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In the cooler winter months I generally enjoy a nice leisurely stroll from the Border while sampling / window shop just about every store on the way. But when it gets warmer such as now, I'm unsure anyone would want to brave the heat. The 50 pesos I save end up going to extra drinks just to cool down. And when my armpits (and nutsack) is drenched, I tend to get quoted a higher price. Sometimes that savings isn't really a savings.
[QUOTE=Exoticspirit;1715614]Thanks so much for the info. If I'm walking around Zona Norte once I'm checked into the hotel, I won't be carrying any backpack. In fact, I won't be carrying much of anything. No phone and just minimal money to buy eats. So if I'm stopped, they are not going to find much on me and I will be extremely straight since I won't have any alcohol or drugs in my system. I don't suppose that these cops would follow me to my hotel just because they did not find anything on me.[/QUOTE]I'm going to toss in my 2 centavos.
There is a LOT of paranoia on the boards, lately, about the cops. Rampant speculation leads to even more, and it's something of a vicious circle.
Now, as everybody here knows, I am NOT a fan of Tijuana's finest. I have been jacked up my share of times. If you spend enough time in Tijuana you will get jacked up. It happens to tourists and locals alike. As Joseph Wambaugh pointed out in one of his books, this has been going on since the Spaniards shook down the Indians. It's a fact of life and you simply must learn to deal with it. It seriously sucks, but there you have it.
Now, if one takes off one's rose-colored glasses, one can see that the Zona is an open sewer. Yes, there are loads of pretty women available at prices far below many other areas of the world. Unfortunately, there are also loads of heroin-addled streetwalkers, rateros, druggies, drug dealers, deported ex-felons, and various pieces of human debris. The cops are a-holes, but if they weren't there the Zona would be a whole lot more dangerous. Long-time aficionados can remember when the cops left the zona (almost) entirely, and there followed a major increase in broad-daylight muggings of mongers. We don't need to go back to those days.
OK. Having said that, let's try to calm your fears. Your odds of getting jacked up by the cops is small. Very small. There are lots of guys in and out of the Zona every day. The cops certainly can't stop and shake down every one of them.
Some guys get stopped more than others, it's true. I have no idea of the cops' criteria. They don't need probable cause. The Zona is a known drug market, so anybody walking down the street is a potential target. My guess is that if you are carrying a backpack in the zona you may be more of a target. But you don't fit that profile, so don't worry about it. You don't drink or do drugs, nor will you be carrying contraband, so you really have little to worry about.
You can certainly carry a phone. The cops will not jack you up when walking around on Revolucion, for instance, unless you're causing trouble. They certainly won't follow you to your hotel.
To summarize, the cops can be a problem, but there is no point in becoming paranoid. SMD offered some good advice on streets to avoid. It's always a good idea to not carry lots of money and certainly nothing to give the cops an excuse to demand a bribe. Regardless of what some may say, always carry your ID. If stopped, put your money in your hand (after showing them the money) and let them frisk you. Most guys have money stolen by the cops palming bills when searching a wallet, pocket, etc. They won't beat you up and rob you. If they find nothing, in my experience, they will let you go. If they find a pretext, a random pill, a joint, whatever, then you've opened yourself up to forking over a contribution.
In my case, I just treat the cops as part of the scenery. Just ignore them. Have a good time, don't worry too much about the cops. Don't let your imagination run wild. The odds are in your favor. Just be prepared, so you'll know what to do should you get stopped.
There were certainly lots of bars along the tourist strip with the fight last night. Many had open seating. A friend decided to watch at Hong Kong and indicated all the televisions, front and back, had the fight. Not much else going on he said. At least until the fight ended. The local population didn't seem happy with the results though many expected it.
The Freedom Path, behind the border McDonalds, used to be full of tourists, farmacias, arts shops, restaurants and stalls selling trinkets on weekend. I used to enjoy walking that path, eating ice cream and tacos, flirting with the meseras, checking out shops and art stores.
