I was down in La Zona Oct 26 thru the 1st, with a couple of side trips back to
the States for business. Fires were just starting , and lots of us were running around with surgical masks, etc.
I could give you the blow by blow, but you have read it all before. Instead,
I would like to concentrate on two things, the New Improved Zona, and management changes at AB.

A bit of background. I speak fair and rapidly improving Spanish. Most
certainly enough to get by in the bars and on the streets, but still not
quite enough to get all the sensibilities out of the newspapers. One of my
high moments last week was when I was asked if I was Mexican by a lady. I was
first in La Zona (I think) about 1967, and spend a lot of time in AB in the
early to mid 1980's. Pretty well never in the area for a long time, then
a relative moved to LA in the mid 90's. Periodic trips to visit him have
stenched into TJ time, then kind of moved over the boarder into Mexican hotels
a few years ago. I find I am more and more attracted to the whole culture,
and tend to take off with a bag and some bucks on a bus until I decide I want
to stop more and more.

The thing that I most noticed in TJ was the vastly increased policing in and
around La Zona. These guys are pretty serious (I define anyone with an M4
and a 19ll as serious). I chatted with one Guardia National for a couple of
minutes , and was told that walking in the areas around La Zona is no longer safe.
Sad, since walking the neighborhoods has always been a major attraction for
me throughout Mexico. It is all drugs, and it feels like the powers that be
are fighting back. Last spring, I was approached several times by coke
vendors within a few yards of AB, and just down from Mexico Linda. This time,
none. I know that I understand very little of what is really going on,
but when the casual monger like me gets solicited by the druggies a lot,
the situation is getting pretty bad. I get the impression that TJ is
fighting for it's life, and I am praying that it just might win.

Any comments from locals would be greatly appreciated.

The Zona looks a lot different with new sidewalks and street dividers, etc.
I do miss the taco wagons, and especially the oyster guy!. On the other hand,
the new taco stand at the east end of the Alley is very good, and the fresh
orange juice was very good for a case of combination airplane/puta throat that
I came down with early on. It rained just a bit on Wed, and all the grime on
the street turned into a filthy, slick mess. I can't help contrast with the Old Amsterdam, shop keepers out every morning scrubbing the walk before opening.
The city fathers might do well to hose the area down in the early AM. (Ok, I'm
dreaming).

My friend at AB told me they now have to do 20 fichas a night. Cost is $7 to you
they get $4 and the management gets $3. If they do not to the quota, they pay
the missing three buck increments. Seems that management thought they were not
spending enough time in the bar fucking guys, and preferred to be upstairs doing
the same. IMHO, this really sucks.

Saw a poster advertising La Tropa massage parlor in the bathroom at
Honkong/Miami. Makes one wonder if there might be some cross ownership there.

Stopped by Las Pulgas on the 31st. Forgot whom I have to thank about the post,
but it was great. Lots of really nice ladies, lots of people having a really
good time dressed up, and lots of people willing to chat with a gringo. I had
a really good time, practiced a bunch of Spanish, got a bit tipsy, and did not
really gross out anyone. Very high on my to-do list in the future, and would
love to catch up with a more knowledgeable local in January, should I make it
back.

Sitting in AB on Monday afternoon at the north end of the small bar chatting
with a new friend when a fight broke out behind me. She shouted "Hay Problemas"
and took a dive, I started over the bar to get out the way. I think there were
two or three guys involved, because by the time the furball got down to me,
there were at least 10-12 waiters making life miserable for the dudes. I was
impressed.

The number of attempts at selling me illegal drugs, or to get me to drive drugs &/or illegal aliens across the border, has gone way down. Seems like it's been since 9.11.01. A few days ago, tho, a guy about 40' from AB did try to sell me some heroin. I glared at him, kept on walking, and turned around every few feet, shaking my head "No," while glaring still more.

There's a section under, I believe, "Tijuana topics," about "Who owns these bars."

It is most likely Milkman you have to thank, for your intro to Las Pulgas. I took a TB gal, Naohmi of Mazatlan, at her request, there recently. Had a fine time dancing. Since she asked me out, it occurs to me that she should have paid.

Took N back to my overnight room at TB's hotel, Rizo del Oro. She agreed to something like $80 for the night. Banged her for about 45 minutes. Then she wanted $60, to pay for her room for 3 days. I gave her $20. She never returned. Precisely why I only gave her $20.

My favorita was up with another guy, and saw me with N. I asked her if we were ok. She gave a quiet, "Yes." Took her to my room. She really got into the sex, even more so than usual, trying to make me forget about Naohmi. I did. First time I can recall this sort of reaction from a chica happening to me. Before, I'd only read about it.