184 replies to this topic

[libertythor]

Okay, I propose letting this thread fall down gradually to the bottom of the list.

As far as eating at the Mom and Pop joints....my only complaint is the coffee.

[diogenes]

Well, at least some Mom & pop places give you a choice of different types of coffee in a jar. Another thing I do is tip the girls (usually girls) equally -usually a buck apiece, so when I go back they know who I am ( "thats the crazy guy with debateable spanish that tipped us each a buck"), and they give me vastly superior service and portions - as long as the owner isn't looking.

[the.ronin]

I hate how there's not clear demarcation of "buenas dias" and "buenas tardes" ... I mean for pete's sake can we not establish a specific time - say 3 pm when it's appropriate to say one or the other?? Oh, the humanity!

[Ryu]

I thought there was a demarcation... 12:00pm. Now buenas tardes and buenas noches, that's a hard one.

[Miggiesmallz- TEXMEX]

I say it changes at dusk.

[finero]

With respect to all hard liners of this thread; Tijuana, BC is an OCCUPIED city. In this case toeing the line is not forced upon the people by " a Foreign Invader " but at the hostility and aggressiveness of varied layers of their own government that will kill and mame to control the populace for only one reason, dinero. As such, the authority ( lack of a better word ) is/are in constant conflict with the habitants and the habitants with the authority. Such is the way of lawlessness ( opinion ). Where is Clint Eastwood when you need him.

I have witnessed the search of eleven lawbiding citizens the past three days for no other reason than they must submit ( that is occupied territorty) . All in an effort to do what, control drugs ? Don't think so... as the cargo goes North not South which is the location of the military check point. Go figure!

I have been coming to Tijuana for 10+ years and never been stopped or searched, yet I despise the thought of others being violated without cause.
Tonight, my bride and I are going out to be violated. If it doesn't work out then I 'll come home and be violated ( Love that ).

[jm0501]

I looked up at the solder to day at the check point and he was training his M19 right dead center at our passenger compartment Looking down/up the barrel of a M19 Gun wakes me right up,
with those large gold shell you don't have to ask your self is it loaded, it is (wow) !

Just got to love this country.
http://www.fas.org/m...s/land/mk19.jpg
http://commons.wikim...age:MK19-02.jpg

JM

[the.ronin]

The guy had it TRAINED on you???? That's pretty effed up.

[libertythor]

While it can be certain that there have been some breeches of etiquette by members of the military here, it is certain that they are much more professional and polite than most of the police force.

Between Mexicali and Tecate I was on a bus where we were all herded off for a random revision of cargo. They were all real nice and didn´t start accusing people of the hypothetical like some municipal agents here. (Such as the time they were sniffing my fingers and asking if I used crystal or mota.....or another time.....what are you doing here? You aren´t a criminal are you?)

[Miggiesmallz- TEXMEX]

Yep, everyday as I drive home there is a machine gun pointed at my vehicle as I drive past the check point on the way into Playas. That pisses me off.

Speaking of law enforcement, a motorcycle municipal cop pulled me over for running a red light on 2nd and Martinez in Zona Centro. He looked at my license and my registration and then proceeded to tell me to be more careful next time. NO INFRACTION, HE DIDN’T EVEN ASK ME TO BRIBE HIM. I guess the mordidas are going out of style or something...

[the.ronin]

The reten (sp?) on the way to playas does seem to have soldiers more wired in than others. They do have a nice checkpoint setup up though with staggered bunkers and a guy constantly on the bridge. I guess we've been lucky, the worse we ever get are cold stares.

[libertythor]

When the soldiers were first brought to the city and most of us were excited about the deal with the cops being under intense scrutiny without their weapons, I saluted the soldiers at the Playas checkpoint they responded with friendly smiles and nods.

Now as far as the cops go, they aren´t all bad. Many after the routine frisk are friendly and chat for a few minutes. Others will write an infraction and do things by the book.....still yet others will hope for a bribe, act macho, but relent and let you off with a warning.....then there are the dicks that treat you like a hoodlum (even if you don´t fit the profile) but then leave you alone when you don´t panic and throw money at them.

