I recently returned from Nuevo Laredo. I must say friends this last visit has convinced me once and for all to relocate to Laredo. I have had this under consideration for about 4 years. Before you read further I will apologize for the length these are just some things I would want to know. Anyway, as I am sure you know there are 2 nice hotels that are right on the border. The La Plata, and the Hotel Rio Grande (formerly Howard Johnsons.) I have stayed at both. Which one you like would be a personal thing. I like the Rio Grande Plaza, it is also $20-$40 cheeper than La Plata. Although La Plata is considered "more luxurious" I don't think so, but to each his own.

Ok from either Hotel you can a) get shuttle service to international Bridge 2 or b) walk it from either local in about 10 mins. Once you are across you will be most likely accosted by young men offering to take you to the "Doctor" or "girls" or other such things. OK, well first unless you are looking for some type of Narcotic, or "Downer" I would skip it. There are Pharmacies located within 100 yards of the border and they will sell you Viagra (I assume that is what you want.) or other medical type drugs. Viagra is $13.43 for one pill. Just a side note about Doc's in Nuevo Laredo. I am not a real big pill person; however, I have tried it. I will say I found it to be very expensive for the script. Not only that you are given the very lowest of dosage avail (I guess to keep stupid Americans from ODing.) You pay the Doctor he exits the room you are in and sends a runner to get what you want. You are then given the pills and the script. You are expected to compensate the guide who brought you here ($5-$10.) Again, prices are what I would consider on the high end. Ok, first can you bring the drugs back into the good ole US of A. The answer ? REALLY, I do not know. Acording to Mexican Docs, guides, yes, you can. You can bring back a 3 months prescription. I don't know if I trust that as I am ALWAYS asked on the US side if I bought drugs in Mexico. I always say no and have never been searched, Does any one have a definitive answer? Second, I wanted to try Oxy-Cotin while in Mexico. Just as a fun thing. I was told point blank by the DOC NO WAY. He said Oxy was now illegal in Mexico. Again, I would like to know if that is true.

Ok, Now for while your all here the girls. When approched by a street hustler I would say no thank you. That leaves you with 3 options to Boys town. 1) Drive to Boys Town yourself. I would not reccomend this. First, driving is not the smartest thing to do. Unless you have been there before, you will not find it. Second, if you are the go getter type of guy I will say this point blank. Have Mexican Auto insurance. If you are in an accident in Mexico, be advised it is a CRIMINAL matter not a civil one. So unless you are local and familiar I would not. Option 2) Taxi cab. Most of these are private cars for hire although you do see the familiar yellow cab. They all charge the same. It's $10 one way. Don't try to negotiate. It's $10. One option is to wait around for a fellow traveler and split it. I have done this and wound up making a few pals. 3) This is my favorite - The Donkey Carts. Now this is more expensive than a cab. ($15-$20) and takes about an hour to get there. It is however a really fun time. The Drivers are always friendly and a wealth of knowledge. If you are a newbie, they will hang around a little while with you when you get to boys Town and guide you a bit. They will also stop on the way for Cubans (the real ones, many shops sale fakes.) and Beer. It's just a fun way to go. Also they are "in the know" about anything else you might want to do or find in Laredo.

Ok, so now you are at Boys town. First, it is a walled in complex (High walls) there is one way in, one way out. You will pass a Police station. That's right friends a police station. Ok, freaked me out the first time. I *Think* the cops are there mainly for your protection. That is not to say you will be screwed with if you act stupid. acting stupid can consist of a)being to drunk. b)Causing attention to yourself, in a negative way (like pissing off a mexican national.) c) being in the wrong area of Boys town (I'll explain.)

Ok When you get to boys town you will likely be dropped out a papagayos. This is THE PLACE. it is a very large bar that would be considered very much like a medium scale American bar. Feel free to stay there or not. It's up to you.

Boys Town is layed out in a four street pattern. From right to left - Street 1. There are some older run down bars on this street it is really pretty dead nothing goes on here. Feel free to explore but there is not much here. Ok Street 2- this is the main street. Papagyos is here. Tamykos, Maribu etc.... This is where the "Bar Girls" are. Street 3- this is mainly filled with street girls. Street 4- Ok, if you are on this or the street that runs to the back you will most likely be screwd with by the cops. The streets here are filled with street girls, of a less desirable kind and there are Transvestite bars here. The "girls" who work these bars go from very convinving to not at all. TVs are really not my deal, but if they are, here is where they are. Like I said the cops will take a more active intereast in you if you are here. Not, to say you WILL get screwed with just more likely.

Ok first, the Street girls. These girls work in little rooms located around the complex. These girls go from young to really old. From absolute horror to real diamonds in the rough. I think this is the first stop and last stop of alot of girls. The Women on the streets are pretty conservative. Most just want to have missionary vaginal sex with nothing else. $20. is the standard price. If you are so inclined you can dicker. If you find the right girl you *can* negotiate extras. And like I said, you will find some real finds here. All girls use condoms (like all girls in the Zona they are tested weekly.) MY main drawback is she does business out of her room (obviously.) The girl lives in this room some are neat some are dirty, all are hot and small. Plus they all have shrines of the Holy Mother looking at you. One final note of caution here, while it has never happened to me, it has happened to several people I have been with - these girls can have sticky fingers. They will steal your wallet. Like I said never personally, but watch yourself.

ok, the Bars. I will touch Maribu first. Why? Because it is my favorite. This bar does NOT have the best women they range from 4-7 (with the occasional stunner.) They are a little cheaper than other bars in the $40-70 range. The Great thing about this bar is the atmosphere. This place is like Vegas in the 60's motif. Just Awesome, you expect the brat pack to walk in. There is also a nice dance floor, and the girls will dance, if you so desire.

Tamykos is next. This looks like a Japanese Pagoda or something from the outside. The girls there again are 4-7 and $40-$80. This covers half and half. Alot of girls here I get the impression are on their way down. It's an ok place, but I generally do not go. There is better to be had elsewhere, but still try it out once, you may enjoy it.

And finally Papagyos. OK guys, this is the creme de la creme. The girls here are from 4-10. I have met several girls here who are litteraly drop dead gorgeous. One girl last trip looked like a living Barbie Doll. Prices here are a standard $80. and you will not get a novina attitude. ALOT of girls here have a diva attitude. But, if trophy girls are your deal this is the place.

There are several smaller bars scattered about. My advice? Well, skip 'em unless you want to try something new. The girls there are one step above street girls and want higher prices. On the other hand if you are a regular, they may offer something a little different.

Ok just some general notes. Don't worry about fitting in here. All types come here from truck drivers, frat boys, cowboys etc. It is mostly Anglo crowd, and some girls will hesitate to go with African-Americans. Do not hesitate to eat from street vendors. The food is cheap and good.

When you get back to the border you will be dropped off right at the bridge. Go on back across, customs will ask you their questions, but generaly they know where you have been and don't give you shit. Also, if some guy approaches you on the Mexican side saying he has been robbed or the Police have his buddies but let him go. Don't believe it. It's a scam. I have never been in serious trouble down there (arrested) and my advice is avoid it. Please remeber you are in a foreign country. Your country will only give you nominal help if you are in trouble (there is a US Consulate in Nuevo Laredo) and Mexico opperates on the Napolionc Law code which means you are guilty until proven innocent.

Ok, well hope you got something from this. One final thought. Remember to bring 75 cents in Quarters, almost screwed me up. it's 50 cents to cross from the US to Mexico and 25 cents to come back. Let me know if I can help more!

Interesting report and nice details. Just a couple of observations. Paying $13.43 for a single dose of Viagra (plus a propina for the "runner") is both a waste of money and unnecessary if you plan ahead just a bit. I simply call my doctor to call in a prescription for Viagra to my pharmacy – this doesn’t even require an office visit. I get ten 50ml pills at a time and it runs about $10 each, or $100. And these I cut into two.

Plus Pfizer has a program for Viagra users where they will pay for every 7th prescription to be filled FREE. So in effect, for $600, I’m getting 70 pills – which works out to $8.50 a pill.

Here’s a link for the Pfizer Viagra program:

https://www.viagra.com/card/index.asp

While there may be cheaper options on the internet, I know that by using my doctor and pharmacy, I’m getting the real deal and not some counterfeit blue pill made in India. The proliferation of counterfeit medications is out of control – loads of money to be made and the risk of getting caught and seriously punished is low. We worked on a case last year out of St. Louis involving counterfeit/diluted Chemotherapy solutions! If there is money to be made, someone will sink as low as necessary to make it.

And speaking of counterfeits, the chances of real Cuban cigars being sold in Nuevo Laredo are slim and none. There are more counterfeit Cuban cigars sold than real ones! The first giveaway is whether or not the store is an authorized Habanos dealer, something a real Habanos dealer would be proud to advertise. This means the store is authorized to sell Cuban cigars by Habanos, the Cuban government agency which controls all commercial aspects of Cuban cigars. And only Habanos authorized dealers can purchase Cuban cigars from Habanos.

The following link on how to spot counterfeit Cuban cigars makes interesting reading

http://www.smokemag.com/0398/feature.htm


Again, great details - especially about the quarters for the bridge!

WS

WS,

I got you beat-- my health insurance covers viagra... I pay the $10 co-pay only. Now all I need is to find a doc to phone the orders in