Mary Ellen

I would be VERY CAREFUL about anything involving blood and needles in Mexico; many people contract AIDS here because medical establishments reuse needles so is it really worth it to get a few dollars??? I assume you know you aren't going to get the same money in the U.S.?

Have you noticed that most cars have only 1-2 people in them and the reason is that no one is going to let people in a car crossing the border unless they know them really well. 

I think you will change your attitude about everything once you've lived in Mexico for a while esp. when it comes to trusting most people.  Unfortunately the TJ area is full of deportees and not-so-reputable Americans who live in TJ because they have no where else to go due to being on welfare, SSI, etc. so be careful about whom you associate esp. when it comes to Americans.  I lived in an apartment in TJ several years ago and the majority of people who caused problems were Americans...not Mexicans.  Most Mexicans living among Americans have a steady job but you won't find that the case with many Americans living in TJ; many of them are on government assistance.

One way I break the monotony of driving and waiting at the border is to have a Spanish language CD rather than music and it helps reinforce your Spanish.  You can start with basic Spanish and progress to different levels.

Those Yahoo "news" reports are written by interns and if you've read any of that Yahoo news section usually it is incorrect.  They repeatedly report that the U.S. economy is doing great which we all know is CRAP!  So i wouldn't take too much stock in those Yahoo reports.  There are many more credible news sources other than Yahoo and their U.S. propaganda-affiliates.  If you done any research about cheap places to live many of those locations are not really that cheap and they have much stricter immigration policies than Mexico.

Anyone who has been to Vancouver, B.C. knows very well it is the most expensive place to live in Canada.  Argentina is not that inexpensive to live either.  And yeah Guatemala is cheap as well as Honduras because both of those countries have become narco-states and not exactly the safest places which is why all those immigrantes are coming to Mexico in droves.  

Most people I know here in TJ and Rosarito never get their deposits back.  I would rent in a place that is accustomed to dealing with Americans otherwise you might have issues with no hot water, questionable neighbors and other things that Mexicans don't think are important and don't complain about.   I read somewhere that the average American who moves across the border moves 2.5 times the first year due to the above.  I think that's true because I've moved 3 times within 2 years; 2 times the first year. The first year problems ranged from questionable people living in my building since the owner didn't check ID and the 2nd place I had no hot water at least 50% of the time although i paid for it.   I paid a $250 deposit on the 2nd apartment and I made sure when I left that there are a huge electric bill (the bill was in the landlord's name).  

Those areas are not considered part of the Zona Rio.  I lived in Tomas Aquino a couple of years ago.  It's convenient to both borders but nothing special; a typical lower middle class Mexican neighborhood with good transportation.  You might want to start reading the local Tijuana newspapers online and you will discover that Libertad is a frequent mentioned area in the crime reports.

HK...are you aware you can get a broadband modem thru all Mexican telecom's and it's less expensive than in the U.S.?
Also if you have a landline you can also get WiFI as well.  
I live midway between both garitas south of the airport and my Cricket broadband works O.K. as well as the cell phone.

My little dog got really sick this past New Year's weekend and, surprisingly, I could not find any vet open either on Saturday or Sunday in TJ.  I couldn't believe in a city this size so near the border there were no vets open and I had to drive all the way to Rosarito.
A friend sent me to Rosarito to a great vet who is open on Sundays.  My dog is has been there overnight.  I was worried I would have to go to the U.S. and spend triple/quadruple.
It appears most vets even here in TJ are accustomed to treating only minor problems.
Rodeo Clinica Veterinaria
Benito Juarez # 141, Col. Lucio Blanco
Playas de Rosarito, BC
(661) 613-5207

Well...my little Pekingese stayed at the vet for 3 days and had kidney failure so was euthanized.  This vet has dogs for adoption if anyone is looking for one.  I was going to San Diego to find another dog and luckily the vet had 3 really cute small dogs for adoption so I took one and I'm picking him up today after being neutered.  If I was living in a house I would have taken all 3 of them.
I've was really impressed with this vet and the staff during a very difficult time for me.

Apartments in an American style complex, American owner & majority of renters Americans (English spoken). Close to the border, excellent public transportation & taxi. Secure gated parking.  Supermarkets, stores, restaurants & businesses near. Close to airport & university. Gated entrance. Month to month no lease. Well behaved pets with no deposit.

See the apartments Monday thru Friday 10:00am to 5:00pm & Saturdays 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Appointments are not necessary.

- Large 2 bedroom: $390/month $200 deposit
- Small 2 bedroom: $325/month and $200 deposit.
- 1 bedroom: $275/month & $200 deposit.
- Studios: $225-$250/month

Check the Google map on website.  It is near the Instituto Tecnologico.  If you are not familiar with Tijuana, go to the San Ysidro border by car or trolley & walk across the border & take a taxi  $5.  All taxis know the area.

The street that borders the Instituto Tecnologico & Circunvalacion is Cuahtemozin at the corner of Cuahtemozin & Tecnologico.   A XOXO store is across the street and a Chinese restaurant on the corner.  The apartments are near the corner of Cuahtemozin & Circunvalacion off Tecnologico & near Teatro California (see map on website).    http://apartmentsintijuana.com/