Baja Advisor

Wanna smoke in TJ - stand outside

2012-02-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago there was a change in the local laws that prohibit smoking in bars and clubs in Tijuana. This change has been rumored for several years ever since smoking was restricted in restaurants. Other than signs that state NO FUMAR there has not been much change in the clientele and business has not dropped off.

The most interesting part of the change is that the smoking ban also now applies to outdoor restaurants that have some sort of covering or awning over the tables. The quick answer was to move more tables farther away so they are not covered by an overhang.

San Ysidro SENTRI Crossing

2012-02-23T17:00:00.000-08:00

Video from BajaBound.com showing how to get to SENTRI lane at the San Ysidro crossing in Tijuana.

SENTRI crossing video

Carnaval Ensenada

2012-02-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

February 16 - 21
See the program posted at Baja Insider

Tourist tales of police encounters

2012-02-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

Peeing in Mexico An article by Eric Mack

What Not to Do in Tijuana An article by Charles Clayton

Tijuana Places Updates

2012-02-04T13:00:00.000-08:00

See the Tijuana Places map for information. Just click on the name for a review of the place and to see the location.

Tijuana Places

WHTI - Documents needed to enter the US

2012-01-12T17:00:00.000-08:00

You can find updated information on the Customs and Border Protection website.

English Español

Ready Lanes come to San Ysidro border crossing

2012-01-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

The Otay Mesa crossing has had Ready Lanes for some time and now so does San Ysidro. Ready Lane access requires that occupants of the vehicle must have RFID documents. This includes the border crossing card, SENTRI card and Legal Residency card. The Ready Lane, which is actually four lanes, is accessed from Padre Kino and Via Rapida Oriente.

For more information: CBP Website

Things to do NYE - a short list

2011-12-30T14:14:00.001-08:00

Tijuana
See the Tijuana Places Map for more locations and details...CLICK HERE

Zky Blue
Cover 200 pesos
Open Bar until 3am
Calle Madero between 1st and 2nd
Click for details

Fusion
Cover 200 pesos
Open Bar until 2am
Av Larroque at Plaza Viva Tijuana
Reservations at 664-345-88-17
Click for details

Premier
Av Revolucion near 1st
Click for details

Camelon Bar
Av Revolucion near 2nd
$5.00 USD Cover
Click for details

Ensenada

Sublimee Bar
Click for details

Pokerface Bar
Click for details

Mexicali

Premier Bar
Click for details

Border fence to be rebuilt in Playas de Tijuana

2011-11-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

The border fence between the US and Mexico has undergone massive construction over the past few years. The US will now replace the section of the fence that runs in to the Pacific Ocean at Playas de Tijuana.

read the full story here

Rosarito Arts Fest

2011-11-24T18:00:00.000-08:00

Date: December 4, 2011
Time: 11:00am - 10:00pm
Cost: Free
Location: Av Benito Juarez in the hotel zone (south end)

Additional information available by e-mail to: rosaritoartfest@gmail.com

Dia de los Muertos - Day of the Dead

2011-11-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

The Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos) is a holiday that focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. The celebration occurs on November 1st and 2nd in connection with the Catholic holiday of All Saints’ Day which occurs on November 1st and All Souls Day which occurs on November 2nd. Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts.

For more information, click the link below.

El Dia de los Muertos

121 Things to do in Tijuana

2011-10-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

A good list of things to do and a map to show you were there are. See: Tijuego

By the way, a Zonkey, is a Zebra striped Donkey.

San Ysidro Border Crossing Update

2011-10-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

A ground breaking ceremony was held during February 2011, to kick off the expansion of the San Ysidro port of entry. A great deal of work going on for several more years including moving the southbound entry to Mexico. The project is being completed in three phases and full completion is expected during 2016.

So far, the new pedestrian bridge has opened and a second inspection booth that had been added to the existing lanes in order to allow for two vehicles to progress to an inspector at the same time have mostly been removed. San Ysidro is called the busiest entry point between two countries with approximately 50,000 vehicles and 25,000 pedestrians crossing each day into the United States.

Phase two is expected to begin during 2013, with the new construction of pedestrian processing facilities. This phase will likely take more than two years to complete.

Phase three will begin during 2014 and includes shifting the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 to the West. This will allow for expansion of the northbound facility from 24 to 34 lanes. This shift will also allow for the southbound facility in Mexico to be expanded greatly as well.

The cost to the US is estimated to be $600 million to expand the San Ysidro Port of Entry. The cost to Mexico to expand the El Chaparral Port of Entry is estimate to be more than $50 million.

See the artist rendition below.

Expo Tequila 2011

2011-09-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

Expo Tequila Tijuana

DATE: October 12 - 16, 2011

PLACE: Av Revolucion at 7th (Sanborns)
COST: Approx $6.00 USD

The festival is a cultural event because its main focus is on educating visitors about the types of Tequila in Mexico. Participants will have the opportunity to taste dozens different Tequilas from different parts of the Tequila region. Other national beverages will be available for tasting as well.

The festival will also have music, stage shows and a drawing for prizes.

Platillo Mexicano XXX

2011-09-17T16:00:00.000-07:00

Platillo Mexicano is an event that will allowvisitors to sample foods from regions all over Mexico.

Date & Time

September 24 - Noon until8:00p

September 25 - 11:00a until6:00p

Location
Hipodromo Caliente (Race track)
Blvd Agua Caliente 12027
Col. Hipódromo Tijuana

Cost:
Free Admission - food for as low at 20 pesos

By the way, XXX stands for the 30th event - not thatother thing you were thinking ;-)

El Grito

2011-09-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

A call to revolt (El Grito) by the Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo, was made shortly before dawn on September 16, 1810. The uprising brought the indigenous indians and mixed mestizo groups against the Spanish military and helped change the face of the already on-going fight for independence. This occurred in the village of Dolores, Guanajuato. El Grito has become emblematic of Mexican independence.

Each year on the night of September 15, the President of Mexico rings the bell of the National Palace in Mexico City. He repeats a cry of patriotism from the balcony of the palace to the assembled crowd in the Plaza de la Constitución, one of the largest public plazas in the world. This event draws up to half a million spectators. Local politicians such as the Mayor or Governor will also ring a bell and offer the traditional saying. President Calderón is expected to officiate the Grito in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato as part of the bicentennial celebrations in 2010. Similar celebrations occur across Mexico.

September 16 is Independence Day in Mexico and is considered a patriotic holiday, or fiesta patria (literally, holiday of the Fatherland).

Cinema Latino

2011-09-11T16:00:00.000-07:00

Read the story of one person who visited Cinema Latino in Tijuana - an adult movie theater on Av Niños Heroes near the corner of Zapata (5th).

The story is on a website not affiliated with Baja Advisor and contains adult content.
Story

La Guzmán in Tijuana

2011-09-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

Alejandra Guzmán in Concert

Date:
September 29, 2011

Place:
Plaza de toros de Tijuana
'Plaza Monumental de Playas de Tijuana'
Avenida Paseo Playas 511
Seccion Monumental, Playas de Tijuana

VIDEO: Alejandra Guzmán y Franco De Vita

Rosarito to Ensenada Bike Ride - September 24

2011-09-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

The 32nd annual fall Rosarito Ensenada Bike Ride is scheduled for Saturday, September 24th, 2011.

Time: 10:00 am

Place: Av Juarez (Rosarito Beach Hotel)

Come join hundreds of riders for the 50 mile ride to Ensenada. Competitive riders will receive preferred starting position in front of other riders. The course record is 1:52:54, set on April 21, 2007.

Rosarito - Marcha de la Diversidad Sexual

2011-09-01T03:00:00.003-07:00

When: September 25 - Sunday
Time: 3:00pm
Additional information to follow when known.

Tourist Assistance

2011-08-19T09:45:00.001-07:00

To receive tourist assistance for all of Baja State by phone, dial 078 from a cell or land line. If using a cell phone that is not native to Mexico, you will only reach tourist assistance if your phone is roaming and has attached to the local network. English speaking operators are available around the clock.

Additionally, the very cramped tourist assistance booth on Av. Revolucion in Tijuana was closed and a store front location was opened during July. Information about Baja, tours, restaurants, hotels, and discounts, or even directions on how to get to a location are available just by walking in.

As an additional note, the emergency line for police or medical services is 066.

Immigration Checks

2011-08-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

The New York Times is coming late to the game in reporting that CBP is checking documentation of people crossing from the US into Mexico. For those who have crossed into Baja via San Ysidro or Otay, you know these checks have been going on for quite a while. Read the story by clicking the link below.

New York Times

Mexico's biggest marijuana plantation in Baja

2011-07-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

Mexican soldiers found the largest marijuana plantation ever detected in Mexico, a huge field covering almost 300 acres (120 hectares), the Defense Department said Thursday.

The pot plants sheltered under black screen-cloth in a huge square on the floor of the Baja California desert, more than 150 miles (250 kilometers) south of Tijuana, across the border from San Diego.

Read the full story here: Yahoo News

Tijuana Gay Bars and Clubs

2011-07-11T21:00:00.003-07:00

This is a current listing of the most popular cruise bars and dance clubs in Tijuana. Be sure to see the map for locations: Tijuana Map

BARS and NIGHTCLUBS

PLAZA SANTA CECILIA is located in downtown Tijuana between 1st Street and Avenida Revolución and 2nd & Constitución. Ave. This plaza is easy to find because the famous Arch is at the end on Av. Revolución while the other famous arch (Mc Donald's) is at the other end on Constitución. Revolución is Tijuana's main tourist spot full of souvenir shops, restaurants, bars, and night clubs. The following bars are within Plaza Santa Cecilia. They open daily at 10:00 a.m. and remain open until at least 2:00 a.m., and even later on Fridays and Saturdays.

El Ranchero is TJs most popular men's bar for cruising. It has a ground floor and upper level. The upper level gets the busiest. Clientele consists of men of all ages and all economic backgrounds from both sides of the border. Some hustlers work it as well.

Hawaii is a few doors to the right from El Ranchero as you look at the front door. It is most popular for its nightly male stripper shows.

Villa Garcia is just to the right from Hawaii and under the same ownership as El Ranchero. It usually doesn't get very busy, but often has drag shows on a small stage. Bar D.F. is several doors to the left of El Ranchero. Clientele mainly consists of older locals and younger macho types who hustle them.

Cosmos / El Taurino. Tijuana and is located just one block from Plaza Sta Cecilia at the corner of Articulo 1-2-3 (First street) and Constitucion. Mixed bar gay and straight. The strip shows often split the crowd evenly between gay men and straight women.

Premier is a strip club with all male dancers. This club is on Ave Revolucion, just down hill from the arch, located next to Motel Alaska. Club Premier

Club 45 Opened June 2011, located on Ave. Revolución between 1st & 2nd. First floor location of the old Closet Bar. Mixed crowd, drag shows. Opens in the late afternoon and shows start at 9:00 p.m.

DANCE CLUBS

Zky Blue is a spacious two-story, upscale dance club located in downtown Tijuana on Avenida Madero between 1st and 2nd (Juarez) Street, just one block east of Ave. Revolución. The building sits back from the street due to its front parking lot. Clientele primarily consists of middle-class twinks and middle-age men, middle-class on up, from both sides of the border.

Colibri is similar in atmosphere and clientele to Zky, only it is not as large. It is located at the corner of 2nd & Revolución. The entrance consists of a stairway accessible from Ave. Revolución. The sign on the corner has a humming bird.

Club 41 is known to have go-go dancers in cages and has a separate dance area between the entrance and bar. Club 41 is located between Colibri and Cameleon and attracts primarily the same crowd.

Cameleon is next to Club 41 as you head toward the arch. Younger dance crowd much like you will find in Colibri or Club 41.