After about 2008, there were fewer and fewer people after each passing year. Now, that path is pretty deserted even during day time and most shops have closed down. It's a ghost town. I would not risk walking on the bridge over the Tijuana river and get robbed. It's a sad scene.
Now I drive over and park in HK's Pepe's lot. I do all my window shopping in La Zona and only buy basic human needs: sex, food, drinks.
[QUOTE=Jackie888;1715702]In the cooler winter months I generally enjoy a nice leisurely stroll from the Border while sampling / window shop just about every store on the way. But when it gets warmer such as now, I'm unsure anyone would want to brave the heat. The 50 pesos I save end up going to extra drinks just to cool down. And when my armpits (and nutsack) is drenched, I tend to get quoted a higher price. Sometimes that savings isn't really a savings.[/QUOTE]
I was in Hong Kong and upset an American female feminist for some reason. She cursed at me and indicated she believed I showed a lack of respect because I made the dancer come down to my level to tip instead of standing. I explained the dancer was the entertainer, not vice versa. Security finally said something to her and the three male eunuchs who brought her there. The left after they finished their drinks. A couple of the other patrons reminded her on which side of the international border she was sitting. After they left the entertainment became more enjoyable.
I have read several posts regarding carrying illegal drugs and the risk in doing so. I have bad knees. As a result, I have been prescribed and take Lortab for this pain. I have taken Lortab with me every time that I have crossed. I take one about 45 minutes before I head north. Candidly, the walk is difficult with my knees and the Lortab truly helps with this walk (tequila helps also). I had never considered possession of this Lortab to be a potential problem. Is it a potential problem? I am inexperienced and naive and seriously request experiential advice.
Thanks
[QUOTE=WanderingMan;1715956]I was in Hong Kong and upset an American female feminist for some reason. She cursed at me and indicated she believed I showed a lack of respect because I made the dancer come down to my level to tip instead of standing. I explained the dancer was the entertainer, not vice versa. Security finally said something to her and the three male eunuchs who brought her there. The left after they finished their drinks. A couple of the other patrons reminded her on which side of the international border she was sitting. After they left the entertainment became more enjoyable.[/QUOTE]Feminist. Maybe. Most likely gay! There are a lot of gay women who come to Hong Kong. They tend to be LOUD and obnoxious! A LOT worse than the guys "groping"! A lot of HK chicas are into this also (IMHO)!
[QUOTE=GolfSexRroll;1715988]Feminist. Maybe. Most likely gay! There are a lot of gay women who come to Hong Kong. They tend to be LOUD and obnoxious! A LOT worse than the guys "groping"! A lot of HK chicas are into this also (IMHO)![/QUOTE]Yup. I see Lesbian couples all the time. Last week they took this one butch on stage, put a towel on her head and let her eat out a hot HK chica. Then without her knowing the waiters took turn rubbing their crotches in her face (behind the towel). It was pretty funny.
A couple of those Lesbians are very attractive. Probably the wife character. I was really tempted to suggest to one Lesbian that she and I take a HK girl up for a threesome. But her butch partner would have kicked my ass, and the humiliating reputation of being a Lesbian's ***** was too much for me to brave. But I have no problems with a feminist lesbian. Weeks ago I had the biggest hard-on watching a Lesbian making out with a smoking hot Chica.
[QUOTE=GolfSexRroll;1715988]Feminist. Maybe. Most likely gay! There are a lot of gay women who come to Hong Kong. They tend to be LOUD and obnoxious! A LOT worse than the guys "groping"! A lot of HK chicas are into this also (IMHO)![/QUOTE]I never considered she was gay but now that you mention it she did sit at the bar where the girls danced part of the night. She had an acceptable look, not the typical bull dyke look. That said, she could have made herself look much much prettier. One could tell she had the potential to look good. She was a flat out witch. She liked hanging out with her 3 male friends who could offer no protection. They looked like "love the world" hippie types left over from the sixties look. They were all in their 20's though.
I detest feminists and one benefit of tolerating the constant machista male attitude in Mexico is that the women act feminine not like outright c..ts we tolerate in the USA.
