Printable View
How are people entering Tijuana right now by foot? If I just walk up and say I'm there to visit will they let me in? I'm fine with paying a fee to enter, as long as its not a long process. Or do you got to do some shit like schedule a dentists appointment?
[QUOTE=Rextor;2527893]How are people entering Tijuana right now by foot? If I just walk up and say I'm there to visit will they let me in? I'm fine with paying a fee to enter, as long as its not a long process. Or do you got to do some shit like schedule a dentists appointment?[/QUOTE]If you read back in this same thread, you will see that I posted a report on this at the beginning of last month.
[QUOTE=Rextor;2527893]How are people entering Tijuana right now by foot? If I just walk up and say I'm there to visit will they let me in? I'm fine with paying a fee to enter, as long as its not a long process. Or do you got to do some shit like schedule a dentists appointment?[/QUOTE]Really not much of a problem. Say you are visiting a friend, looking for a dentist, buying medicine. Most likely worse case senario you get an agent who makes you buy the FMM for around $30. Not such a bad thing to have, then you can walk into Mexico for the next 6 months, no lines and no questions asked.
1. my bank doesn't do exchange currency where is the best place to exchange dollars into pesos near San Diego or the border.
2. cheapest Pharmacy and doctor when crossing into Tijuana.
I finally caved in and coughed up the bucks for global entry which is same as sentri. More or less anyway. Difference is sentru can take year for appointments global entry you can have start to finish in 3 weeks. I did it online, got temporary approved in 8 hours, got interview next morning. You have to look around different states for interview openings, and check night before as people cancel the day before. The office is a very fast, paced, full of people getting g that global entry. Sucks to pay to not stand in line 4 hours but unless you are cool with lines its worth doing.
[QUOTE=JohnnySmith69;2527930]1. my bank doesn't do exchange currency where is the best place to exchange dollars into pesos near San Diego or the border.
2. cheapest Pharmacy and doctor when crossing into Tijuana.[/QUOTE]Most of the currency exchange by the border are owned by one company, so the difference in exchange rates are minimal. I use the two exchanges at the San Ysidro mall because it is convenient, safe, and the lines are reasonable. There is probably 100 pharmacies in Tijuana so prices are comparable due to the heavy competition. Re doctors, I understand there are two types. Doctors serving the public. And Doctors serving tourists. The doctors serving the public is cheaper, but the lines are longer. Anyways, there is a huge tourism hospital right over the border as you cross if you want better care and short on time from private doctors.
[QUOTE=JohnnySmith69;2527930]1. my bank doesn't do exchange currency where is the best place to exchange dollars into pesos near San Diego or the border..[/QUOTE]Unless you are exchanging thousands of dollars at a time, the difference in rates is minimal. Just use the most convenient one on the US side when buying pesos, and the most convenient one on the Mexican side when buying dollars.
[QUOTE=KCQuestor;2527827]This is one of the dumbest suggestions I've ever heard, but if you think that works for you, then you do you. I'll continue to tell them no, and give away the fact that I am indeed a gringo.[/QUOTE]In fact, DickusMaximus is correct that 'gracias' is more effective than 'no'. It won't hide that you're a gringo, but it's more in tune with the Latin American habit of not saying 'no', but implying no. Coming from a Mexican family, I never say no to the hawkers, always saying gracias, though walking foward without hesitation. It's much more polite, keeps a good social rapport.
[QUOTE=Frogg;2528408]In fact, DickusMaximus is correct that 'gracias' is more effective than 'no'. It won't hide that you're a gringo, but it's more in tune with the Latin American habit of not saying 'no', but implying no. Coming from a Mexican family, I never say no to the hawkers, always saying gracias, though walking foward without hesitation. It's much more polite, keeps a good social rapport.[/QUOTE]I wasn't disputing the fact that a native speaker will not say "No". I was disputing the assertion that saying "No, gracias" will brand me as a gringo (as if they couldn't tell already) and that they would continue to pester me because of it. I say "No, gracias" all the time and they leave me alone after. Maybe because I say "No. Gracias" or maybe it's my tone, but I don't have any issues being pestered by meseros if I firmly say "No" when they try to pull shit on me.
[QUOTE=BaxterSlade;2527925]Really not much of a problem. Say you are visiting a friend, looking for a dentist, buying medicine. Most likely worse case senario you get an agent who makes you buy the FMM for around $30. Not such a bad thing to have, then you can walk into Mexico for the next 6 months, no lines and no questions asked.[/QUOTE]And how does one cross back into the US on foot? I've heard that pedwest is closed, which is what I usually use.
[QUOTE=Rextor;2527893]How are people entering Tijuana right now by foot? If I just walk up and say I'm there to visit will they let me in? I'm fine with paying a fee to enter, as long as its not a long process. Or do you got to do some shit like schedule a dentists appointment?[/QUOTE]Why enter by foot when you can just PM Jinxx and get dropped off right in front of your Tijuana hotel? Do it and thank me later.
[QUOTE=Frogg;2528408]In fact, DickusMaximus is correct that 'gracias' is more effective than 'no'. It won't hide that you're a gringo, but it's more in tune with the Latin American habit of not saying 'no', but implying no. Coming from a Mexican family, I never say no to the hawkers, always saying gracias, though walking foward without hesitation. It's much more polite, keeps a good social rapport.[/QUOTE]So if the guy brings unwanted drinks and you are saying gracias to tell him you did not order that shit and do not want it, what are you supposed to be saying to him to thank him for bringing the unwanted drinks and you are delightful that him and the chick put in the effort to rip you off?
[QUOTE=Rextor;2528429]And how does one cross back into the US on foot? I've heard that pedwest is closed, which is what I usually use.[/QUOTE]I always use ped east. I don't like ped west.
[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2528460]So if the guy brings unwanted drinks and you are saying gracias to tell him you did not order that shit and do not want it, what are you supposed to be saying to him to thank him for bringing the unwanted drinks and you are delightful that him and the chick put in the effort to rip you off?[/QUOTE]This does not apply inside clubs, resturants, or any venue. It applies when walking on the sidewalk or street, out and about. I suppose the original thread was dealing with meseros--that's different. A firm 'no' is in order.
As I understand it, the Mexican culture is less direct than the American direct culture. So when you turn someone down nicely, you do it softly with a plain "gracias." In fact this is the norm around the world including Asia and Europe. You do this to avoid embarrassing the other party. And I often say this to a woman to avoid embarrassing her with a rejection. It is a tough job and I empathize with her struggle.
On the other hand, the meseros are dickheads. Many are borderline convicts. So you do have to say "no" to ensure that you are the boss. Personally I have been known to use a universal sign language when a waiter tries a scam. I give them the bird.