Club Fusion (Extasis and Cahuamamamas) was once two separate clubs until the owner of both"fused" the two together. In Spring 2011, a wall was put up splitting Fusion from the old Extasis making Excess. Excess is primarily about strippers and had long dark areas with private rooms. Fusion remains open with drag shows and karaoke. Fusion has a smaller dark area as well.

LESBIAN BARS

Yadira's is located on Ave. Madero between 7th & 8th. It includes a number of pool tables and draws some straight clientele. Open from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Flame Bar is now under a new name and is a karaoke bar. The status for being gay friendly is not known. Location is Av Madero #158, across the street from Zky Blue on Ave. Formerly called Bobby Bar, a smaller meeting place mostly for men.

TJ Beer Fest 2011 - July 15 & 16

2011-06-30T18:00:00.001-07:00

July 15 and 16
Av Revolucion between Sixth and Eight streets
More than 100 brands available. Music, Food and Fun!

Pride Parade photo updates

2011-06-27T16:00:00.000-07:00

Tijuana Pride Parade 2011 - June 18

Tijuana Pride 2011 - Saturday

2011-06-16T06:00:00.001-07:00

Some special offers by the local clubs and bars will be available.
The Pride parade will begin at 5:00pm on Saturday, June 18, starting in front of Clinica ACOSIDA at First Street and Mutualismo (Calle Artículo 123 #7648). The parade will wind through the streets of Tijuana so be sure to be there to cheer on the participants.

Ensenda Pride Parade 2011 - June 11

2011-05-30T06:00:00.007-07:00

June 11 - March by the Sea
Parade starts at 4:00 pm

More information to come.....Comunidad Lgbt de Ensenada

Tijuana Pride Parade 2011 - June 18

2011-05-24T17:00:00.003-07:00

The Tijuana Pride parade will begin at 5:00pm on Saturday, June 18. Starting point will once gain be in front of Clinica ACOSIDA at First Street and Mutualismo (Calle Artículo 123 #7648). Participants in the march should arrive by 4:00 pm.

Human Rights Activist, Ron deHarte, will serve as International Grand Marshal.

World Naked Bike Ride - Mexico City

2011-05-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

Date: June 11, 2011
Time: 11:00
Info: Website
Pages take some time to load so be patient

Cultural Congress Against Homophobia

2011-05-17T08:00:00.005-07:00

Film festival Sponsored by the Tijuana LGBTI Cultural Community (COCUT) at the Palacio de Cultura at Calle 2da and Av. Constitución. May 18 through 21

Wednesday 18, 8:00 pm Shelter (USES 2007) 97 min. Director: Jonah Markowitz. It relates the history of love of Zach and Shaun in the beaches of California. Zach falls in love with the older brother of its better friend. Both are surfers for which the close contact is insured. In the meantime, Zach becomes father unscripted of its nephew. The movie claims the right of the homosexuals to be able to adopt and to form a family. (With Trevor Wright and Brad Rowe)

Thursday 19, 7:00 pm Crosscurrent (Peru, 2009) 100 min.director: Javier Sources-Lion. The history of a fisherman in a small town of the Peruvian coast trying to reconcile its love by a foreign painter and the next birth of its wife. (José Chacaltana, Manolo Carmona and Tatiana Astengo).

Friday 20, 6:00 pm The boys are well (The kids till all right), USES 2010) 106 min. Director: Smooth Cholodenko. The life of a couple of lesbians staggers when its children decide to contact their biological father; a male alpha unworried and charismatic one that suddenly believes to see resolved their problems of immaturity upon knowing father about two model adolescents. As the title indicates, the boys are the unique with an idea of what happens. (Annette Bening, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo).

Saturday 21, 6:00 pm My desire in your skin (In soap, Denmark-Sweden 2006). 104 min. Director: Pernille Fischer Christensen. A tragicomedy centered in the relation among a forty-something barber (that has just broken with its boyfriend) and its neighbor: a transsexual in wait of green light to its operation of generic reassignment and obsessed with the soap operas. The interaction among both takes a course that nobody to have predicted. (Trill Dyrholm, David Dencik and Frank Thiel).

Also see: Bay Windows

1.56 million people live in Tijuana

2011-05-08T20:45:00.002-07:00

Population growth fueled by migrants from across Mexico moving to Tijuana, the city grew at a faster rate than most of the country during the past decade. See the full article for more about results from Mexico's 2010 census. SignOn San Diego

Chicos de Mexico

2011-04-29T11:30:00.002-07:00

Chicos de Mexico is a blog showing photos of cute guys from different areas of Mexico.
Click here to see the blog: Chicos de Mexico

Baja California, Mexico: Nothing to Worry About

2011-03-30T22:00:00.000-07:00

Article by Gary Singh at GoNomad

When the sun goes down in Tijuana

2011-03-10T13:00:00.003-08:00

Article by Rex Wockner

A new flowering of art and nightlife has taken hold in adowntown that once filled with partiers from north of the border. Whenthe sun goes down in Tijuana,a revitalized club scene heats up.

Americans pretty much have stopped visiting the city, putoff at first by long lines at the border after 9/11, then stopped in theirtracks by a new requirement to have a passport to hop back and forth between San Diego and Tijuana,and now scared by crime reports.

The city's famed Revolution Avenue -- where booming discos,cheap booze, a drinking age of 18 and uncountable souvenir shops hadattracted hordes of Americans for decades -- fell on hard times.

But then something remarkable happened. Trendy clubsstarted opening on Sixth Street, on either sideof Revolution, a little over two years ago. Stylish and fashionable, some ofthem feel like an Almodóvar movie, like Buenos Aires, maybe Barcelona.

These hotspots are devoid of American visitors, filled with Baja California trendsters.Yes, Tijuana has gone andgotten groovy.

Jason Fritz, 33, is an American grad student in LatinAmerican Studies at San Diego State University. He lives in Tijuana because he finds it much more interesting than San Diego."A lot of edgy, young hipsters had been hanging out here on La Sexta (Sixth Street) before therewas any of the new cool bars here -- at the Dandy del Sur and La Estrella --but in January of 2009, the Mezcalera opened up and that's when things justreally took off," he said. "You started to see a whole new hip sceneemerging in Tijuana."

"If people are open-minded to discover what'shappening here, they will really be impressed," Fritz said. "I wouldsay it's one of the great cultural centers on the West Coast, but the thing is,most people aren't in on the secret."

The coolest clubs play "amazing new cutting-edge” local music, he said,referring to internationally known Tijuana creations thatblend regional and folk genres with the latest electronic music.

Fritz is not alone in gushing over this big border citythat many foreigners consider gritty at best. Derrik Chinn, 29, is anAmerican journalist who has lived in Tijuana for four yearsand has organized "atypical" outings in the city for friends on both sidesof the fence. Recent adventures have included a professional soccer game, the Tijuana Fair and a rollerskating night.

Tijuanais"organized chaos taking an aesthetic form," Chinn said. "Youhave hundreds of different little worlds existing right next to each other inone city block. It's amazing."

"So many spaces have been left empty because of thelack of tourism and finally local businesses started opening up that werefinally catering to locals," he said. "If you come here from theoutside and you observe what's going on here -- how people dress, the musicthey're listening to, their overall style -- it really does feel like a hipsterscene. Despite everything, Tijuana keeps moving...it keeps living."

Sergio Gonzalez, 34, is one of the owners of La Mezcalera, which started it all, as wellas an owner of retro-cool Pop Diner at6th and Revolution.

"People were afraid to go out at night two yearsago," Gonzalez said. "The city was really messed up [so] peoplestarted to come downtown because they weren't [as] afraid [here]. When weopened La Mezcalera, we tried to do the mix of everything: Come here, it's notgoing to be a pretentious space, you can be around all kinds of people. And Ithink that was the formula to start to develop this phenomenon and, after that,30 bars opened in the same street!"

"The street is about seeing people," Gonzalezsaid. "It's really exciting to see people walking around and to see thecity alive. That, and the fact that you can go from bar to bar and each bar hasa different concept. The people who have opened these bars are young people whotravel and have been in Europe or Mexico City. ... I was inspired byPedro Almodóvar. [My] bar is one of the scenes in the movie 'Volver.' Theplaces look kind of stylish even though they are really simple."

OK, we hear you. Sounds great. You'd love to check it out.But isn't Tijuana too"messed up"? Let's crunch some numbers and see what we can learn. Tijuana,population 1.6 million, had 818 homicides last year. That's a lot. It's not asafe city like San Diego,population 1.3 million, which saw 29 homicides last year. But consider this:New Orleans' homicide rate is roughly the same as Tijuana's, and St. Louis,Detroit and Baltimore saw homicide rates last year more than two-thirds as highas Tijuana's. Beyond that, most of the violence in Tijuana
is not random.

"The violence that we live here is not fortourists," said Gonzalez, a Tijuana native."It's a war between the police and the narcos. It's nothing to do with thecommon citizen or the tourist."

Fritz once lived in Baltimore and said it's "a muchmore frightening town than Tijuana. "I've never really felt threatened here."

Chinn said humans tend to "identify with whatever weread in the newspaper: 'That could happen to me.' The trick is that, no, itprobably won't happen to you. It really doesn't affect our lives like peoplewould think."

That certainly feels true on the downtown club scene. Toget to the action, head down Revolution to Sixth, turn right or left and startbarhopping. Check out trendy Don Loope, Callejón de la Sexta, La Mezcalera, La Chupitería, Zebra and Tasca.Iconic cantinas on the street include Dandy del Sur (said to be a favorite of movie starsDiego Luna and Gael García Bernal of "Y Tu Mamá También" fame) andTropic's Bar. The blue-collar dancehall La Estrella also is a classic. Beer is$2. Absolut vodka goes for a bit over $4. Fritz suggests starting with dinnerat Caesar's, 8190 Revolución at Fifth Street.

Something else new and cool to explore is Pasaje Rodríguez, along passageway between Revolución and Constitución avenues that's accessiblefrom Revolución between Third and Fourth streets.

"It's all these independent galleries and shops,"Chinn said. "Most of the owners are under 30. They're selling vintageclothing, accessories, housewares stuff. There's cafes and bookstores."

And although there are shuttered storefronts on Revolution,the old tourist drag is far from dead. On a recent Saturday evening, theremaining clubs, along with surviving and new restaurants, were busy. And thereare even a couple of nice new hotels with rooms for around $30 a night. Thesidewalks were hopping -- 100 percent Mexican, a remarkable change for SouthernCalifornians who remember when trying to entice Tijuana friends toRevolution Avenue elicited howls of horror.

In a phrase, it seems this ain't your daddy's Tijuana no more.

Written for MSN Local Edition

Additionalresources: Tijuanalandia Turista Libre La Mezcalara Pop Diner TJ Don Loope Cantina Zebra Mexican Pub Tasca TJ Dandy Del Sur Cantina Pasaje Rodriguez

Visit BajaAdvisor

2011-01-29T08:00:00.001-08:00

> MySpace
> YouTube
> XTube
> Facebook

Send e-mail to BajaAdvisor@Gmail.com

La Sexta

2011-01-22T17:00:00.000-08:00

Baja Advisor and friends have been known to spend time at La Estrella on Sixth Street. The area on Sixth, or La Sexta, has largely been known by locals to TJ for comfortable, small watering holes. Now La Sexta is having a great deal of new popularity among a new crowd of Tijuana locals.

See the article by Omar Millán for more detail: San Diego Red

Tijuana gay bars update

2011-01-20T13:30:00.002-08:00

This is a current listing of the most popular cruise bars and dance clubs in Tijuana. Be sure to see the map for locations: Tijuana Map

BARS and NIGHTCLUBS

PLAZA SANTA CECILIA is located in downtown Tijuana between 1st Street and Avenida Revolución and 2nd & Constitución. Ave. This plaza is easy to find because the famous Arch is at the end on Av. Revolución while the other famous arch (Mc Donald's) is at the other end on Constitución. Revolución is Tijuana's main tourist spot full of souvenir shops, restaurants, bars, and night clubs. The following bars are within Plaza Santa Cecilia. They open daily at 10:00 a.m. and remain open until at least 2:00 a.m., and even later on Fridays and Saturdays.

> El Ranchero is Tj's most popular men's bar for cruising. It has a ground floor and upper level. The upper level gets the busiest. Clientele consists of men of all ages and all economic backgrounds from both sides of the border. Some hustlers work it as well.

> Hawaii is a few doors to the right from El Ranchero as you look at the front door. It is most popular for its nightly male stripper shows.

> Villa Garcia is just to the right from Hawaii and under the same ownership as El Ranchero. It usually doesn't get very busy, but often has drag shows on a small stage. Bar D.F. is several doors to the left of El Ranchero. Clientele mainly consists of older locals and younger macho types who hustle them.

> Cosmos - formerly El Taurino. Tijuana and is located just one block from Plaza Sta Cecilia at the corner of Articulo 1-2-3 (First street) and Constitucion. Mixed bar gay and straight. The strip shows often split the crowd evenly between gay men and straight women.

> Premier is a strip club with all male dancers. This club is on Ave Revolucion, just down hill from the arch, located next to Motel Alaska. Club Premier

DANCE CLUBS

> Zky Blue is a spacious two-story, upscale dance club located in downtown Tijuana on Avenida Madero between 1st and 2nd (Juarez) Street, just one block east of Ave. Revolución. The building sits back from the street due to its front parking lot. Clientele primarily consists of middle-class twinks and middle-age men, middle-class on up, from both sides of the border.

> Colibri is similar in atmosphere and clientele to Zky, only it is not as large. It is located at the corner of 2nd & Revolución. The entrance consists of a stairway accessible from Ave. Revolución. The sign on the corner has a humming bird.

> Club 41 is known to have go-go dancers in cages and has a separate dance area between the entrance and bar. Club 41 is located between Colibri and Cameleon and attracts primarily the same crowd.

> Cameleon is next to Club 41 as you head toward the arch. Younger dance crowd much like you will find in Colibri or Club 41.

> Club Fusion (Extasis & Cahuamamamas) is approximately one block west of the San Ysidro border crossing on Calle Larroque just west of Av de la Amistad. This area is called Plaza Viva Tijuana and is where the Mc Donald's is located just inside Tijuana at the pedestrian gate. If you cross the border on foot through the turnstiles, keep walking until you see the large "Tourist Information" booth slightly to your right, where you will then make a sharp right turn and walk to the next set of turnstiles. After passing through those turnstiles, keep walking across the street at the crosswalk, and continue in the same direction along the sidewalk for about a half a block to the entrance to the club. Club Fusion was once two separate clubs (Extasis and Cahuamamamas) until the owner of both "fused" the two together. The club is spacious, upscale, and includes male stripper shows and long, narrow dark rooms. Clientele primarily consists of twinks and middle-age men, middle-class on up, from both sides of the border.

LESBIAN BARS

> Yadira's is located on Ave. Madero between 7th & 8th. It includes a number of pool tables and draws some straight clientele. Open from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

> Flame Bar is directly across the street from Zky Blue on Ave. Madero between 1st and 2nd, formerly called Bobby Bar.

Gay TJ article in QX Magazine

2011-01-18T17:00:00.000-08:00

Derrik Chinn - Turista Libre - reviews gay TJ in QX magazine.
See the full article here: Turista Libre

Sexual Assault Denounced

2011-01-17T18:07:00.000-08:00

TIJUANA, Baja California -
After some time of remaining quiet, he could not do it any longer. A young man, age 20, notified local police that he had been sexually assaulted by a group of men that is lead by a man known simply as “El Mudo” or The Mute One.

The man explained that he had been approached many times in the past by El Mudo for sexual activity, but had been able to evade him each time.

Eventually El Mudo gained access to the home where the young man lived and made threats against him at knife point. El Mudo then sexually assaulted the young man repeatedly threatening him with physical hard or death. The young man remained quiet out of fearfulness and did not report the attacks even to his family.

On January 9, there was a knock at the door of the home. The young man believed that his cousin who lived at the house was outside the door wanting to enter. It was then that several men burst into the home then bound the young man and covered his eyes in order to sexually assault him numerous times. The young man could not be sure of the number of people but believed he was assaulted by four individuals including El Mudo.

After having been attacked in such a way and suffering so many times, the young man finally reported the incidents to the local police.

Baja Gay Marriage Ban Uncertain

2010-11-03T09:30:00.002-07:00

A proposed same-sex-marriage ban in Mexico’s Baja California state may not be a done deal. The constitutional amendment was passed Sept. 29, the last day that the National Action Party (PAN) had control of the Chamber of Deputies.

The next move was to send the amendment to the state’s five political subdivisions – the municipal councils of Ensenada, Mexicali, Rosarito Beach, Tecate, and Tijuana – for ratification. The councils then would have had a month to approve it, reject it, or do nothing, which would count as approval.

But the amendment has yet to be formally published and forwarded to the councils. That’s because on Oct. 1, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) took control of the Chamber of Deputies, taking the seats they won in this summer’s elections, and the PRI seemingly has not made the amendment a priority.

For the full story visit Bay Windows
For marriage resources in Mexico visit Purple Unions

Felicidades

2010-11-01T14:41:00.002-07:00

Gay Culture in Tijuana

2010-10-31T18:30:00.001-07:00

LGBT people work to block same-sex marriage ban

2010-10-14T16:00:00.003-07:00

LGBT activists are organizing marches on Oct. 16 in the city of Mexicali, the Baja state capital, and on Oct. 24 in the border city of Tecate.

The Mexicali march is Saturday, Oct. 16, at 3 p.m., starting at Avenida Colón and Calzada Justo Sierra.

The Tecate march is Sunday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m. at Parque Central.

See the full article at Wockner

Expo Tequila Tijuana -> October 13 - 17

2010-10-13T15:40:00.003-07:00

The Tequila Expo returns to Tijuana.

DATE: October 13 through 17th

PLACE: Av. Revolution at 7th (Sanborns)
COST: Approx $6.00 USD

Baja California votes against same sex marriages

2010-10-08T18:25:00.004-07:00

Same-sex marriage is legal in Mexico City, and the nation’s Supreme Courtruled this year that all 31 Mexican states must recognize gay marriages.

Read the entire article: Gay Today

Also see: Mexican states must recognize gay marriage

San Ysidro Port of Entry Expansion Planned

2010-09-30T17:00:00.009-07:00

A joint US and Mexico project to expand the San Ysidro entry point is set to move forward. The US will spend more than $575 million and Mexico will invest more than $50 million.

Construction will take place over a period of five to seven years in three phases. The crossing will remain open during that time, but delays are expected so it will be important to keep that in mind. The expansion is planned to include realignment of the auto lanes and a new pedestrian bridge. Many upgrades for border security measures are expected as well.

Believe in Tijuana

2010-09-24T21:20:00.000-07:00

El Grito & 200 Years of Mexican Independence

2010-09-15T19:00:00.000-07:00

On September 16, 2010, Mexico will celebrate its 200 years of Independence. The Bicentennial is a celebration of two events. The first is two hundred years since Independence and the second is the 100 years since Mexican Revolution of 1910. Mexican Independence Day is to celebrate the independence from Spain, which controlled what was at that time called New Spain.

A call to revolt (El Grito) by the Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo, was made shortly before dawn on September 16, 1810. The uprising brought the indigenous indians and mixed mestizo groups against the Spanish military and helped change the face of the already on-going fight for independence. This occurred in the village of Dolores, Guanajuato.El Grito has become emblematic of Mexican independence.

Each year on the night of September 15, the President of Mexico rings the bell of the National Palace in Mexico City. He repeats a cry of patriotism from the balcony of the palace to the assembled crowd in the Plaza de la Constitución, one of the largest public plazas in the world. This event draws up to half a million spectators. Local politicians such as the Mayor or Governor will also ring a bell and offer the traditional saying. President Calderón is expected to officiate the Grito in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato as part of the bicentennial celebrations in 2010. Similar celebrations occur across Mexico.

September 16 is Independence Day in Mexico and is considered a patriotic holiday, or fiesta patria (literally, holiday of the Fatherland).

Expo Tequila 2010

2010-09-12T18:30:00.011-07:00

The Tequila Expo is returning to Tijuana.
   DATE:   October 13 through 17th
   PLACE:  Av. Revolution at 7th (Sanborns)
   COST:   Approx $6.00 USD

The festival is a cultural event because its main focus is on educating visitors about the types of Tequila in Mexico. Participants will have the opportunity to taste some 100 different Tequilas from different parts of the Tequila region in the State of Jalisco. You will the opportunity to buy the Tequilas and other beverages that are being tasted.

Expo Website Facebook

Rosarito to Ensenada bike ride

2010-09-10T13:30:00.003-07:00

September 25, 2010

Twice annual ride from Rosarito to Ensenada. There will be a festival near the finish line in Ensenada with live music and food vendors.

Ride starts at the Rosarito Beach Hotel.
Official Website

Tecate Beer Festival 2010

2010-09-03T01:00:00.009-07:00

September 10 through 12
TECATE Beer Festival with beer tasting music and entertainment at Plaza Los Encinos in the city of Tecate.

for information call (011-52) 665-108-92-57 or (011-52) 665-104-49-61

Admission is free

Feria Tijuana 2010

2010-08-20T09:00:00.002-07:00

Tijuana traditional fair
August 20 to September 18 at Parque Morelos in Tijuana.
Blvd de los Insurgentes next to Vía Rápida Oriente

Cost: 50 pesos for Adults, 25 pesos for Children
More details: 664-634-61-90 or e-mail: info@feriatijuana.com.mx

TURISTA LIBRE has a arranged for transportation to the Fair from the border. See their Facebook page for details.

Same-sex marriage proposed for Baja California

2010-08-15T18:00:00.001-07:00

All Mexican states must recognize gay marriages

2010-08-11T21:10:00.000-07:00

MEXICO CITY — Mexico's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday (August 10, 2010) that all 31 states must recognize same-sex marriages performed in the capital, though its decision does not force those states to begin marrying gay couples in their territory.

In a 9-2 decision, the tribunal cited an article of the constitution requiring states to recognize legal contracts drawn up elsewhere.

It did not specify what degree of recognition must be granted to same-sex couples.

Mexico City's same-sex marriage law, enacted in March, extends to wedded gay couples the right to adopt children, to jointly apply for bank loans, to inherit wealth and to be covered by their spouses' insurance policies. Some of those may end up applying only in the capital.

The Supreme Court ruled last week that same-sex weddings are constitutional — though it is holding separate discussions this week on the adoption clause.

One of the justices, Sergio Aguirre, argued against adoptions by same-sex couples Tuesday, saying children might suffer discrimination as a result.

TSA Online

2010-08-05T10:00:00.012-07:00

Get information from the TSA Blog or download one the the smart phone applications.

Some of the information you can find:
   Airport status
   Security check wait times
   Acceptable forms of identification
   What you cannot carry in baggage

TSA Blog

Mexican Law Enforcement Helps Capture U.S. Fugitives

2010-08-03T19:00:00.000-07:00

About 1,000 U.S. fugitives wanted for crimes are believed to live in Mexico, according to federal estimates. Many are in resort areas such as Cancun or in border states such as Baja California.

But in recent years, Mexican law enforcement agencies, even some rife with corruption — have stepped up their efforts to send fugitives back north. Fugitive deportations and extraditions from Mexico reached 299 last year, more than triple the number from 2003, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Full Story: Los Angeles Times

GuideMag - Online Travel Magazine

2010-07-31T10:15:00.002-07:00

GuideMag has recently updated their Tijuana listings.
For more information click this link: Tijuana

For information about other cities around the world visit GuideMag

Tijuana Arts Festival 2010

2010-07-10T17:00:00.001-07:00

Tijuana en Revolución
Second Annual Art Festival
Celebrating dance, music and theater.

Friday July 16 through Sunday July 18
Hours: 8:00am - 8:00pm

Location: Plaza Santa Cecilia and along
Av Revolución between First and Fifth streets.

Tijuana en Revolucion

Tijuana Pride Report from GLTNN

2010-06-27T15:28:00.003-07:00

By Ivan Garcia, Assistant Editor GLTNN

Fifteen years ago, less than a hundred brave GLBT Mexican citizens and many of their American supporters marched through downtown Tijuana for this region’s first Gay Pride Parade. It was in the middle of the afternoon in, then, tourist filled Revolution Ave. The marchers were warmly greeted by everyone along the streets. Why do I remember, because I (Nicole Ramirez) was honored to have been named the “International Grand Marshal” of the 1st Tijuana Pride Parade in 1995. I also remember that a major Mexican Presidential candidate had been assassinated weeks earlier in Tijuana and though there were some concerns, the parade seemed most welcomed by everyone.

I return to Tijuana this past Saturday to once again march in their, now, 15th Annual Tijuana Pride Parade and attend their 1st Annual Pride Festival. It was again my honor 15 years later to be once again name “International Grand Marshal” of the 2010 Tijuana Pride Parade. Earlier Saturday afternoon, one of my good, straight girl friends, business woman Cheri Reeves and I headed to Tijuana and parked her car this side of the border and walked across and took a Tijuana taxi into downtown’s Revolution Ave.

For the full story and photos visit the GLTNN website: GLTNN

Two-day Pride Festival in Tijuana

2010-06-18T12:01:00.002-07:00

FIRST-EVER, TWO-DAY, OUTDOOR PRIDE FESTIVAL DOWNTOWN JUNE 19 & 20

by Rex Wockner

Tijuana's 15th gay/lesbian pride march hits the streets Saturday, June 19, at 5 p.m.

Participants will gather in front of the community-based Alliance Against AIDS (ACOSIDA) Clinic at 7648 Calle 1ra, five blocks west of Avenida Revolución between Avenida E (Mutualismo) and Avenida F (5 de Mayo). (Some street signs refer to Calle 1ra as Calle Artículo 123.)

To get there: Walk across the international border at San Ysidro. Exit the southern pedestrian turnstiles (not the western ones). Turn right and follow the tourists across Avenida Amistad, through the Viva Tijuana open-air mall, and across the big Tijuana River pedestrian bridge. Continue walking straight west about three blocks and cross under the huge St. Louis-style arch on Avenida Revolución.

Enter Calle 1ra/Artículo 123 -- do not veer slightly left into the slanted Plaza Santa Cecilia pedestrian mall -- and proceed to number 7648. (For extra fun, some buildings are marked in both old and new street-numbering systems. Pay attention only to numbers above 7000.)

To get to the border, take the San Diego Trolley or drive and park in a secure, paid lot on the U.S. side. You can ignore bus and taxi drivers on both sides of the fence who insist it's a long walk to downtown Tijuana, because it isn't.

FIRST PRIDE FESTIVAL - DOWNTOWN, OUTDOORS, TWO DAYS

Other pride events this year include a first-ever, two-day, outdoor pride festival smack in the center of downtown, stretching east, west and south from the arch. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. both Saturday, June 19, and Sunday, June 20. Entrance is free. Festival Map

According to the organizers: "Come and celebrate together with 10,000 other people the First Annual Tijuana Gay Festival in a three-block area of the center of the city. Discover the latest in gay art, culture and music, experience a variety of diverse food and drink options, and then take over the streets with thousands of friends for a massive hip street party Tijuana-style. Residents and community leaders, with support of the local police, invite you to discover the gay side of Tijuana."

Last year's Tijuana pride parade was nearly three times bigger -- and twice as long -- as in any other year.

The turnout was all the more amazing because the city had been hit with a serious crime wave as drug cartels and dealers battled for dominance. The situation has improved notably since last summer.

In contrast with previous years, almost no gays and lesbians from Southern California crossed the border to join last year's festivities -- it was a purely local and home-grown affair. Many people from San Diego, which is just 15 miles away, have stopped going to Tijuana because of the violence.

Yet the gay parade was bigger, better, longer, more colorful and more spirited than ever. At least 1,000 people marched or rode in the parade itself -- which stretched along seven blocks of Avenida Revolución, the main drag of the city of 2 million people. More than 10,000 people watched the spectacle pass.

Then, when the parade got to its endpoint, it took an unscheduled right turn, then another right turn, and headed all the way back to the north end of downtown, traversing Avenida Constitución. Police, who up to that point had made an effort to keep vehicles moving through the heavily congested downtown, gave up at that juncture and resigned themselves to a traffic jam.

"It's been the best march that's taken place in the city of Tijuana ... the biggest and the most participants," said organizer Lorenzo Herrera. "People have decided to come out, people no longer want to hide their sexual preference. We all have equality."

One large official banner carried in the parade read: "Tijuana-Ensenada GLBT Pride. 500,000 pink votes also count. We all have the same rights."

Another large official banner said: "Homophobia must end. Live your pride with dignity. Homosexuality is not a problem, homophobia is."

A third one read: "Homophobia is intolerance of homosexuality. Equality begins when we recognize that we all have the right to be different."

Spectators cheered the parade and smiled broadly. A single protester with a hand-held PA system, stationed at the parade lineup location, asserted repeatedly, "The price of sin is death, according to the Bible."

Everyone ignored him.

