BajaNomad - "Crossing South". a KPBS Documentary About Baja

"Crossing South". a KPBS Documentary About Baja

Gypsy Jan - 1-20-2012 at 06:37 PM

http://tinyurl.com/7amw9oc

[Edited on 2-14-2012 by Gypsy Jan]

Ateo - 1-20-2012 at 06:53 PM

Thanks Gypsy Jan. Gonna check it out right now.

Ateo - 1-20-2012 at 07:00 PM

This guy takes in about 3000 calories in the first 6 minutes! He'll be dead before he get's out of TJ - not from violence but a stroke! :spingrin:

vgabndo - 1-20-2012 at 09:01 PM

Thanks Jan..WOW I love Mexico and Mexicans. I'm so sorry they are suffering so much in the war.

What could be sweeter than the scene in the stadium when the Cholo's giant head is disgorging great crowds of pro players...and their wives and babies! Every necessary size of jersey was available.

What would that look like in the NFL?

vgabndo - 1-20-2012 at 09:19 PM

I swear I didn't know about this until I thought to answer my own question. I SWEAR.

I'm sorry, I'm thinkin' manguera more than family values. :lol:

TV Show, NFL Wives

football_wives (Small).jpg - 42kB

Ken Cooke - 1-20-2012 at 11:49 PM

Ken Cooke - 1-20-2012 at 11:52 PM

Ken Cooke - 1-20-2012 at 11:54 PM

Follow Jorge as we experience the famous Rosarito-Ensenada Bike Race and its colorful riders. Then see the little known and secluded Rincon Tropical resort with a mini-zoo, go carts, and beautiful scenery. Then follow Jorge as he has a ball at the R/C airplane field where we see local aviation enthusiasts maneuver their remote control airplanes. And finally take a visit to Suzanne's restaurant, an American experience with a foreign flavor. Watch as Jorge goes into the kitchen and tries to make and successfully eat a delicious meal.

SFandH - 1-21-2012 at 07:57 AM

You can find the Crossing South episodes here:

Crossing South

bajalearner - 1-21-2012 at 04:47 PM

Thanks so much for sharing this.

DENNIS - 1-21-2012 at 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vgabndo
TV Show, NFL Wives

Ohhhh........ yeah.....I think that's the lineup of the Rue Paul He-She Show. :lol:

Kalypso - 1-21-2012 at 06:34 PM

I've seen all 4 episodes that KPBS in SD has aired. The Tijuana episode is by far the strongest, though the one on Ensenada has some interesting stuff in it. They tend to be a little cheesy but entertaining

Most of them are posted on You Tube shortly after the original KPBS air date. There is also a Crossing South Facebook page.

RosaritoKen - 1-22-2012 at 12:09 AM

He is doing a reasonable job, considering he can't have much of a budget. But it is a fun look at Baja and he is an entertaining personality to watch.

Obviously enjoys himself!

BajaNomad - 1-24-2012 at 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke

My taste buds perked up in regards to the shrimp taco stand visited in this episode....

According to the Crossing South website, it's on the corner of 3rd (Carrillo Puerto) and Negrete.

Google Maps street view:
http://g.co/maps/qn67d

TMW - 1-25-2012 at 11:26 AM

That was good, thanks Jan

desertcpl - 1-25-2012 at 12:51 PM

yes that was great

I always liked TJ , I lived many years in Chula Vista

TJ is more than Revolution Blvd, ( not that I avoided it as a young man)
alot of really great restaurants,, had alot of fun spending the day at Caliente then going across the street to the famous
Carnitas place for dinner,, WOW was that great eating, is this place still there, what was its name again, something Urapine (spl)

Slice of Baja Life

Ateo - 2-12-2012 at 10:32 PM

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/feb/12/show-a-slice-of-b...

TIJUANA — In the KPBS-TV travel show “Crossing South,” host Jorge Meraz focuses on a range of leisure activities in his native Baja California.

While producer Steven Javitz shoots video, Meraz sings opera, plays golf, sips beer, tastes tacos, rides a roller coaster, and flies a ultralight plane above the Pacific Ocean. The 35-year-old host laughs frequently and never seems at a loss for words.

Meraz is creative director and partner in his own ad agency. He and Javitz won an Emmy last year for the documentary “Visa Dream,” which first aired on KPBS.

Q: Why did you decide to do “Crossing South?”

A: It’s just an enjoyable thing to do. We know the places; I was born and raised here. For me, it’s simply showing people what I know of Baja.

I’m like a normal dude who literally gets scared when you see him scared, who literally gets nervous when you see him about to eat something that seems wacky. I think the audience says, “If this guy can drink rattlesnake tequila and live through it, I can live through it.”

"Crossing South" host Jorge Meraz gets a ride in an ultralight plane in an upcoming episode. — Centurion5
Q: Do you have your own favorite spots in Baja California?

A: I personally love Tijuana. I think it’s a sophisticated town with a unique border culture that could be considered as foreign to the rest of Mexico as are Guatemala and Honduras. I also enjoy Ensenada very much, given a choice as to where to live with a laid-back lifestyle but with all the amenities of a city.

Q: Are you modeling “Crossing South” after any other travel programs?

A: I’m a big fan of Rick Steves (who specializes in travel to Europe), a super fan. I’m not doing anything deliberately that I think he does, even though I’m an avid watcher of the show.

Q: Does your show aim to revive tourism in Baja California? Is it a response to complaints that the region has been negatively portrayed in U.S. media?

A: We did not say, “Let’s change perceptions.” Our show is a leisure travel program of genuine places that we enjoy. If anyone feels after seeing it, “OK, I’m going because it might be worthwhile to try,” that’s nice. But it’s not something that we set out to do.

Q: Do people pay money to be on your show?

A: We made the decision from the beginning not to accept money from the people whom we feature. We tell them, “We cannot take money from you, because otherwise our recommendation would be tainted and we would not have freedom of speech.” We have absolutely no agenda, and nobody’s paying us to do this.

Q: Then who are your sponsors?

A: Cotuco (Tijuana’s Tourism and Conventions Committee), although we have not received the funds yet. And Secture (the Baja California Tourism Secretariat) said, “Yes, we are gathering funds from different tourism trusts.” Specific amounts we would not like to give out, but it’s less than a show would cost.

KPBS pays a small amount to air each episode, nowhere what we need. It’s a project we decided to believe in before we got any sponsors.

Ateo - 2-12-2012 at 10:36 PM

TIJUANA — Q: How did you come to speak fluent English?

A: My Mom has a thick Mexican accent, but she taught me English before Spanish. As soon as I was 6 years old, when we crossed to San Diego, it was “Jorge, order for us” or “Jorge, tell her I want this on layaway” or “Jorge, could we get this without salt?” I was the family spokesperson.

Q: What does it mean to you to be from the border?

A: This is where Latin America and Anglo America meet, like two currents in the middle of the ocean. I think it’s phenomenal. For those of us who were born here in Tijuana, we’ve had a passport all our lives. Going to San Diego is part of going shopping, we have relatives over there, we have friends over there, we go to the Gaslamp to have a Guinness.

Air times

Episodes of “Crossing South” are scheduled to air on KPBS on:

•Thursday at 8:30 p.m.

•Saturday at 4 p.m.

•Feb. 20 at 2:30 a.m.

•Feb. 25 at 4 p.m.

paranewbi - 2-13-2012 at 04:37 AM

Watched it saturday ateo...was everything I could do not to get in my car and drive to San Felipe (this episode).

Ateo - 2-13-2012 at 09:17 AM

I've always wanted Huell Howser (google if youve never heard of him) to do a "Baja California's Gold". This "crossing south" seems perfect. Hopefully they post all episodes online as I ditched cable tv a year ago.

CortezBlue - 2-13-2012 at 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gypsy Jan
http://tinyurl.com/7amw9oc

Jan, it is actually a weekly series and there are about 3 or 4 total episodes. Good Stuff.

I sent it off to some of my family back east, who thinks we are crazy to step foot in Mexico, let alone have a house there.
They were actually very excited about what they saw. They couldn't imagine it could be so nice. I think they thought we lived in mud huts!

:lol:

Kalypso - 2-13-2012 at 09:41 AM

Crossing South has a Facebook page as well. He doesn't post a whole bunch there, just reminders of when the show airs and a few related things.

The Crossing South web page

The first show actually aired last spring and was on You Tube shortly thereafter. I still think it's his best episode...tacos, horses, beer and soccer? What's not to like in that line-up.

I have to agree he's found some pretty interesting things, a lot of them stuff the average day-tripper doesn't find. And I know I called him cheesy and I still think he is, but you've gotta admire his spunk in taking on this project without a lot of funding. And the episodes do have a certain degree of charm to them.

Who knew you could zip-line in Ensenada?!?!??? I think maybe I need to try that...suspension bridges don't usually bother me.

Kalypso - 2-15-2012 at 10:10 AM

If anyone feels the need to visit any of the places featured on Crossing South you can find maps to the locations HERE

mtgoat666 - 2-15-2012 at 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ateo
I've always wanted Huell Howser (google if youve never heard of him) to do a "Baja California's Gold". This "crossing south" seems perfect. Hopefully they post all episodes online as I ditched cable tv a year ago.

huell howser did a couple episodes in Baja. a favorite epidode is his episode on whale watching at laguna san ignacio.

huell howser is great!

sanquintinsince73 - 2-15-2012 at 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by desertcpl
yes that was great

I always liked TJ , I lived many years in Chula Vista

TJ is more than Revolution Blvd, ( not that I avoided it as a young man)
alot of really great restaurants,, had alot of fun spending the day at Caliente then going across the street to the famous
Carnitas place for dinner,, WOW was that great eating, is this place still there, what was its name again, something Urapine (spl)

Carnitas Uruapan. Uruapan is in the state of Michocan and great carnitas is what Michocan is know for.

sanquintinsince73 - 2-15-2012 at 10:40 AM

Quote:

Huell Howser, love that guy. I remember many years ago when he did news on channel 2 in L.A. He did do a show once from the border, I remember he was talking to a CBP guy while standing in traffic lanes at the POE. Huell kept jumping back and forth from Mexico to the U.S. and the CBP guy tells him "Huell, what you are doing is illegal". Funny stuff.

David K - 2-15-2012 at 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

huell howser did a couple episodes in Baja. a favorite epidode is his episode on whale watching at laguna san ignacio.

huell howser is great!

Believe you me, I am working on it!

I am working with an author who was a guest on one of Huell's shows who has direct contact with him. Our thought was since he did the series on the California missions... he would want to include the FIRST California missions... the first 18 where all in today's 'Baja California' (which was Califronia first, as well!).

The first California mission was not San Diego... it was the 19th! :light: