BajaNomad

Tell me how much do you love Tijuana!

Ken Cooke - 4-15-2008 at 08:07 PM



I just reviewed Fernando's (FDT) new webpage: http://www.paramitijuana.com and I have to say it helps remind me of the good times in Tijuana.

Anyone have anything good to share about Tijuana? We gotta show Tijuana some love! :yes:

[Edited on 4-16-2008 by Ken Cooke]

I Have Much Love for Tijuana

Gypsy Jan - 4-15-2008 at 08:35 PM

For the talented cardiac surgeon who performed my open heart surgery.

For the dedicated and skillful people who nursed me.

For my opthalmologist who collects African tribal masks.

For my U.S. schooled neurologist who looks after my wellbeing with attention and compassion.

Restaurant La Querencia

Restaurant La Espadana (sorry, no tilde).

Restaurant La Palapa.

Restaurant La Diferencia.

And, lastly, but very much in the forefront, the acquaintances and friendships we have forged over the years with the good people who live in the city and are working to make it a world class environment.

Von - 4-15-2008 at 08:46 PM

For being born there in 1972, en el centro de Tijuana and my parents

meeting there. Thus me being made :P and I met my wife where that bus

is on third an revolution on the second floor who would of

a thought that,

while drunk as a skunk in the Navy:P hahahah!

Love my Tijuana especially those beautiful long lines to come back home to SD......

[Edited on 4-16-2008 by Von]

fdt - 4-15-2008 at 09:37 PM

This is great, thanks for the good comments about our city. Come tour with us, next free Tijuana tour is on April 26. Let us show you our city.

Ken Cooke - 4-15-2008 at 10:21 PM

...because they don't serve drinks like this in Alta California.


surfer jim - 4-15-2008 at 10:22 PM

I'm still trying to think of....something......:(

Ken Cooke - 4-15-2008 at 10:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by surfer jim
I'm still trying to think of....something......:(

Here's some help...

Los Tucanes de Tijuana




Andres Mijangos



The guys from Nortec

Julieta Venegas

fdt - 4-15-2008 at 11:31 PM

surfer jim - 4-16-2008 at 07:30 AM

That works for me :o......maybe the TECATE and COCACOLA girls are from TJ also....:?:

jodiego - 4-16-2008 at 10:40 AM

I'm trying to remember that restaurant on a side street right across from the Jai Alai Palace where all the movie stars used to hang out back in the 60's and 70's. My memory of the place was after spending an afternoon of eating and drinking then walking out the front door and being blinded by the sunlight. I couldn't see for hours.............maybe that was the tequila. Does anyone remembe the name of that place????

Mexpedition - 4-16-2008 at 11:04 AM

Buying fireworks with my brothers while my mom was at the butcher shop buying meat as we could not afford it in the states. We would then hide them in our pants as mom didn't approve of us handling explosives. Taking my children to see Lucha Libre. And, as Ken pointed out, la musica. Thanks FDT for the new website, and the picture of Julieta. ;)

Hook - 4-16-2008 at 11:32 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by jodiego
I'm trying to remember that restaurant on a side street right across from the Jai Alai Palace where all the movie stars used to hang out back in the 60's and 70's. My memory of the place was after spending an afternoon of eating and drinking then walking out the front door and being blinded by the sunlight. I couldn't see for hours.............maybe that was the tequila. Does anyone remembe the name of that place????


That sure sounds like La Costa..........not right across the street but pretty close to one corner. Havent been in about 5-6 years but it was still good for seafood.

Believe there was a high profile hit in there 2-3 years back.......mea culpa, FDT !!!! :biggrin:

fdt - 4-16-2008 at 12:00 PM

Could have been La Costa but could have also been El Reno or La Rue, because of the time period 60's and 70's.

jodiego - 4-16-2008 at 12:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fdt
Could have been La Costa but could have also been El Reno or La Rue, because of the time period 60's and 70's.


BINGO! It was El Reno. We just used to call it Reno's. Thanks so much for recalling it. Is it still around? And in those days, we didn't even give it a second thought about the border wait on the weekends, because there wasn't one. Ahhh, the good ole days.

[Edited on 4-16-2008 by jodiego]

VIVA TJ! VIVA LA REVOLUTION! VIVA MEXICO!

Lee - 4-16-2008 at 01:30 PM

How can someone hate anything about TJ? TJ is great along with Nogales and Ciudad Juarez. It's a border town. That says alot.