[QUOTE=HornyTraveler;1714131]Am I the only unlucky one that lives 3 hours away from Tijuana? Do you all guys are living in San Diego County? Any OC or LA say Here![/QUOTE]L. A. Here too. 3. 5 to 4 hours down in the morning on a weekend; 5 back in the afternoon / evening. Border agent gave me a pissed off look when I said the reason for visit was lunch LOL. You guys want to go down together some time? Maybe the zona is safer in a group than flying solo.
P.S. - Just curious, what do you mongers say at the checkpoint when asked your reason for visiting. Are you vague (I. E. "Tourism") or more specific?
[QUOTE=Spinneritas;1716195]L. A. Here too. 3. 5 to 4 hours down in the morning on a weekend; 5 back in the afternoon / evening. Border agent gave me a pissed off look when I said the reason for visit was lunch LOL. You guys want to go down together some time? Maybe the zona is safer in a group than flying solo.
P.S. - Just curious, what do you mongers say at the checkpoint when asked your reason for visiting. Are you vague (I. E. "Tourism") or more specific?[/QUOTE]I just tell them HK, Adelitas, Tropicals, Playboy. These guys don't care. Theyre Border Patrol, not Vice. Theyre asking you so that they can identify a suspicious accent and see if you're indeed who the passport purports you to be, rather than some terrorist or smuggler just arriving from Columbia. Pretty sure some of our BP guys have taken a trip to the zona just to cure their curiosity.
[QUOTE=WanderingMan;1716155]I never considered she was gay but now that you mention it she did sit at the bar where the girls danced part of the night. She had an acceptable look, not the typical bull dyke look. That said, she could have made herself look much much prettier. One could tell she had the potential to look good. She was a flat out witch. She liked hanging out with her 3 male friends who could offer no protection. They looked like "love the world" hippie types left over from the sixties look. They were all in their 20's though.
I detest feminists and one benefit of tolerating the constant machista male attitude in Mexico is that the women act feminine not like outright c..ts we tolerate in the USA.[/QUOTE]Next time tell her that you are a male feminist, and find it highly objectionable that she is treating your favorite dancers like a piece of meat by lusting at their bodies.
[QUOTE=Phordphan;1715726]In my case, I just treat the cops as part of the scenery. Just ignore them. Have a good time, don't worry too much about the cops. Don't let your imagination run wild. The odds are in your favor. Just be prepared, so you'll know what to do should you get stopped.[/QUOTE]Thanks so much for your insight. I'll probably opt to take a 50 peso cab from the border to Cascadas as well as the return trip. Then I'll walk around where there is enough pedestrian traffic including the taco vendors but make sure I don't have anything on me except for food $ and ID. Since I plan to bring the girls back to my hotel room, I won't have to walk around with the $ for them either.
[QUOTE=CaptainSolo;1715883]The Freedom Path, behind the border McDonalds, used to be full of tourists, farmacias, arts shops, restaurants and stalls selling trinkets on weekend. I used to enjoy walking that path, eating ice cream and tacos, flirting with the meseras, checking out shops and art stores.
After about 2008, there were fewer and fewer people after each passing year. Now, that path is pretty deserted even during day time and most shops have closed down. It's a ghost town. I would not risk walking on the bridge over the Tijuana river and get robbed. It's a sad scene.
Now I drive over and park in HK's Pepe's lot. I do all my window shopping in La Zona and only buy basic human needs: sex, food, drinks.[/QUOTE]Captain. Don't be a wuss! It is NOT that bad. You don't venture away from the alley. You don't venture anywhere in Tijuana (except sterile Zona Rio) Where did you grow up? In Nebraska?
The Art Gallery under the bridge is still there. A couple of weeka ago, the lady owner tried to sell me a copied painting of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo. Of course, the figures of God and Man looked distinctively Mexican so I knew that they were at least hand painted. LOL. She had a giant Pit Bull in chain on the premise, presumably for shoplifters. I hope that the Mexican Government finish with the border renovations soon so that the old crossing would reopen.