BajaNomad - Rosarita Beach- a bad scene as always

Rosarita Beach- a bad scene as always

thebajarunner - 1-26-2007 at 07:17 PM

In recent years I have steadfastly refused to pull off into Rosarita, given the general decline in ambience, the traffic, and most of all the reports of "action" by the various police entities. In fact, I made some very direct comments on that subject sometime back here on Nomad.

Well, last Saturday I broke my rule, since my buddy Bernie had suggested that I take my van full of first time visitors to El Nido for lunch.

Pulling off the cuota I had that old sinking sensation of dread. I even turned to my passengers and said, "I want you all to know that I generally do not like going into this place- I used to always stop at the wonderful churro bakery and a quick tour of the hotel for first timers, but it has just gotten out of hand."

Well, exiting near the RB hotel I headed North on the main street, spotted El Nido, but did not want to dive across lanes with a stretch van filled with 11 folks, so went on past and took the first convenient left. The van was too long for a safe and quick U-turn so I went down the side street a block and stopped at the stop sign.

"Uh oh," I said to my smiling co-pilot, a first timer. "This does not feel so good. I bet this street is one way, even though there are no signs, and I bet there is a cop hiding somewhere real close."

So, we gingerly made the left, onto the empty street, and sure enough, at the next intersection there was 'Un Sentido' on the post.

"Swell," I said, "here it comes."

We went back to the main street, turned and immediately the red lights filled my mirrors, just like I knew they would.

I hopped out, spread my hands in front and said, "lo siento" but the cop just took off on me. Then my wife, who was born in Mexico and hates to ever go back, came on the scene and he really went off on us.

I don't pay mordida, so stood my ground, all the time smiling and apologizing to no avail.

Suddenly up drives a really neat guy, Armando Gonzalez, a local art dealer and news columnist. He asked about the facts and tried to intecede, which made the cop even more steamy.

Eventually, to my amazement, the cop started to calm down, because Armando was clearly letting him know that here was a van full of visitors, planning to visit several specific orphanages, and to try and get a better grip on Baja Cfa.

Finally the cop just jammed all the papers, license, etc. back and went on his way.

Why???? Why Rosarito, do you encourage this?

I won't be back, my friends won't be back!!!

Really nice people like Lupe Perez, who owns El Nido and was a most gracious host after the event was over, like Armando the art dealer, like my favorite Panaderia in all of Mexico..... you all lose!

Because, I won't be back, and I will tell people not to go back.

Get on past and don't take a chance!

Sad. But that is the hard learned reality and I am sad to report it.

BAJARUNNER

BAJACAT - 1-26-2007 at 07:32 PM

Im sorry for your bad exp. but that's typical in mexico,if stop going because of bad times with mex finess,there will be no tourissom in Baja,you got to learn from previus running's with the law,whenm I get cops like that I just tell them,to take it easy that I wasn't aware of the problem,other wise I wouldn't done it. kind off like playing dumm,they usually buy it.

DENNIS - 1-26-2007 at 08:14 PM

No, it's not typical of Mexico. Rosarito has gone over and above the line to establish themselves as the most abusive community in northern Baja. The police are blood-suckers and the local government supports them. The local businesses tacitly support their abusive techniques as well.
Rosarito sucks.
Stay out.
Stay away.

Mike Supino - 1-26-2007 at 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baja Bernie
I am sorry that you didn't enjoy your short visit in Rosarito. Your brief comment about my very special friend Lupe was, in my judgement, way out of context.

So Bernie, please tell us more about "my very special friend Lupe"

abreojos - 1-26-2007 at 08:27 PM

More people per square mile = more problems per square mile. Same pie, just more slices.

Oh Good Grief, I am Sick of This

Gypsy Jan - 1-26-2007 at 08:34 PM

Rosarito is not a dangerous place to visit unless you are a stupid, not-observing-caution idiot visitor that expects Disneyland nanny care.

It is a third world economy and if you show up with all the shiny toys that Americans like to drag across the border, then, yes, the various observers will be tempted.

