDN bridge, but will always prefer to drive. I've been going to Jtown for 11 years, the past 3 for mongering, in total, maybe 100 times. I've never had a problem with the police, even back in the old days of just drink and drowns on the strip. I agree, keep to yourself, be respectful, you'll be fine.

Again thanks for a great report Cienega

[Bbond]

Well. I am a serious TJ veteran for years and years. And, I do believe that mongers in Juarez have far less problems with the Policia than in TJ. I have only been in Juarez about 10 times, but never once been stopped or hassled.

Well if you walk much, you will be stopped in Juarez, I have been stopped several times, robbed 3x and got money back by taking complaint to the polica station on Oro once.
Been stopped driving 3x, once for running a red light, that was quite green when I passed thru, and once when dropping a chica off at a bar. Two of the driving times did not cost me anything, one officer was quite professional, one was being an asshole. Not hard to guess which was which. The red light cop wanted to take DL, but I convinced him I had very little money and needed to leave town that day. The one driving incident that cost me all the money in my pockets, not sure how much, maybe $60, but I was drinking, somewhat drunk, and had little choice but to pay.

[Belldude2]

Well. I am a serious TJ veteran for years and years. And, I do believe that mongers in Juarez have far less problems with the Policia than in TJ. I have only been in Juarez about 10 times, but never once been stopped or hassled. I wish I lived closer. But for now I monger in TJ more. You lucky bastards.... jejeje I will be there on may 1-4th if anyone wants to party a bit.

[EnormusDick]

Funny that you mention that. Been to Barranquilla a time or two, met an attorney there who travels throughout Latin America. Says he won't step foot into J-town. I don't know exactly what he knows about the place and I didn't ask.

Colombian women are the shiz-NIT, BTW and don't get me started on Las Venezolanas. Still, good old Juarez will have to do until I can get down to South America again.

As for the shakedown routine, I've had it before. Seems like if you're respectful, sober (or at least not completely wasted) and not carrying drugs you have nothing to worry about. Never had a dime taken.

WTF is a shiz-nit? I guess it's a good thing. Is that you snoop?

[Adam Z]

Funny side note,

the Six times I have been to Colombia, I have never been hassled by police and Colombia is supposed to be worse than Mexico. Its not....I promise.

Funny that you mention that. Been to Barranquilla a time or two, met an attorney there who travels throughout Latin America. Says he won't step foot into J-town. I don't know exactly what he knows about the place and I didn't ask.

Colombian women are the shiz-NIT, BTW and don't get me started on Las Venezolanas. Still, good old Juarez will have to do until I can get down to South America again.

As for the shakedown routine, I've had it before. Seems like if you're respectful, sober (or at least not completely wasted) and not carrying drugs you have nothing to worry about. Never had a dime taken.

[Cienega32]

Just like with mongering, I guess we all have our own experiences and 'techniques'.

Myself, I've never lost a dime (but did lose my last cigarette) to the badges and I'm guaranteed to be full stopped (questioned and searched) at least once a visit. One time it was 3 times in 2 hours. The third, they checked with the other unit and confirmed then called off the stop.

My own approach is to leave all plastic and anything that might give an impression of 'value' on the other side of the border. What I DO keep is a 100 peso note, a 20 peso note and a $10US tucked in the wallet - "... for food".

Never "dress to kill" like it's American clubbing on a Friday nite.

When I see them coming, I don't make eye contact - I just keep my pace, watch wear my feet are going or glance in a window or whatever. Sometimes I'll cross the street before they're "in range". Most of the time there's no contact.

Whenever I'm stopped, I always react as if it's just their job so I expect it and either try to sound lite-hearted or respectful in a way that I feel it's a time passer that's going nowhere. I should say not intimidated but not cocky. They usually respond in kind but always continue the routine - "Drugs? Weapons? Espanol? Much to drink?".

Of course "No" to all and explain very little Spanish. During the conversation, I'll admit I'm here every weekend, I live in Las Cruces, I love the food here, and blah blah to their asking of why I'm here and where I live.

Other parts of our 'conversation' include the uh... facts that (sometimes) I have a friend waiting by the bridge, I came to see a friend and/or to eat, I've been out of work for (with a sad and discouraged expression) about 3 months. They always seem to ask if I work and I figure they're trying to gauge my "worth" to them. "No dinero - no trabajo - boo hoo hoo"

It depends on how talkative they are. I might street-name drop - "I was going to go to El Herradero - you know, on Escobar by Panama." Sounding like I'm a regular seems to give me an edge.

I always try to take my cash out (it's never in my wallet) and hold it in my hand while they rummage thru my pockets. Once they asked me to "fan my money" so they could see there were no drug packets or what not. Too many times they'll pass it to each other behind your back with questions coming from each side. It can be confusing a times, if you're trying to pay attention to everything they're doing.

I've learned to prioritize my pockets - this way I know what side the "important" stuff is on and keep my eye on the cop that emptied that pocket and/or has my ID. I've had them check my socks and waistband too many times to consider those to be hiding spots anymore - at least without the explaination of safety.

If it's an overniter, then it's easy as I usually stay at Villa Manport. Same with if it's an all day and evening visit to the El Centro area. I'll get a room as a "locker" and only take small amounts with me - minimal risk and I always know my inventory.

For those types of visits, I usually end up at Hotel Del Rio as it's right across from the Plaza and close to the sports book. I always stop in anyway and say hello to the older woman named Ophie that works the desk. That's come in handy a few times having a neutral spot to duck into when needed because you know an old blue-eyed gringo is a bullseye for a pair of bored Policia.

The only time I had a problem was with a doctor's sample of Nitro that I forgot I had on my person. While they were talking about seeing the judge, I responded with a "No problem - let's go but I would just toss it if it makes a difference because it's old and I have some people waiting". That was 2 or 3 blocks from the bridge on Ave Juarez. Their senior officer came by at their request and he pretty much acted like they were wasting everyone's time. Buenos noches.

I guess we all have our own methods that we feel comfortable with. I do know that my inner attitude wants to say "Why the FU@K do you keep bothering me!" but I don't think it would work out for me. I used to enjoy standing by the fruit juice stand by the bridge and watch all the American college types end up in the little dog catcher trucks while they expressed how they were American and they have rights and on & on.

I always act respectful of the fact that I'm in another country and respectful of the country I'm in during these types of confrontations and it seems to work for me.