I just finished a very fascinating book by Sam Warren titled; "Tales From The Tijuana Jails". It was pretty intense and read it in 2 days!
If your in the mood for a dramatic, mind blowing non fictional read, this book is it!!!
I can already see this being made into a movie with Edward Norton being casted as Daniel.
Did you know there was an entire working city in the compounds of La Mesa prison a.k.a. El Pueblito in Tijuana???alafrontera - 11-26-2009 at 10:50 PM
Given my proximity to, frequency in and level of risk in Tijuana I am interested. Is this something I am likely to find on the shelf at Borders/
B&N or should I be looking at Amazon ? I'll be out shopping the Black Friday specials tomorrow anyway, I'll look for it.Woooosh - 11-26-2009 at 11:05 PM
What's the time frame of the book? I think there USED to be a city within a city there- families and all.TheColoradoDude - 11-26-2009 at 11:09 PM
[Edited on 11-27-2009 by TheColoradoDude]TheColoradoDude - 11-26-2009 at 11:24 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
What's the time frame of the book? I think there USED to be a city within a city there- families and all.
You are absolutely correct!!! The author was released June 28th, 2003 and he was in for 3 years before his release.
"It was estimated 4,500 prisoners had neither a cell nor bunk and many slept on the ground outside in all weather. Inside the wall was a complete
city with at least 150 commercial enterprises, such as grocery stores, meat markets, hardware store, barber shops, taco stands, restaurants, and even
a TV cable service."
"It looked like a crowded shanty town than a prison with hundreds of houses or apartments and approximately 150 shops. Cells were converted into
carracas, apartments, and others were built outside on top of each other. Some where sold and others rented for $300 a month from just a whole in the
wall to much more for a luxurious house."woody with a view - 11-27-2009 at 07:51 AM
a fiend of mine spent five years in islas marias. he tells some really good stories of why you don't want to go to jail in mexico...bigboy - 11-27-2009 at 09:31 AM
I read a book about the Nogales Mexico prison, written by Stephen Wilson that was an excellent read. I was told that it may be made into a movie in
the near future. A great book that takes place in the 70's about two young men from North Carolina looking for adventure. They found it and then some!
The book was published two years ago and is available from Amazon and other sites.DENNIS - 11-27-2009 at 09:42 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by bigboy
I read a book about the Nogales Mexico prison, written by Stephen Wilson that was an excellent read. I was told that it may be made into a movie in
the near future. A great book that takes place in the 70's about two young men from North Carolina looking for adventure. They found it and then some!
In 1966 I found myself standing on the corner in TJ watching the police raid a house across the street. Suddenly, a police care pulled up next to me
and two officers exited and threw me into the back seat. They never said a word to me. Took me to the TJ jail and put me in a cell. The cell was about
10X10. As I recall there were 8-9 other men in the call. In the middle of the cell was a cement cone about 3 feet high, 2 feet around and a hole in
the top to discharge ones waste. Problem was this cone was up to capacity and would hold no more. After 6-8 hours I was escorted from the cell to an
office and informed my fine was 24 days or $24.00. I had $22.00. They accepted the $22.00 and escorted me to the exit.
Never knew what I was charged with. I figured karma got me as hours earlier
I had been a guest at the Blue Fox. I was 17 and it was a long walk to and across the border with no money in my pocket.
That's my story and I am sticking to it. Oh, I have a few more. How about the time I passed out in the Long Bar? I think I was 16
and...................&^%$
They took it and released me.Udo - 11-27-2009 at 06:50 PM
I couldn't write a book about my TJ jail time, but like cabobaja, a paragraph or two will do.
U2UBajaGringo - 11-27-2009 at 07:48 PM
Someone once said that you haven't really lived if you haven't been arrested at least once in life...arrowhead - 11-27-2009 at 09:12 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaGringo
Someone once said that you haven't really lived if you haven't been arrested at least once in life...
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed?woody with a view - 11-28-2009 at 07:18 AM
many high school summer nights with the G/F at the long bar!!! and let's just say the jail thing has been accomplished already....
edit: jail is overrated!!!!
[Edited on 11-28-2009 by woody in ob]
Just once
wessongroup - 11-28-2009 at 07:36 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaGringo
Someone once said that you haven't really lived if you haven't been arrested at least once in life...
I think it's... If you haven't spent time in jail... at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it
I thought everyone has been arrested
Heck, even the head of Enron was arrested... no big woof here
Woody you sound like a dangerous man... we could have gotten into big trouble together sounds like to me....