Park your vehicle where you can watch it and keep your wallet/purse where you can see it.

You are a lot safer in Rosarito than in New York, London or Paris when it comes to pickpockets.

End of rant.

Mike Supino - 1-26-2007 at 08:41 PM

I believe that everyone is refering to the "Old Rosarito Beach" Fun, safe with great beachs and food.

Not the current status with the crowding and problems with the police and "dip sh*t" tourista's

JMHO

DENNIS - 1-26-2007 at 08:45 PM

Where can you park your vehicle where you can see it? What does that mean? What you're saying is that in snake-pit Rosarito, your property is only safe if you can see it. What happens when you have to take a leak?
Rosarito has more invisible stop signs than I have ever seen , or not seen, anywhere.
Yeah, Paris may have more pickpockets but the police in Rosarito dont have to do that. They just say,"empty your pockets".
I lived there for two years and saw my fill of police abuse.
Jeezo, you people who try to legitimize and sympathize with Rosarito cops are pathetic.
Open your eyes.

Gypsy Jan - 1-26-2007 at 08:58 PM

Dear Dennis,

I have been shopping and parking in Rorsarito two or times a week for eight years without ANY problems.

I have never been stopped by the local police and have never had a problem with my car (Hint: Make freinds with the parking lot guards)

May I suggest you take the time to learn a little about the place you are driving through before condemning it?

DENNIS - 1-26-2007 at 09:02 PM

Oh yeah ..... I had a car like that a while back.

vacaenbaja - 1-27-2007 at 03:29 AM

The street signs in Rosarito, especially for side streets are a
JOKE in any language or country. There is seems to be no rules that regulate their location, placement, or height. You cannot trust that you are going the right way because of which direction the cars are parked either.
I understand Spanish quite well and the things that I have
heard in conversations when the police pull someone over
are not about public safety or to further justice. It is more like
how are we going to milk this "cow" muchachos?, and nowdays girls too. I have had one way and stop signs pointed out to me by police that are on 2nd story buildings. On both occasions
I was able to argue in spanish that their non standard sign
placement is at fault. It is a great mechanism however to
check to see if the offending party is drunk. Then they will
impound your car and take you to jail while they wait and see if they can draw your blood for a blood alcohol.
This happend to a friend of mine that mistakenly went the wrongway. He had had ONE beer with us for lunch and we were getting ready to leave. He was given the Rosarito
"field breathalizer test" Which is the cop has you blow on your registration while he evaluates THE VOLITILITY OF
your exhalled breath. MY friend was peeed and the guys that
were towing his car away were already arguing in spanish on
who was going to get what off of the car. They did not want to set bail. He was only released when it was determined that the doctor whos was to draw the blood was out on an emergency. This happened circa mid eighties.
maybe a lot has changed since then. But I always drive through there slowly and alert.

Cypress - 1-27-2007 at 07:27 AM

Sounds like a fun place. :bounce:

Packoderm - 1-27-2007 at 09:22 AM

I make a few rules for myself when visiting Rosarito. First off, I budget at least an hour of drive time to get through. I slow down and stop at every intersection - stop sign or not. I'm serious, and surprisingly nobody has honked at me for driving so slow and stopping everywhere. If I can't find a good parking spot (one of the ones on the main drag), I don't stop. I don't have anything worth stealing, and my VW bus is a piece of junk. And hopefully leaving my new guard dog in the van will help as well. I'm glad you didn't get a ticket and a fine. I would have considered that a victory.

David K - 1-27-2007 at 10:31 AM

I zip in to Tacos el Yaqui and out pretty easily... but that's not in a stretch van.

Not dangerous just dumb.

Dave - 1-27-2007 at 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gypsy Jan
Rosarito is not a dangerous place to visit unless you are a stupid, not-observing-caution idiot visitor that expects Disneyland nanny care.