But then alot of people hate Cabo and I don't understand that. You can hate it because it's not ______________ (fill in the blank of a place you love). But that's not fair. I love Cabo and TJ. There are things I don't like about both places but there is so much history here and the PEOPLE. You gotta love the people!

Oso - 4-16-2008 at 03:14 PM

The Blue Fox for "Fine Mexican Cuisine". Sigh, those were the days.;D

bancoduo - 4-16-2008 at 03:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
The Blue Fox for "Fine Mexican Cuisine". Sigh, those were the days.;D
Do you recall what was on the menu.

Martyman - 4-16-2008 at 03:38 PM

Yeah I do... Zombies were on the menu! And after 2 or 3 I was the walking dead. Igor!!

Fred - 4-16-2008 at 04:20 PM

Beers at the "Long Bar"

fdt - 4-16-2008 at 04:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jodiego
BINGO! It was El Reno. We just used to call it Reno's. Thanks so much for recalling it. Is it still around? And in those days, we didn't even give it a second thought about the border wait on the weekends, because there wasn't one. Ahhh, the good ole days.

[Edited on 4-16-2008 by jodiego]

Neither is there anymore, change is constant.

Ken Bondy - 4-16-2008 at 04:29 PM

On one trip I had problems with the starter motor on a rented Bonanza. Someone hand-propped me at Meling Ranch, and I landed in Tijuana knowing I would have to get repaired there. I was with my wife Pam and two young kids, daughter Coleen and son Jesse. It was the 4th of July. We checked into the highrise hotel next to the old racetrack (I think it was a Fiesta Americana), all too grubby to go out, had room service, sat on the balcony and watched fireworks from across the border. It was absolutely beautiful. I have many fond memories of Tijuana but that one always seems to pop up first.
++Ken++

Paulina - 4-16-2008 at 07:34 PM

Sorry Ken, but I do not like TJ for very personal reasons. I've been watching this thread and trying to think of something that could make me change my mind, but I don't think that's going to happen.

I'm glad to see that some find happiness there, be it in the entertainment field either present or past, or personal experience, but it's not my cup of tea.

P.<*)))><

Ken Bondy - 4-16-2008 at 07:49 PM

I understand Paulina. But I do have some good Tijuana memories. My wife and I used to spend every one of our early anniversaries playing the ponies at Caliente. On anniversary #1 we would bet the #1 horse in all the races and a 1/1 daily double, on anniversary #2 the #2 horse and a 2/2 double, and so on. On our seventh anniversary I was ready to bet a 7/7 double, until I saw that the #7 horse in the 2nd race was 99-1. I chickened out. You know the rest, 7/7 won the double. $2 would have turned into about $1000. Oh well, it was still a nice day and we won't ever forget it. But I know that story won't change your mind :)
++Ken++

Paulina - 4-16-2008 at 08:03 PM

Ken,

To me it's family that makes a memory, as in the two stories you shared, it was your family that sealed the moment. My TJ story is family related as well.

Those moments/memories seal the deal.

I liked your stories. Good memories. How many times have you wished you would have faught your impulse to not follow the tradition of betting on #7? I bet a few times.

Thanks for sharing,
P<*)))><

rayfornario - 4-17-2008 at 06:07 PM

Ken,
To me it isTilly's 5th Ave(no longer there) the place I proposed to my wife back in 2000. Is is because of thwe al the friends I have made down there at Rudy's, Sr.Mcguey's and the Cave's. They are the waiter's like Davis who is like family to us. It is for all teh good meals I have enjoyed there and the many lucky bets placed at Caliente!
Ray

Ken Cooke - 4-17-2008 at 06:48 PM

Paulina,

I have some very special friends who live in Tijuana, and they have showed me the richness of the families who live there and make TJ their home.

Labor Day weekend at Playas de Tijuana:


My Baja Nomad familia (I'm sitting front row in Camo).LOL

Iflyfish - 4-17-2008 at 07:42 PM

Midnight at the Blue Fox in TJ in the late early sixties
The Tecate bottles flying past my 17 year old ears as New Years Eve midnight madness engulfed the Blue Fox in a crescendo of blasted booze and drunken go go girls, "want some milk in that drink senor?".

This guy claims he has a donkey that likes to what?????? you mean the one painted like a zebra has a dark side? The solicitous what? You don't like girls? and on and on.

The blood soaked zap of fine woven white cow hide that made the most resounding thwack! when it hit the opposing palm. The impressive flashing of the silver switch blade knife popped open with the most impressive Elvis leer!

This guy claims he has a donkey that likes to what?????? you mean the one painted like a zebra has a dark side? The solicitous what? you don't like girls? and on and on. The blood soaked zap of fine woven white cow hide that made the most resounding thwak! when it hit the opposing palm. The impressive flashing of the silver switch blade knife popped open with the most impressive Elvis lear! The affectation of machismo that could only be the dream of an Anglo kid from Santa Clara, California who spent the day primping his duck tail.

How could one forget the Fonton? or the Plaza de Toros? Or the myrid scammers offering to re upholster your car...."Tuck and Roll, amigo?" That was shortly after “Duck and Roll kid! And it had a much more seductive and exciting undercurrent to it. How about the sea food?, The wonderful sea food?

The reform mayor and the friendly, friendly people, "we are not all like that!" "Go this way and you will not have any problems" The guy who walked across the street to tell me where I needed to enter the compound to get the proper papers for my motor home. The civic pride of FDT!

How could one forget the death defying whoosh of the pelote at the Fonton? or the Plaza de Toros? Or the myrid scammers offering to re upholster your car...."Tuck and Roll, amigo?" "That was shortly after duck and roll kid! and had a much more seductive and exciting undercurrent to it. How about the sea food? The wonderful sea food?

The reform mayor and the friendly, friendly people, "we are not all like that!" "Go this way and you will not have any problems" The guy who walked across the street to tell me where I needed to enter the compound to get the proper papers for my motor home. The civic pride of FDT!

Iflyfish

[Edited on 4-18-2008 by Iflyfish]

BAJACAT - 4-17-2008 at 09:49 PM

Ok lets talk old school TJ.
How remembers Bar EL MACAO. EL FLAMINGOS,EL TELEFONISTAS.AND SO ON

Wingnut - 4-18-2008 at 04:41 PM

Fond memories of a college trip to San Diego with a side trip to TJ. 6 guys at the race track and only one of us knew how to bet the ponies. But BOY did he ever know, he picked 8 out of 10 races and was right on the winner all 8 times. Made what for me back then was a small fortune.

Most of my memories were about Nogales. Being the border town closest to Arizona and the U of A campus, we practically lived in "Nogie" on the weekends....ahhhh...the view from the Candelaja Club in the Red Light district...had the best floor shows this side of Vegas...cheap booze, great meals at La Caverna (actual cave turned into a restaurant) and more....
you could always find a bargain and every store owner was insulted if you didn't haggle over the price, to them that was the most fun part....

Of course, border towns everywhere have their problems too and it seems to have gotten worse over the years, mostly due to the drug cartels. Stay away from that aspect and they are a fun place to visit with great people.

bancoduo - 4-18-2008 at 05:09 PM

Anyone remember "Mi Cabana" Just before La Presa?

DENNIS - 4-18-2008 at 06:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bancoduo
Anyone remember "Mi Cabana" Just before La Presa?


Wish I did. My best times were at Campo Siete on the outskirts of Mazatlán.

Ken Cooke - 4-18-2008 at 07:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJACAT
Ok lets talk old school TJ.
How remembers Bar EL MACAO. EL FLAMINGOS,EL TELEFONISTAS.AND SO ON


Old School TJ for me was THE LAST TEMPTATION (1991) on Calle Revolucion. Great place to party, they played the Doors the 1st couple of hours, then lots of hard-edged music & Hardcore Techno. The slam pit went all night...after the Doors set was finished, that is.

DENNIS - 4-18-2008 at 07:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Iflyfish
The blood soaked zap of fine woven white cow hide that made the most resounding thwack! when it hit the opposing palm.


All this from our resident mental health expert, IFLYFISH.

Rick....You amaze and puzzle me with your scolding of Grover for his Xray presentation, done with no other meaning but humor, when you dish up a sentance like this that is so wierd and nothing that it embarasses me to read it.
If you're trying to be a "writer" with a unique style, I suggest you change your delivery. You have what it takes to be well written and well read. Not that crap above.

THE TIJUANA SOUND MACHINE!

Ken Cooke - 4-18-2008 at 07:18 PM

This showed up in my in-box this afternoon. Definitely relevant to this thread...

DENNIS - 4-18-2008 at 07:21 PM

Of course it is.

fdt - 4-18-2008 at 07:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bancoduo
Anyone remember "Mi Cabana" Just before La Presa?

Mi Cabaña Drive Inn in La Mesa, wow back in the 60's 70's

Ken Cooke - 4-18-2008 at 07:26 PM

You can listen to this music by clicking:
TIJUANA SOUND MACHINE

Nortec Collective emerged from the burgeoning Tijuana electronic scene, performing a style of music that they invented called Nortec - a fusion of Norteño ("from the North") and Techno, documenting the collision between the style and culture of electronica music, characterized by hard dance beats, and samples from traditional forms of Mexican music. With two albums (Tijuana Sessions Vol. 1 and Tijuana Sessions Vol. 3) under their belts, the Nortec sound has been embraced by an international audience and has become an entire movement encompassing music, film and graphic design.
Ever-evolving, the Nortec Collective presents Bostich + Fussible “Tijuana Sound Machine”, featuring brand new tracks from Fussible (Pepe Mogt) and Bostich (Ramon Amezcua). Fans are already familiar with the stylings of Bostich and Fussible as the masterminds behind tracks like “Tengo La Voz”, “Tijuana Bass”, and “Tijuana Makes Me Happy” off the double Grammy-nominated 2005 album, ‘Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 3’ (Nacional Records) and can expect more of this unique blend of accordions, tubas, trumpets, norteño percussion, vocoders, drum machines and synthesizers. The first single off the new album will be the title track, “Tijuana Sound Machine”.

“With "Tijuana Sessions, Vol. 3", we focused on fusing vocoders, synthesizers and drum machines with the Norteño flavor,” explains Pepe Mogt (Fussible). “This time around, we really relied more on the acoustic sound. We tried to achieve a better balance between the acoustics and the electronics. While some tracks on "Tijuana Sound Machine" aren’t even a month old yet, others have been around for a couple of years. We actually wrote many of these songs while on the road promoting ‘Tijuana Sessions.’”

Nortec Collective toured the world, from Latin America, the United States, Europe, Japan and Australia. An extensive U.S. and European tour featuring Bostich and Fussible is planned to coincide with the new release.
Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Cooke
This showed up in my in-box this afternoon. Definitely relevant to this thread...

Iflyfish - 4-19-2008 at 04:38 AM

Dennis, I loved Grover's x-ray! Amazing as the story of the diving and flying pig on another thread.

I laughed out loud when I saw Grover’s x-ray and read his post. I was touched by his sharing it. I was expressing appreciation to Grover... that was an amazing image and timely too! I hope that Grover was not offended by my response. I not only appreciated the image but that he would take the time to share it. Much as I feel about your response to my white leather zap. I appreciate the dialogue. Since I am in bed now recouping from a total hip replacement and on some amazing drugs that affect inhibition, I may be a lot looser than I usually am. This is the sort of time when racy stories are harder not to tell.

I guess it goes to show that subtly is totally lost in this medium or at least one needs to be very careful in how one writes in it. I have run into this issue before with both my own and the response I have read to others attempts at humor. Writing humor is particularly difficult on the internet as it involves complex nuances and it may be a much better format for images. My hat is off to those who have mastered the art of posting images, flying pigs and imbedded coke bottles have a much more powerful impact than "The blood soaked zap of fine woven white cow hide that made the most resounding thwack! when it hit the opposing palm."

As to writing, you are probably right; I have yet to master the simple sentence, and my spelling, atrocious!

A good therapist from my perspective will have had a lot of life experience and really know and understand people.

Over a beer sometime I would love to recount my experience observing an S/M dungeon or the demo of some amazing whips, feathers and other toys like that. I could also regale you with images of a profound "spiritual nature" that I experienced while sitting with a Zen monk. I laughed my ass off and he told me that I did not need to come back unless I wanted to, for the puropose of accessing the feeling of letting go of my illusions of self. He said that since I was not there to be a better person, lose weight or resolve some sort of early childhood experience that I would probably experience enlightenment if I were to sit with this powerful feeling of fulfillment that comes from sitting and letting the mind go. Amazing feeling, staring at a wall, images of Shiva emerge and try to seduce me, literaly seduce me, into focusing on the pull of the many fascinations of illusion and stuffness, a very powerful experience that left me in the very instance of my conscious awareness of it. The image flew away like tule fog as the sun rises in the San Juaquine Vally and I was left laughing my ass off.

