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prettaygood

California

Following the template of other articles, I’ve decided to break out my trip into multi-part articles, so that comments are centralized and prospective first-timers can see as well.

I got dropped off at a jack in the box near the border. Signage wasn't all that clear, and a goood majority of the signs and storefronts are in Spanish. Saw a stream of people going the other way, so I assumed that'd be the way I could get in, but a border agent was like, sir can I help you, and he told me it was an exit only way, and the entry was around the corner. On the way, there's various panhandlers on the side, but just needa keep your head down and not interact. Two sections for lines: Mexican citizens, and everyone else. Prolly took 15 mins for me to get through. Was about 6 booths open. The dude asked me how long my stay was, I told him 1 day, he reviewed my passport but didn't stamp it, and filled out something or another, and had me sign it and gave it back to me. I presume it was something in lieu of stamping but who knows. Then there's machines that you have to put any luggage through. But these lines are wide AF, and it didn't look like a TSA line where each person is subject to a search. So I just kinda slither around, esp since I don't have luggage, and out in the sunlight I go into Mexico.

There's like a dirt track/road that's prolly another 1/4 mile long. Tons more panhandlers, music blaring, groups of people around radios. Took me a good five mins to figure out where the taxis were cuz there were limos and rando cars just parked. Taxi line was across the street, and I got in. Was like a 50+ year old dude in at least like a 10+ year old toyota corolla. But this interior was a step down. And as we rode through the streets, shit was mad loud and clattering. A lot of the other cars I saw were a lot older tho. Chatted it up with the driver. Had an adequate comprehension of English, so I tried to be friendly. Has lived in TJ for 30+ years. Cool dude. He said, ppl think hong kong chinese food chinese food!!!! So we get to the red light district and I thought, yea buddy we's here. WE'S HERE.

I get dropped off, and big burly dude pats me down everywhere. Lets me go, and I walk past him, but then a heavy ass hand pulls me back on my shoulder, and I’m thinking, what the fuck is going on... and the same dude told me wait, but after literally a second he was like nvm. No idea what happened there but no doubt I was scared shtiless.

I get in and a waiter approaches me, and asks if he can help me, but I tell him I just wanna look around first. It’s about 11:30 AM on a Saturday, and it's pretty dead. 15-20 girls, I’d say. About equal amount of guys, but it didn't seem as much cuz a lot of them were literally just chillin and not interacting with the girls (just drinking and watching tv). I take a tour around the whole place, and the girls left me alone. I kind of did that intentionally cuz I just wanted to put my head down, walk super quickly, and just get a lay of the land. There's around a 50 year old at a table on the second floor. So I sat a few tables away from him cuz it gave me an entire view of the first floor.