Unless you are 18 and enjoy binge drinking, avoid Rosarito. With the exception of two restaurants and two taco stands there is nothing worth visiting.

capt. mike - 1-27-2007 at 12:28 PM

i agree, the place is a pit.

Oso - 1-27-2007 at 02:40 PM

The last time I went that way on the way out from Ensenada, I got off the cuota at Popotla only to find the Deli closed. No pastrami :no:

I had heard that Rosarito had some good places for colonial or "rustico" furniture, so I stayed on the libre. Big mistake. That traffic is insane. Big City people may be used to it. I'm not. I did spot a couple likely furniture places but NO parking spaces and almost no way to change lanes. With lost bearings and white knuckles, trying to avoid hitting anyone or getting hit, I somehow made it on surface streets all the way through TJ until I found the cuota to Tecate & Rumorosa and could breathe again.

I have reason to try again to reach the Deli when hopefully it's open, but I'll try the new Dos Mil. I don't know what to do about the furniture, but the only way I'm going through downtown Rosarito again is with my eyes closed, under the influence of some kind of stupefactant and with someone else, preferably a local Mexican, doing the driving.

Dave

Baja Bernie - 1-27-2007 at 06:09 PM

Your place is not a restaurant nor a taco shop so should I quit stopping by?

While technically within the municipality

Dave - 1-27-2007 at 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Baja Bernie
Your place is not a restaurant nor a taco shop so should I quit stopping by?

We are as much a part of Rosarito as San Quintin is of Ensenada.

Besides, down here the bears are tame.

Cause I feed 'em. :biggrin:

Sharksbaja - 1-28-2007 at 02:06 AM

:lol:

Pstreet1 - 1-30-2007 at 05:06 AM

We're in and out of Rosarito Beach 3-5 times a week. We have never been stopped; we've never gotten a parking ticket; we've never been robbed. We don't drive an old junker of a car and neither do our friends here--and none of them have had problems either.

Good News

The Gull - 1-30-2007 at 01:50 PM

For those who enjoy Playas de Rosarito, we have just read some great news.

Dennis, Runner, Packy and Soulpatch will not be seen in the town ever again.

While we will all suffer from the loss of diversity that these fine Nomads could bring, it will reduce the traffic congestion including large, multi-passenger vehicles driven by people who can't read street signs in Spanish.

As has been said many times before on this site, progress (civilization in the form of increased population and commercial expansion) has its way of changing something forever.

If some haven't noticed, Tijuana is just about expanded its residential section to what was considered open land between Tijuana and Playas de Rosarito - Cuesta Blanca. I suspect some of these Baja experts voicing their opinion on Playas de Rosarito don't even know where Cuesta Blanca is.

Just think! These same people will not be shopping at the new WalMart and Home Depot that have now purchased property to start building this year. This isn't a one-burro town anymore.

Just a question for the enlightened Nomads...would you prefer that areas along the border drop into a desperate economic pit or become self sufficent & economically viable? Why is it NOT OK for this population to want things they see in the US? Would you prefer that they cross (mostly illegally) to be able to live a life that they judge is better?

I am not in the mode to defend the Rosarito cops. I have been listening to Gringos complain about them since 1968 when I first came to Baja. It is a great American hyperbolic, ignorant pastime to villianize the Mexican "Federales" (which municipal police are not).

So let's raise a glass of Pacifico and toast those who will continue to pass the four offramps on their way to the "real" Baja nirvana, wherever that may take them. Don't forget to stop at all the toll booths and do not take the 2000 road to Otay.

Saludos,

Excellent Advice????????????????

The Gull - 1-30-2007 at 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
No, it's not typical of Mexico. Rosarito has gone over and above the line to establish themselves as the most abusive community in northern Baja. The police are blood-suckers and the local government supports them. The local businesses tacitly support their abusive techniques as well.
Rosarito sucks.
Stay out.
Stay away.

Take your vacations in Punta Banda and then buy a home there...wait a few years...and then have your home taken away from you by Mexican Soldiers enforcing a court order. Dennis is sooooooo right, stay away from Rosarito if you want to invest time and money in Baja. Go to Punta Banda where you can lose it all - quickly.

The Gull - 1-30-2007 at 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by thebajarunner
In recent years I have steadfastly refused to pull off into Rosarita, given the general decline in ambience, the traffic, and most of all the reports of "action" by the various police entities.

When calling Playas de Rosarito - Rosarita - it is not a surprise that driving a 12 passenger van the wrong way comes so easily.

What fantasy world had Playas de Rosarito full of "ambiance"? Was it ambiance when there were no paved streets until 1990? If you define getting stuck in knee high mud in the middle of town in your car after a rain - ambiance. Was it ambiance to drive 9 miles of the "Libre" to visit Puerto Nuevo between potholes that could eat VWs? A few bent rims and many flat tires repaired in Primo Tapia at Llantas Molina would suggest lack of ambiance.

Romanticizing third world squaler is a uniquely American delight as it supports some personal aim of being "above it all" as the New World Nobility.

[Edited on 1-30-2007 by The Gull]

Gull

Baja Bernie - 1-30-2007 at 02:14 PM

Sorta funny! Forever Rosarito was part of TJ and then they voted to form a separate city.....................Now TJ has grown over the hills and the two are, for practical purposes, one again and will remain so.

Not a small town anymore!

DENNIS - 1-30-2007 at 03:36 PM

I dont suggest that people should invest time or money in any part of Mexico just as I dont suggest they go to Las Vegas.
Punta Banda is a large place, much more so than the expropriated area.

Packoderm - 1-30-2007 at 09:24 PM

I don't see what he read in my post either. I still stop by in Rosarito nearly every trip, but I do drive so sloooow. Its been at least ten years since I spent the night there though. I used to enjoy the Rosarito Beach Hotel, but I don't feel the urge to stay there anymore. I think Bernie is correct in it becoming a part of Tijuana, and I've never stayed the night in Tijuana before in my life.

Bernie is right

The Gull - 1-31-2007 at 07:15 AM

Playas de Rosarito was part of Tijuana (governed by) before they broke off in the 90's. Therefore, everyone who stayed overnight in Playas de Rosarito stayed in TJ.

Just because the two cities may get connected physically with their expansions, the city governments will stay separated and the revenues of each will not be mixed together.

The rate of change in Playas de Rosarito has been accelerating every year since that event. The over-stressing of its infrastructure is obvious - even to the most casual of visitors. With the financial independence came the predictable hanky-panky with the revenues for personal activites and for the use of governmental power for selected groups.

In the history of growth of the United States, there are many examples of the conditions found in Playas de Rosarito. Somehow, Americans have either turned a blind eye to their own shortfalls or they have corrected the situations - I will leave that judgment to the diverse assessments of all Nomads.

[Edited on 1-31-2007 by The Gull]

Pstreet1 - 1-31-2007 at 03:33 PM

Gull, you answered beautifully what many of us wanted to say. The standard of living for Mexicans in Rosarito is, I think, improving because of the Gringo presence, and I believe that for the most part they welcome us. They don't welcome Americans who are demanding and think rules don't apply to them.

SDRonni - 1-31-2007 at 04:05 PM

Holy smokes! I sure do hope things calm down and get safer by the time our condo is completed. Hubby's talking of putting the condo on the market already.....we have so been looking forward to part-time retirement in Rosarito...all the news of kidnappings, etc. is really scary...

Pstreet1 - 1-31-2007 at 08:06 PM

It's not scary if you live here and aren't involved in the drug trade. We still feel safer here than we do most places in the U.S. (and that's not talking about venturing into the unsavory parts of the cities either). You're going to love having a condo here. Where are you building?

SDRonnie

Baja Bernie - 1-31-2007 at 09:10 PM

Learn to smile, relax, and enjoy the Mexican smiles you will find around you................Spend some time, learn about a wonderful culture that will teach you that 'time' is only your friend if its passing adds to your enjoyment of life.