Here are the general rules:

1. Always be nice. Don´t curse or get an attitude. If you are in the military don´t say "prepotentamente" I AM IN THE US (NAME YOUR BRANCH OF SERVICE.) I was in the car with a friend in the Navy that ticked the cops of with that one. He was driving while talking on his cell....in the wrong..end of story...don´t try it.

2. Never relent and give or even offer them money. Many know that someAmericans have heard horror stories and that many will immediately toss 50 bucks at them.....and most of the time there was nothing wrong commited...or something minor like turning without a turn signal.....Then they come back to the US complaining that they were robbed by the police.
If nothing major is in question, and you know you didn´t do anything unethical, don´t worry.

3. Some cops will try to take advantage of one´s ignorance (or supposed ignorance) of the system and say that they also have the function to judge all traffic issues. Always insist on going to the delegación and speaking with the judge. They do not want paperwork and will either write you a ticket, offer you a cheap 10 dollar "fine", or let you off with a warning.

4. If they threaten to take you to jail over something really minor that isn´t even a crime (public disply of affection for instance), the worse that will happen is that you will spend an hour in the subdelegación drunk tank while they try to intimidate you....and the judge will let you off with no charges.

5. If you really did commit some misdemeanor offense (public drunkeness....bar fight...etc) the worse will be 3 days in the municipal jail. This is avoided by simply obeying basic laws and universal rules of conduct.

6. Most of the horror stories seem to involve those who were looking for drugs or prostitutes to begin with and dealing with the shady side of life in Tijuana. If you are looking for a prostitute...don´t pick her off of the street or follow the offer of some guy who is a stranger to seek one for you. Go to a reputable establishment where all the girls have municipal health cards.

7. As far as drugs...lets say marijuana...wait until you have spent time living here or know people that you can trust...reputable people that occasionally smoke up.....keep it in a house party setting. In other words..use common sense.



I have never had to go to the municipal jail; a cop has never robbed me (I have given a couple of $10 or $15 bribes); once I spent an hour in the subdelegación with my boyfriend because some cops didn´t like the fact I was holding hands with him walking down the street. The judge pretty much laughed and the cops and let us go with no charges.

It seems that some trouble can be caused if the cop sees something that he or she doesn´t think is moral and feels offended....even if it isn´t vulgar and illegal!

Just whatever you do....don´t be intimidated by them. Most of the "robbed tourists" got nervous and threw money at them to get them to go away.

[Miggiesmallz- TEXMEX]

If you are in the military don´t say "prepotentamente" I AM IN THE US (NAME YOUR BRANCH OF SERVICE.)

That's like trying to pull the "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM???!!!" card. That sh*t don't fly no-where.

[the.ronin]

I hate the speed bumps ... oh wow do I so hate the speed bumps.

The only thing I hate more than the speed bumps are the signs warning you of a speed bump AFTER the freeging speed bump.

[sdc]

It remimds me of one of my first experiences with the word tope....

Tope, tope tope....TOPE....as I hit a speed bump at 60 mph..I then knew what tope meant...

But personally I a bigger fan of speed bumps than I am of their cousin the pot hole....seriously I think some of them go all the way to China....

[Miggiesmallz- TEXMEX]

Haa, a tope is just a backwards pot-hole.

[the.ronin]

TJ + pothole + rain = THE SUCK.

[Miggiesmallz- TEXMEX]

TJ + RAIN STORM = Lots of potholes.

Everytime we have a hard rainstorm pot holes develope.

[libertythor]

All of the sidestreets off of Blvd. De las Aguas in Villa Fontana are practically known as "topelandia"

It is very nerve wracking when there are topes followed by a series of baches. The city would spend a lot less money on road repairs in the long run by spending more money upgrading the entire structure of the roads.

But this isn't one of my strongest annoyances of Tijuana....I am from a county in Missouri where 40 percent of the roads and county trunk routes are gravel!! But those gravel roads are graded properly and aren't ridden with baches. That would be the big difference.

[the.ronin]

I hate it when stupid Cinepolis stops showing schedules for the VIP on their website.

http://www.cinepolis...x...5&horario=0

grr :x