Would anyone care to share the Story of Texas Mike or Franco? I have seen several references to Texas Mike, and from the general comments he hit melt down? I guess I have personal reason as of late to have an interest in such things.

Ofcourse I am not asking anyone to share anything beyond what is already public knowledge on here.

I can not speek to TJ, but I have dropped $1500 in 9 days in Nuevo Laredo,I mean this was for food, Drink, Hotel, and women plus cab rides,etc... (you lucky bastards in TJ pay $5- in Nuevo Laredo it is $10 each way) I mean the that is inclusive with an average of 3 girls while I am there a night. I guess I average about $175 a night which is not to bad I suppose from what others have said.

TM and F are guys who hang in the Zona and offer various guide services to Americanos. TM and F are both US citizens by birth, but I believe they have dual citizenship virue of having parents or a parent born in MX ( could be wrong on that status here...maybe both parents have to be of MX birth in order for the offspring to be elgible for dual citizenship).
TM is eponymously from Texas, F from East LA...
Typical services offered are "Where the girls are..." (All over the place...), Where the street girls are (Read this board, and go to the alley behind AB where all the "small bars" are...), Where the ATMS are, and how to use them ( pesos to dollars (They all work like a typical USA ATM, but give out pesos...remember to multiply the amount of dollars you want by a factor of 10 inorder to understand the "peso ratio", i.e., if you want 300 dollars, punch in 3000 pesos into the ATM...)...TM knows where the good chicken mole is, Franco was touting a girl at AB who I met on my own a couple of months later (Cecilia of Guadalajara - spoke perfect English, which she learned from watching US soap operas...interesting woman, but not that good in the rack...for my patrician tastes...)...
That's about it...TM is definitely more "streetwise" I'd say 'cause he lives in the Zona.
I think F might still be commutin' from ELA, but I don't know. I can't vouch for their guide services 'cause I've never had a need for a guide. TM did escort me to a couple of ATM's one time...
All my club/street knowledge of TJ has been preliminarliy researched on either ASPT, JR's, or RS...and now TJH.
KRICO

Further on TM and F...descriptions. Texas Mike looks kind of like the actor Wilem Dafoe (sp?) while Franco kind of looks like comedian Don Knotts (Barney Fife character). TM is about 5'8", 50 yrs old, shock of white/gray hair swept back in a voluminous pompadour, rough complexion a la Richard Burton, favors plaid flannel or wool shirts, running shoes, appears leprechaun-like out of the blue...
Franco, about 5'9", skinny, and kinda jumpy, distinctive "Don Knotts" eyes, brown curly hair, receding hair line...always movin' about...sometimes wears a "snap-brim" cloth hat...

Both these guys seek out gringos (who look lost...) and will offer various services. Once again, I do not vouch for these guys...I've only exchanged pleasantries with them...I strongly advise anyone who visits the Zona to assume the worst about anyone they meet down there...The best defense is a good defense, to cryptically paraphrase the old football saw...
KRICO

Are Texas Mike and Franco posters?

I think I've seen these guys...they look pretty shady...

While you guys are at it would you care to clue us in on BOYD?
Taxibob

I doubt that TM or F are posters...although they are aware of the internet and certainly have the requisite language skills, I doubt that their fingers have ever traipsed across a computer keyboard.
As I've said, I've rarely used any of their services because my knowledge of the Zona as gained through ASPT,JR's,RS and TJH is usually superior. Thanks to the BOT FAQ, I was easily able to say "No, thanks..." to TM upon first meeting him when he offered to show me the street girls...I've since had him help me out on translations and general TJ info, and Franco has hipped me to a few obscure clubs ( that proved to be worthless for my intentions...).
Always be careful of who you associate with in the Zona...even TM gets skittish standin' around in public talkin' with gringos 'cause he feels the cops are always lookin' to bust him for bucks...
KRICO

Franco does live in the zona...hangs out in front of Miami bar these days, especially during the day...I've enjoyed pleasantries with F, nice guy, did hit me up for cigs.

I concur with KRICO, just stick to the board info or talk to other Americanos with experience at the bar or something...small talk. Many guys you run into are veterans, just ask. They don't have to give their ID to be helpful with info. Always take everything with a grain of salt and don't do anything stupid...basic common sense. Some meseros speak a little English and can be a big help also with info, just ask. Don't be reluctant to even ask chicas...I've learned a lot from some, many know the score and want your business.

Everything I've learned came from this or related boards and much more so from my direct experience in the zona.

BTW, just standing on the street talking to other gringos is an invitation for cops to search you, they are just looking for an excuse. TM knows to keep movin...bustamove, less risk. I do my hangin out IN the bars. Besides, the scenery is a HELLUVA lot better.

Celtics

Celtics,
He hit you up for cigs, too?! That's the only time he's ever asked me for money...he wanted me to buy him a pack of cigarettes - and I don't even smoke ( well, used too...).
Yeah, and inside is definitely better... No offense to guys like TM and F, but they tend to exaggerate certain things (well, they ARE tryin' to sell you somethin'...whatever that may be...). Just more Zona characters...Use with care...Light fuse and get away quick...Do not remove this tag under penalty of law...Objects in mirror may be closer than they actually appear to be...etc, ad infinitum...
KRICO

TM told me he was a poster on RedSnake(rip). Even after I told him I frequent la Zona often he still hit me up for $$$$$ to, "Keep la Zona safe for gringos." Then he got pissed when I ducked into AB without caughing up cash. When TM and F were giving me pitches I just asked, "Tell me something I don't already know." They both failed. Thanks TJHombre for keeping this information available to mongers!

I tried my first all nighter on Sunday, 10/22, with a chica from AB I'd done several times in the past; and have good chemistry with. $200 for 10pm-6am was well worth it IMHO.

Deuce Bigalow got me motivated to check my receipts to see what I'm actually spending mongering. My total for the last 13 months is $12,167 for TJ trips alone. This does not include my European Vacation with Dr. Planet.

The Senator

KRICO, he did to no avail, cause I don't smoke. Except for all the second hand smoke I take in, that is, in AB. If I see a chica smokin, that 's two strikes right there. The only thing I want to see in her mouth is my ____.

The Senator, I guess it does pay to live close!

Celtics

Hey. I might have encountered F last night in front of AB around 1 AM. As I was entering AB, there was this gringo talking to me "Are you having a good time?". I didn't want to take any chance, so I walked faster and he didn't bother me any more. About 20 minutes later, I got out of AB, and then saw two American guys waiting for a cab. This presumed F approached them, and offered a help looking for a cab. The guys ignored them, then F got pissed, shouted to them "WHAT? ARE YOU GUYS ON THE INTERNET?", then left. I talked with the guys, who said they were not on the Internet. Funny, hunh?

Franco is a pretty cool guy.. He now works at the Tropical Bar, passing out flyers and hustling gringos to check this place out..He offers some good advice, recommended Aracelli for me...Didnt ask me for any money or cigs either.. He did bring up a trick in getting some extra time with SG.. PICK THE ONES WHO DONT WEAR WATCHES... pretty funny, but makes sense...

OK - I just posted a long passage about Texas Mike for anybody who is interested. See the Pulp F*R*I*C*T*I*O*N trip report thread on the discus.

Bullwinkle,

Thanks for the insight on Texas Mike.
I was wondering about his connection here as I actually ran into him for the very first time on my 7/9 trip.
He shouted to me as I was coming from CC across the street to AB. He almost immediately was touting Club Hombre to me. I told him I had just joined and needed no intel at the moment. He asked if I could help him with dinner, told him I could not and proceeded into AB. Seems like an OK guy.