And don't try to drive from one end of town to the other on the weekends (Rather like Palm Springs used to be) or holidays far too many young gringos making fools of themselves.

Don't venture to far to the east until you have learned your way around the main part of town and make your first trips there in the mid morning to adjust yourself.............still very basic survival back up those dirt roads.

Disfrutar!

SDRonni - 1-31-2007 at 11:43 PM

PStreet1: Las Olas Mar Y Sol, just north of Rosarito Beach, immediately south of the Century Resort (formerly El Oasis), 3 miles south of the new Trump resort. You familiar with it?

Baja Bernie: Thanks for the encouraging words! Much appreciated! I'll try to remember them when reading the negatives.....

paul r - 1-31-2007 at 11:52 PM

I live in the "beach" and everything is cool..... baja rules!!!!

Pstreet1 - 2-1-2007 at 12:32 AM

Yes, we looked at models of Mar Y Sol when the model center was at Las Olas. We're at Club Marena, and have been for the past 8 years.

SDRonnie

Baja Bernie - 2-1-2007 at 07:08 AM

Where the pebbles gurgle as the tide runs to and fro.

The Gull - 2-1-2007 at 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDRonni
Holy smokes! I sure do hope things calm down and get safer by the time our condo is completed. Hubby's talking of putting the condo on the market already.....we have so been looking forward to part-time retirement in Rosarito...all the news of kidnappings, etc. is really scary...

There are hundreds of killings every year in virtually ANY MAJOR California city. Rosarito is becoming a major city in Baja. Sad for some, not for others. If selling is the right thing to do for you, it should be after you acquire some facts, not the rants of a few uninformed Nomads. I own many properties in various places in the world, including California would you suggest that I sell those holdings in California with just reading the front page of a major city newspaper? You know the front page - where all the gore and human misery is sensationalized to sell more of the fish wrap.

Are you selling your Alta California property?

[Edited on 2-2-2007 by The Gull]

bancoduo - 2-1-2007 at 07:02 PM

The Rosarito bird is a flying plastic bag. Where is the Rosarito wastewater treatment plant? How is it going to handle all the development.? :no:

comitan - 2-1-2007 at 07:08 PM

What about the thousands of people that cross the border every day, they must be really stupid not being on this forum and know what going on, just think if they knew the border going north wouldn't be so clogged. All the restaurants,Hotels,Bars, etc. from Ensenada to TJ would have to close for lack of business. They would also be just giving away all those thousands of waterfront homes, ok I'm done.

The Gull - 2-1-2007 at 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Where can you park your vehicle where you can see it? What does that mean? What you're saying is that in snake-pit Rosarito, your property is only safe if you can see it. What happens when you have to take a leak?
Rosarito has more invisible stop signs than I have ever seen , or not seen, anywhere.
Yeah, Paris may have more pickpockets but the police in Rosarito dont have to do that. They just say,"empty your pockets".
I lived there for two years and saw my fill of police abuse.
Jeezo, you people who try to legitimize and sympathize with Rosarito cops are pathetic.
Open your eyes.

A very reasoned response!!!!!! You would want the readership to know:

1) All Playas de Rosarito Police learn the phrase "empty your pockets" and use it everytime they interface with Americans. Specifically, when has this happened to you and did you discuss this with the official in Playas de Rosarito whose job it is to protect tourists? Do you know where the office is located? Did you discuss it with the District Attorney? Do you know where that office is located?

2) What happens if you have to take a leak? It might be adviseable to exit your car before attempting that activity. What were the years that you lived there and how many cars of yours were stolen?

3) In all your experience in Playas de Rosarito what were the times you actually encountered abusive police or did your phrase "police abuse" mean someone was hurting the police?

4) It is not surprising that you miss seeing the ALTO signs as your head is somewhere else and your vision must be impaired as a result.

5) Where is the Playas de Rosarito snakepit located? I would like to visit it.