People are incredibly diverse and have always fascinated me and I appreciate experience in life. I learned about gay bars from going to them. I personally am a flaming hetero, a rather bland type at that, would never identify myself as either a top or bottom, don't like pain, either giving or receiving it, but am glad I know the range of this experience from the perspective of others who have been kind enough to share them with me. I have seen sex as a recreational activity devoid of human connection or love as a commodity to be bought and sold. Now that coke bottle, that is a real pain in the .....you know.

Now, to Grover, I hope you were not offended by my response, that would make me very sad indeed.

Iflyfish

Iflyfish - 4-19-2008 at 08:12 AM

Oh man is it back up now, where nature did not intend it to be!

You have indeed made me feel better, twice!

Ifyfish

bancoduo - 4-19-2008 at 10:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS

Wish I did. My best times were at Campo Siete on the outskirts of Mazatlán.
YUM YUM! The first place was the best, before you cross the tracks. The second was OK, then they got progressively worse to major grungy. Which end of the street did you prefer. :saint::lol::lol::lol:

governor - 4-22-2008 at 09:12 PM

Calle Coahuila!!
Quote:
Originally posted by Ken Cooke

I
Anyone have anything good to share about Tijuana? We gotta show Tijuana some love! :yes:

[Edited on 4-16-2008 by Ken Cooke]

Memories of Tijuana

Vince - 4-24-2008 at 12:44 PM

Many of us who grew up in the San Diego area, really grew up in Tijuana (I'm sure Barry A will agree to that). Some of the best memories were early Sunday trips to the beach, near where Calafia is now. Surfing and diving all day, cooking up the lobster and abs on the fire all afternoon for a great luau. Then heading home, stopping at the downtown bull ring for the bullfights. Afterwards, partying at the Foreign Club and dancing at the nearby Capri til all hours. Monday mornings were usually tough at work, but we were young. Tijuana is still fun, but in a different way it seems.

bancoduo - 4-24-2008 at 01:43 PM

Memories. It can't get any better then that. OLE!

Amo Tijuana Mucho

MrBillM - 4-24-2008 at 02:28 PM

What a town it Was !

Having first sampled Tijuana as a young child in 1950 and spent many a great day and evening at Agua Caliente Race Track (Horses and Dogs) and the Jai Alai Palace (the greatest 25 cent Hamburger ever), as a youth I thought it was Wonderland. At Fourteen, my dear old Dad treated me to my first TJ lady and I returned many, many times in later years. After High School graduation weekend, two buddies and I drove straight to TJ to cruise and Booze on Avenida Revolucion, "tasting" the local treats.

I even married a teenage girlfriend there once. She later found out that we weren't "really" married (she was 16), but by then it was OK.

There is probably no town anywhere that I have such fond memories of.

My kind of Town.

[Edited on 4-24-2008 by MrBillM]

1stBajaMe.jpg - 20kB

tripledigitken - 4-24-2008 at 03:12 PM

"Dear old Dad":lol::lol::lol::coolup::lol::lol::lol:


I thought it was cool when my Dad took me to a car race at 14. I got short changed.:lol::lol::o:lol::lol:


Ken

fdt - 4-24-2008 at 10:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
At Fourteen, my dear old Dad treated me to my first TJ lady and I returned many, many times in later years.

Always on a prepaid basis? :wow:
Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM

My kind of Town.


My kind of Dad :light:

capn.sharky - 4-25-2008 at 08:43 PM

Went almost every weekend in the mid 50's with my Dad. We went to Caliente Race Track. Horses en el dia y perros en la noche. I would always borrow the keys to the car and visit the Club Macambo to watch the girls dance. Told him I was buying wallets.....but I am pretty sure he knew where I was going. Never won the 5-10 but came close a few times. Hey, better than the sex education classes they offered in Junior High School.

Salsa - 5-4-2008 at 10:59 AM

Around 1960 my younger brother came to California during the summer on a break from college and some of us took him to the Blue Fox for some sight seeing. Some of the girls took a particular interest in my younger brother. He was very very young looking at the time.

We figured out later that they wanted to give it to him free if he was a virgin. I did not get that kind of offers.

Don

DENNIS - 5-4-2008 at 11:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Salsa
Blue Fox ........We figured out later that they wanted to give it to him free if he was a virgin.
Don


In the Blue Fox era, "free" meant saving three dollars. The good ol' days when a peso was a peso.