Tijuana (Mexico) > Reviews > not only "vice and sin"

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Full review

Southern California.
We leave San Diego and cross the USA-Mexico border at San Ysidro and then we reach Tijuana.

In 1911 the "Federal" (Mexican federal soldiers) slaughtered 31 "Mangonistas" (rebels) that just kept the control of Tijuana after the Mexican revolution..
From 1915 this city became a destination for some Americans of San Diego that come here for horse races and cockfights, to bet in the casinos. Then, two years later, the Government of California decided ti shut-down all cabarets and Tijuana was ready to open them on its territory and the number of people from San Diego increased a lot.
Tijuana become the "wildest in the wild" when in 1920 the Federal Government of the United States of America introduced the law against alcoholics and all Californians elected this city as their preferred destination.
Also nowadays Tijuana is the destination, during the weekend, for the young Californians that come here to satisfy their thirst of alcoholics (this is not really something to imitate) as in California you must be 21 to order an alcoholic drink.
Youths and elders run to Tijuana and fill the "lap dance" premises as they are more permissive than in California.
In conclusion Tijuana is a frontier town that has kept during the years its "forbidden" character.

But Tijuana is not only "vice and sin", it has few tourist attraction and many shopping facilities.

If your visit is between December and March, you can watch the whales migration. You can watch it from the seashore but I suggest you to rent a speed boat and to sail to the open sea to be closer to the whales.

As we cross the USA-Mexico border, we are in Avenida Revolucion surrounded by a long line of stalls with their displays of blankets, wicker baskets, potteries and many other handicrafts. Past the stalls there are many small shops selling different goods: from crystals to native Indian pendants and earrings.
I must say that just a stroll in this picturesque street justifies our coming to Tijuana.

But if you really want to taste the true ambience of Tijuana you should go to Mercado Hidalgo that is the open market where each local inhabitant goes for the everyday shopping. You stroll around, elbow to elbow with the Mexicans, looking for red and hot chillies and other Mexican spices; and local sweets made with Aztec corn flour. Fill your eyes with the strong colours of the market around you. Fill your nose with the spiced scent of the products on sale.

We are not to far from the States and consequently in Tijuana there is also a typical American shopping centre, Plaza Rio. Supermarket, duty-free shops, shoes and garments from the best worldwide designers are here along with electronic products made in Japan or China.

If you are looking for leather shoes, boots, garments and, why not, a saddle for your horse, Plaza Zapato (that means "square of the shoes") must be your destination. Here you find what you requires at a 50% lower price than the shops in USA that are far away only few kilometres.

Tijuana is located about 30 kilometre south of Sand Diego. You can travel there by car or the characteristic tramway.

Whichever could be the reason of your visit, I strongly recommend to include Tijuana in your tour while in California.