[Edited on 2-2-2007 by The Gull]

The Gull - 2-1-2007 at 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bancoduoWhere is the Rosarito wastewater treatment plant? How is it going to handle all the development.? :no:

Q1) It is located under the bridge between the Rosarito Beach Hotel and Rene's Sports Bar.

Q2) It doesn't and won't.

S___Patch

The Gull - 2-2-2007 at 07:30 AM

It may be apparent to others that my attempts to raise the discussion on this string to "above rants and unsupported accusations" has been wasted on a few. If asking for facts and providing both sides of a picture is rigorously defending anything, I was not aware of that definiton.

Officer, you may wish to read my entries where it is clearly stated that the government of Rosarito and the current state of the infrastructure needs improvement. Also, I suggested that the romaticizing of the old town was potentially a revisionist's view of history.

You didn't think to flash the badge to gain some brotherhood treatment in Playas de Rosarito? Doesn't seem consistent with the rest of the tale.

White folks? Geez. It is still good news that you won't be visiting there real soon, bro.

tuna stick - 2-2-2007 at 12:34 PM

Perhaps ,I might suggest, New Orleans? Friendly,helpfull citizens,police willing and able to"set up like a bowling pin",and the always squeeky cleen politicos. 'Nuf said!

lizard lips - 2-2-2007 at 01:29 PM

I went surfing with my buddie and our girlfriends, who were both 17 years old about 30 years ago at k38 just south of Rosarito. My friend liked to indulge in the "bud" and had hid two joints under the mattress in his van. Just when we got back from surfing an old chevy pulled up where we were and four military guys got out and searched the van and found the hidden stash. The four of us got in the front of the van with one solider in the back and we followed the chevy to the police station. They threw us in a cell and apparently the guests that occupied the cell before us did not us the bathroom facilities and the floor had about an inch of urine. If I kept real still the urine would not go over the top of my sandals.

The girls were scared and we tried to calm them down but they kept crying, and crying. We finally were escorted to the cheifs office where he asked us how much money we had. $94.00...That was it. He took it of course and then asked how old were the girls. Because they were both 17 the cheif called their parents who came down to get them. My girlfriend's parents were living in Arizona and they made the trip from Phoenix.

That night when the girls parents came to the station the girls were led to the cheifs office and we never saw them again. I guess that the parents did'nt really like us anymore....

The next morning we went into the cheifs office once again and he asked us to call our parents to bail us out. That was the last thing I wanted to do. Call my father? He was a drill instructor in the Army! MARIJUANA----MEXICO!!!!! No friggen way. My buddies dad was a mayor of a city in Orange County and he did'nt want to call him as well so we told the cheif no. We were led back into our cell.

We continued to have this disscussion for four days and each time we told him we were not going to call our parents. They brought us a cup of beans and a roll of bread for breakfast and dinner every day. The cell was small and had a block bench with room for only one person to lay down in the fetal position. The other had to stand and it was cold. The other guests that came to enjoy this great atmosphere were mostly drunks that made alot of noise.

Finally on the fifth day we had our little meeting. We told him once again no. He threw the keys to my friends van at him and told us to get out.

When we got to the van everything was there. Not one thing was missing but we did'nt have any gas to get back to the border. I went back into the cheifs office and told him about the gas situation and he gave me ten bucks and said never to come back to Rosarito. I'll never forget the look on his face when I asked him. It was one of those, you got to be kidding looks.

I was'nt until about five years ago that I finally told my parents about this.

DENNIS - 2-2-2007 at 02:09 PM

I suppose, thirty years ago that could have been worse. After you finally told your folks, did they ground you?

lizard lips - 2-2-2007 at 11:36 PM

Dennis,

You may know my step father, Ed Krause, he is the art director from the Gertrude Peralman Theater in Punta Bunda and lives with my mother Marilyn in Campo La Jolla. He laughed. My father who has been a private investigator since I was born got peeed and would have ht me, but I still move pretty fast.....

GO BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phil S - 2-3-2007 at 08:04 AM

:lol: