BajaNomad - Gringo Panhandler At TJ Border

Gringo Panhandler At TJ Border

Festus - 4-2-2008 at 05:28 PM

When we came back from Baja last Friday there was a gringo pandhandler at the point where the TJ Rio border crossing traffic first comes to a halt on the 1D from Ensenada. He was working cars with US license plates and saying that he had just gotten out of a TJ jail and needed $$'s to get home to the US. He became very aggressive when we ignored him and scared the kids pretty bad. He threatened to get a rock and throw it through our window if we didn't roll it down and give him money. Maybe he was Mexican but he looked and sounded (accent) like a Gringo. I swear I saw the same guy about 3 years ago when I visited TJ for the evening with some friends. He used the same line then..just got out of a TJ jail and needed cash to get back to the US.

Anyone else seen this guy at the border or in the tourist areas of TJ?

bajaguy - 4-2-2008 at 05:37 PM

A short burst of pepper spray usually discourages that type of behavior.

elgatoloco - 4-2-2008 at 05:50 PM

Yes. First time about 5-6 years ago. Real pro.

DENNIS - 4-2-2008 at 05:52 PM

He needs serious attention. A jack handle comes to mind.

Diver - 4-2-2008 at 06:10 PM

Sounds like the same guy that tried us a few years ago.
He was a nice looking young man with flawless english who said he had been robbed and was trying to get money to get back to the US.
I asked why he didn't just walk across and he said they had taken his ID.
I said that he couldn't get across without it so he needed to go to the embassy in TJ.
He got really peeed and started cursing in spanish !!! :biggrin:

Bajaboy - 4-2-2008 at 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Diver
Sounds like the same guy that tried us a few years ago.
He was a nice looking young man with flawless english who said he had been robbed and was trying to get money to get back to the US.
I asked why he didn't just walk across and he said they had taken his ID.
I said that he couldn't get across without it so he needed to go to the embassy in TJ.
He got really peeed and started cursing in spanish !!! :biggrin:

Same thing here...he said he needed money to take the bus across the border. I asked why he didn't just walk across. If I recall correctly, he was kind of tall.

Zac

vgabndo - 4-2-2008 at 06:37 PM

There is now a permanent gringo panhandler in Catavina. He always asks for TWO pesos. He's been there on four passings in the last two years. This one is peaceful. :no:

lingililingili - 4-2-2008 at 06:43 PM

I think we had the same guy! Our guy said he was crew on a boat and had been left behind without ID. Said he needed bus fare to get across the border where he would meet up with his wife who had his ID. We wondered how he expected to get across the border without any ID but he was good! We figured we got $6.00 worth of entertainment out of his story! Mexican looking guy with perfect English. Think he saw the Lattitude 38 bumper sticker on our car and figured we would be sympathetic to his cause.

DENNIS - 4-2-2008 at 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vgabndo
This one is peaceful. :no:

Peaceful might be worth two Ps as long as he doesn't call it a tip.

RockhouseTom - 4-2-2008 at 07:26 PM

Had the same story used on us in November about just getting out of Jail. This guy said he had been attacked by a police dog and lifted his pant leg and showed a very ugly wound. It was clear that something or someone had been chewing on his leg.

islandhop - 4-2-2008 at 08:41 PM

I remember that guy, about 6 or 7 years ago he tried the same thing on us at the left turn before the underpass in TJ going north. Does anybody remember seeing the old begger guy in San Jose that insisted on showing you his narly leg when passing him by in old town. God that leg was nasty looking ......

DENNIS - 4-2-2008 at 08:51 PM

There's this old guy who props himself up on crutches on the toll road in Rosarito Beach, hitchhiking. People will feel safe with the old fraud and give him a ride up the road as he begs the driver to death, paying him to get out at his chosen spot. He then crosses the road and thumbs his way back to where he started. Back and forth, back and forth for what has amounted to a career. I don't know when he started this but, he's been there for a long time.

castaway$ - 4-2-2008 at 10:13 PM

If you people would just give me money we wouldn't have this problem or need for this post! :lol:

Bob and Susan - 4-3-2008 at 07:05 AM

that guy has been there a long time...

crack or herion addict...

he was eating tree bark one time i drove by :lol:

i had to tell him once to remember the cars he solicits because he just asked me 6 months before :lol:

he got peeed and kicked the plastic fender on the dually :smug:

watch out for him he could be dangerous. :saint:

vgabndo - 4-3-2008 at 02:44 PM

I'm reminded of a time when I stopped on the way from Loreto to La Paz. A little granny was out of gas with several kids, one of whom was flagging traffic with a gallon milk jug. I gave them some gas, and when we returned hours later, they were still there. I'm guessing the tank wasn't yet full. :lol:

Pretty good trick.

DanO - 4-3-2008 at 03:02 PM

With the price of gas the way it is these days, that doesn't seem like such a bad idea.

Mango - 4-3-2008 at 06:14 PM

Sounds like the guy could use a trip back to jail due to his aggressive style.

My favorite all time panhandler was this guy in Eugene, Oregon. He would give you a coupon equal to the value of the change you gave him and would always say, "You have been redeemed." as he handed over the coupon. :lol:

DENNIS - 4-3-2008 at 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vgabndo
Pretty good trick.

It's nice to be nice. Too bad we have look for all the variables.

vgabndo - 4-3-2008 at 08:08 PM

My favorite panhandler: The wifey was arriving at LAX and I stopped at a florist's shop on the way to pick her up. In the parking lot I got button-holed, but the guys says I don't want a handout, but for a buck I'll tell you a joke. I paid, he did, I laughed my butt off. I still tell that joke now and then. :lol:

DENNIS - 4-3-2008 at 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vgabndo
My favorite panhandler: The wifey was arriving at LAX and I stopped at a florist's shop on the way to pick her up. In the parking lot I got button-holed, but the guys says I don't want a handout, but for a buck I'll tell you a joke. I paid, he did, I laughed my butt off. I still tell that joke now and then. :lol:

And.....Do we get to hear the joke or do we have to pay a buck?

Bob and Susan - 4-4-2008 at 07:40 AM

it's a buck fifty NOW!!! :lol:

Festus - 4-4-2008 at 09:38 AM

Quote:

Vgabndo - do tell us the joke please.

While we are waiting for vagbndo's joke..here's a filler.

Pompano - 4-4-2008 at 10:09 AM

This was told by a member of the Lakota Souix Nation.

It was October and the Indians on a remote ND reservation asked their new Chief if the coming winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was a Chief in a modern society he had never been taught the old secrets. When he looked at the sky he couldn't tell what the winter was going to be like.

Nevertheless, to be on the safe side he told his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect firewood to be prepared. But being a practical leader, after several days he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked, "Is the coming winter going to be cold?"

"It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold," the meteorologist at the weather service responded.

So the Chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more firewood in order to be prepared. A week later he called the National Weather Service again. "Does it still look like it is going to be a very cold winter?"

"Yes," the man at National Weather Service again replied, "it's going to be a very cold winter."

The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of firewood they could find. Two weeks later the Chief called the National Weather Service again. "Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?"

"Absolutely," the man replied. "It's looking more and more like it is going to be one of the coldest winters ever."

"How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked.

The weatherman replied, "The Indians are collecting firewood like crazy."

OK...here it is.

vgabndo - 4-4-2008 at 11:09 AM

A kind of scroungy looking guy rushes into a bar and shouts to the bartender:

GIVE ME FOURTEEN SHOTS OF TEQUILA AND MAKE IT QUICK.

The bartender hesitates, but is finally convinced by the customer and pours out 14 shots. The drinker starts pounding them down.

1....2....3....4....5

WHOA THE BARTENDER SAYS, TAKE IT EASY MAN, YOU'RE GOING TO KILL YOURSElf.

The customer keeps drinking.

6...7...8...

THE BARTENDER SAYS...WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?

The drinker says: YOU'D BE DRINKING LIKE THIS TOO IF YOU HAD WHAT I HAVE.

9...10...11...

THE BARTENDERS SAYS...WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

12...13...14

THE GUY SLAPS SEVERAL COINS ON THE BAR AND SAYS...

SEVENTY-FOUR CENTS.

I hope it was worth the wait...... :lol:

Pompano - 4-4-2008 at 11:12 AM

:lol:

Yup, good one...I think I will drive over to Ana's and try that one on Zulema.

vgabndo - 4-4-2008 at 11:31 AM

Thanks Roger, I like yours too. :lol:

Lindalou - 4-4-2008 at 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano
:lol:

Yup, good one...I think I will drive over to Ana's and try that one on Zulema.

Try it on Lupe that will be even more fun :lol:

DENNIS - 4-4-2008 at 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vgabndo

I hope it was worth the wait...... :lol:

Well worth the wait. Thanks.

Pompano - 4-4-2008 at 01:03 PM

RichnLinda...I just came back from Ana's, but decided it was too early for tequila. Take it from me, 14 beers with a Mexican combo plate for lunch is almost too filling....groan. Lupe says Hi...as does Marta.

Kell-Baja - 4-4-2008 at 05:06 PM

Great Joke.

both jokes

sylens - 4-4-2008 at 05:53 PM

lol thigh slappers.
:lol:

thanks

Oso - 4-4-2008 at 06:01 PM

I have no set policy on panhandlers, it just depends on the moment. Years ago, my wife and I were approached on Market St. in SF by a typically scroungy type with a bandage over one eye. He started off with a typical story, he was beaten and robbed by some guys, just got out of the hospital... I started to roll my eyes, having heard it all before. Then he threw a curveball... said "I'm not hungry, but I sure could use a drink." Gave him a buck.

HCR - 4-4-2008 at 06:23 PM

Every time I've given to a panhandler, I've felt good about it because I was reminded to be grateful that the roles were not reversed.