And BajaGrino.. your picture says it all you are a dangerous man
[Edited on 11-28-2009 by wessongroup]
[Edited on 11-28-2009 by wessongroup]
[Edited on 11-28-2009 by wessongroup]
[Edited on 11-28-2009 by wessongroup]lizard lips - 12-25-2009 at 08:25 PM
After reading this post I bought "Tales from a Tijuana Jail" and "Nogales" and will say my favorite was Nogales by author Steven Wilson. This is the
book to read even though it was more than thirty years ago when he was arrested and jailed. This is the book to read. It is intense and believable.
"Tales" is a piece of garbage.... It was written by a gay guy who was arrested in Playas for contributing to a minor (a boy) when he was living in a
house with a lot of other gay men some of whom were drug users. I could care less if the guy was gay and the others were drug users but the entire
book consisted of his comments of how he was "NOT GUILTY" regarding the charges. I believe he was put there for exactly the reason he was arrested for
and is now trying to justify his case through the media.
I will not put "Tales" in my library. I don't want it tainted with this $@#!.
If anyone wants it please U2U me with your address and I will send it to you.
My two days in the Rosarito jail will never be published for possession of Marijuana. But I will say that because I and my friend (who had the bud)
would not call our parents for the bail the chief let us go. In fact the chief gave us 10 bucks to buy gas to cross the border. He wanted us out of
there. That was over thirty years ago also. Old news..............woody with a view - 12-26-2009 at 08:51 AM
i had a friend who was a diabetic get tossed into the Cantamar jail for about 8 hours. we had $5 saved for gas and the toll at playas. the cops kept
saying we needed to come up with some money. we told them we'd already put it in the tank. i still get a giggle when i think about Jerry calling out
from the darkness, "you guys better not leave me here!" he finally got let out and we had to get him a taco or two with the last $5...... that was
when you could get gas for $1/gallon.wilderone - 12-26-2009 at 09:22 AM
Recently I read Tijuana Straits. It's fiction, takes place in the TJ River Valley, and TJ. Although fiction, I believe it is fact-based, and
provides a glimpse into the seemy side of both sides of the border, with an overlay of a "good guy" old surfer with a sordid past (our hero).TheColoradoDude - 12-26-2009 at 09:32 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by lizard lips
"Tales" is a piece of garbage.... It was written by a gay guy who was arrested in Playas for contributing to a minor (a boy) when he was living in a
house with a lot of other gay men some of whom were drug users. I could care less if the guy was gay and the others were drug users but the entire
book consisted of his comments of how he was "NOT GUILTY" regarding the charges.
I never even focused on that part. I was too busy being fascinated with the inner workings of "La Mesa". The tiny city with in the walls of the Jail.
You obviously did care about that subject or you would have just said "some guy".lizard lips - 12-26-2009 at 09:37 AM
Dude,
The inside of that jail, from what I heard, is exactly what he said it was. That was the only interesting part of the book.
MY ONE NIGHT STAY IN THE NOGALES MEXICO JAIL
ELINVESTIG8R - 12-26-2009 at 09:47 AM
...From San Felipe I boarded a shrimp boat and worked for 2 or 3 weeks up and down the Golfo de California. I remember that for the first couple of
days I was so seasick I was in the fetal position in the living quarters. After that I was ok and got my sea legs. The captain dropped me off in
Guaymas where I got work with Circus Vargas feeding the elephant and cleaning up their poop. I remember they had such large poops. While working at
the circus I found out there was a warehouse near the Port of Guaymas where semi tractor trailer drivers loaded up to head to Nogales Mexico which
borders with Arizona. I asked around for passage to the border until one of the drivers finally consented to give me a ride. He gave me a pack of
Raleigh cigarettes and told me to meet him at the warehouse the next morning before light. I camped out near the warehouse next to some trash cans all
night long until he showed up at the warehouse then next morning. The trucker gave me a ride to Nogales Mexico. He drove me all the way to the border
and pointed out a line of people walking into the United States and told me “Kid get in the line and when you reach the immigration man tell him you
are an American Citizen.” I got in line and continued forward with the rest of the people. At the time I was wearing rags for clothes and had
cardboard in my shoes to cover the holes in the soles of my shoes.
I also spoke better Spanish than English at the time. Well when I reached the immigration guy I told him I was an American Citizen trying to reach my
grandmother’s house in Mesa Arizona. For whatever reason he did not believe me, and neither did any of the other immigration guys. They ended up
turning me over to the Mexican Immigration who locked me up in the Nogales Mexico Jail. God was I scared. I was in a big cell with many criminals and
with only one toilet to go to the bathroom. I spent the night wide awake and never used the bathroom once. The following day the Chief of Police had
me brought to him and asked me what the hell I was doing in his jail cell. I told him about Colonia LeBaron and my homeless travels throughout Mexico
and that I was a 16 year old American Citizen just trying to get to my grandmother’s house in Mesa Arizona. God did he raise the roof at the police
station with the people who placed me in the jail cell. The Chief made a telephone call to someone and the next thing I know is two Americans came to
interview me at the police station. I told them my story and the names of my grandma and uncle and they said they would try to find them for me.
For the next 4 months or so I lived at the police station in a small room where they put a cot so I could have a place to sleep. The policemen bought
me some new clothes and new shoes and some of them even took me to their house so I could take a shower. I became the official police shoeshine boy,
office cleaner and interpreter until my Uncle Melvin showed up with my American Birth Certificate and took me home to my grandmother’s house in Mesa
Arizona. At the Age of 17 I joined the Marines and went to Boot Camp in San Diego California...TheColoradoDude - 12-26-2009 at 09:54 AM
Wow! ELINVESTI8, now that is an awesome story. An unimaginable experience I am sure. Your invited to fish on my boat in San Carlos anytime!!!lizard lips - 12-26-2009 at 11:56 AM
Great story Elinvest18! Loved it and glad you didn't stay to long at the prison. Read that book and see if it coincides with anything that the guy
wrote about. What year was this?ELINVESTIG8R - 12-26-2009 at 02:05 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by TheColoradoDude
Wow! ELINVESTI8, now that is an awesome story. An unimaginable experience I am sure. Your invited to fish on my boat in San Carlos anytime!!!
Thanks Colorado.
Quote:
Originally posted by lizard lips
Great story Elinvest18! Loved it and glad you didn't stay to long at the prison. Read that book and see if it coincides with anything that the guy
wrote about. What year was this?
Lizard Lips I think that was sometime during the end of 1968.lizard lips - 12-26-2009 at 02:28 PM
Wilson was there about in 71' 72'. Read the book then write your own.ELINVESTIG8R - 12-26-2009 at 02:31 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by lizard lips
Wilson was there about in 71' 72'. Read the book then write your own.
Thanks for the info Lizard Lips. I don't know about a book though. My experience was only for one night...DENNIS - 12-26-2009 at 02:39 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by ELINVESTI8
I don't know about a book though. My experience was only for one night...
I think Watergate took less time than that and look how many books have been written.
C'mon, David. No lame excuses. ELINVESTIG8R - 12-26-2009 at 02:59 PM
Dennis thanks for the vote of confidence...I think...
PS: I still owe Barbareno a book report on "The Shack" by William P. Young. After that maybe.
[Edited on 12-26-2009 by ELINVESTI8]wessongroup - 12-27-2009 at 11:29 AM
ELINVESTI8... Raleigh smokes, man you got my attention with that one... was sixteen had run away from home, with my younger brother, got arrested in
Flagstaff AZ.. trying to get to my aunts in Pine... the police took my smokes away from me and locked us both up.... Raleigh's...
They let me walk, after calling my Dad ... he told them to send the young one back, but tell the other to keep on going... it took me a few days to
get to Pine, spend a three days in Herber under a bridge.. a gas station owner felt sorry for me and took me home after the third day...
Finally got to Pine..
I joined the AirForce and was on a train to Lackland AFB in Texas I was still 16... turned 17 the third day on the Base..
The Marines wouldn't take me... ELINVESTIG8R - 12-27-2009 at 11:43 AM
Great Story Wesson! That was the only time I ever had a pack of high brow Raleigh cigarettes. My cigarettes of choice were Faros, Alas or Delicias. I
liked the Faros for the sweet rice paper they used.
How things have change from back the days of our youth. Now if you ran away and were caught they would place you in a foster home putting a stop to
your adventure. The Marines would not take you? Now that's funny.
[Edited on 12-27-2009 by ELINVESTI8]wessongroup - 12-27-2009 at 01:02 PM
It wasn't funny at the time.. I was going to a foster home, but was trying to get into the service as an out on the foster home.. when the Marines
didn't take me, and the army, navy or cost guard.. never figured the Air Force would take me... they must have missed their quota .... was really hurt
that I couldn't get in the Marines or Army.. then I saw the guys, in the field 8-12 months a year, pulling inspections at all times of the day and
REALLY soldiering... I thought to myself... you got lucky for once knot-head which I did ....
But, really liked yours... the circus was too cool, I just worked on a cattle ranch.. fixing fence, hauling water and moving stock.. but it was sure
better than what was going on where I lived at the time.. and the service was even better.. still in contact with a few guys I served with to this
day...ELINVESTIG8R - 12-27-2009 at 04:18 PM
Wesson I am happy you made it out on the other side as I did. Someone once said "That which does not kill you makes you stronger." Maybe he had
something there! Of course the person attributed to this quote died a syphilitic lunatic. Poor bastard.wessongroup - 12-27-2009 at 05:29 PM
Bajahowodd - 12-27-2009 at 05:41 PM
Syphilis was merely a speculation. Never proven. He did go mad, but for reasons unknown.ELINVESTIG8R - 12-27-2009 at 05:52 PM