View photos from the 2009 Parade by clicking this link: WOCKNER

Alternate border crossing for San Ysidro

2010-06-05T17:08:00.001-07:00

For some time there has been planning of El Segundo Piso, an elevated toll road that goes between Playas de Tijuana and the border. Finally the route has been set so hopefully construction will get started some time soon. This is a positive step forward for regular commuters and visitors who are willing to pay the toll for an easier ride to the border crossing.

For details click the link: Sign On San Diego

Border Wait Time

2010-06-01T18:18:00.000-07:00

The wait at the San Ysidro crossing on Monday night (US Memorial Day) was one of the worst seen in some time. Local police tried to alleviate traffic by blocking lanes and directing cars to various crossing lines but there were still too many cars.

For more information about border crossing and wait times, see the resources below:

Real Tijuana
Customs & Border Protection
BorderTraffic.com

Related posts:
Border Crossing Rules Go Into Effect
Border Crossing Stations
Mexico Tightens Security at the Border

Pero yo no soy gay - But I'm not gay

2010-05-28T14:08:00.001-07:00

A collection of YouTube videos of guys with guys - but they are definitely not gay.

¡Sergio Téllez-Pon de GUAU Telehit en Tijuana!

2010-05-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

Presentación
viernes 21 de mayo
19:45 hrs
Puesto de Sor Juana
Feria Del Libro
Plaza Río Tijuana

Tijuana Gay Pride kicks it up a notch

2010-05-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

Get ready for the next generation of Gay Pride Festivities in Tijuana with a two day festival on June 19 and 20.

What: Inclusión en Revolución

Where: Plaza Santa Cecilia

Details: More to come

Tijuana Map - click on Arch

99th Prototypes

2010-04-28T17:30:00.000-07:00

Teen musical comedy troup of Mexico City.

Thousands of Mexicans have a gay parent

2010-03-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

Gay Marriage in Mexico and the Baja Paradox

2010-03-16T20:00:00.000-07:00

By Mariana Martínez

Baja California has been brought forward into the national debate over gay marriage, after PAN Governor José Guadalupe Osuna Millán and his Jalisco counterpart decided to sue the Supreme Court claiming the same-sex unions legalized in Mexico City since March 4th are unconstitutional.

The new law approved in Mexico City taking effect as of last week, legalizes same sex unions as a valid marriage in the rest of Mexico, and opens the door for a series of changes in the laws governing healthcare benefits, home loans and adoption, as part of equal rights to same sex couples.

In complete opposite to the governors attitudes towards this new law, Tijuana has been rated as a “welcoming city with a “due as you please attitude” in the popular gay lifestyle website Anodis. Gay and Lesbian Times describes Tijuana even as a more tolerant city than San Diego, California; due to the fact that in San Diego, the gay community is confined into certain areas like Hillcrest, while Tijuana’s gay populations spreads out into all residential areas and nightclubs.

The cities tolerant attitude, —so far away from political moves—, is a result of a series of historical factors including a fast moving populations coming from all walks of life in Mexico; a geographical and ideological distance from the conservative south and a liberating influence from the gay movement in California.

For Media Relations Specialist Francisco Murillo, Tijuana offers a great advantage over smaller cities because it has such a vast variety of cultural offerings, allowing its residents to be exposed to different social values, something important in the way “out of the closet”.

“Other factors might include the many spaces of anonymity created in big cities, that includes the anonymity of a border” Murillo explains, “it helps by giving a fundamental safety-net that you can latter let go of, whenever you are ready”.

Murillo’s account of border life is consistent with the findings by Raúl Balbuena Bello PhD social researcher and professor at UABC Mexicali specializing in homosexual identity at the border.

For Balbuena, border cities have a complex web of relationships with their counterparts, and those interactions include sentimental, family, business relationships and gay people have been able to skillfully use the border to explore their identity.

“What I’ve found is that many [gay] people in Tijuana and Mexicali escape social constructs by traveling to San Diego or Los Angeles and taking advantage of what those cities offer; mainly in the form of sex, including bath houses, erotic book stores and cabins, sex shops…an offer you can’t find in their cities of origin and the community has little need for them because they have other ways to fill that void” he explains.

Buying power is another key factor allowing gays to enjoy a wide offer of entertainment and housing not specifically marketed towards a gay audience.

In the national website for rents called “Comparto Depa” there are around 295 offers under “gay” category just in Tijuana, and those include a thousand dollars rent for a shared apartment, way higher than the cities average rent.

“Im looking for a clean apartment with a great location, prefrebly in Zona Rio. I like to live well, I’m a hard working reliable person, willing to pay well for a great place to live” signed Israel, is just one of the many adds found in the site.

But the so called apparent openness in Tijuana might come to an end because of the new marriage law in Mexico City, because it might create a negative reaction from the rest of mostly- catholic country, when the married couples go to other states and make them uphold their union.

Gay activist and magazine editor Oscar Soto says the new law is a great triumph for the Mexican gay community, as a step towards equal rights.

“Not all the gay couples want to marry of course, and even less are those who want to adopt children” Soto states, “but the very fact it is a possibility, a recognized right, is a great leap both in the social and legal spheres”.

For Soto, it is key that gay couples can come to the limelight and openly say their partners are not only “friends”.

“There are many reasons why this is an important conquest; romantic reasons we all grew up with, even spiritually it is important to be bound to who you love”, he adds.

Soto explains that for many gay couples with a long history together, there are a series of practical questions that could benefit from their marriage; insurance benefits, health care costs, home loans and government pensions.

“I know of many cases where once a partner dies, one of the families takes over the partners right to inherit, many women have children from previous relationships and their partners have no right to claim them; those are issues affecting many people” Soto says.

But will the new marriage law in Mexico City spur a series of movements all across Mexico? Not likely, according to Balbuena, there isn’t enough social pressure in other places in Mexico, where gay people are comfortable in a state of relative anonymity.

Mexico City is different because of the strong pressure against the gay community during the HIV epidemic in the 1980’s, when there was a demonizing of homosexuality and blame for the HIV-Aids epidemic. But that pressure was not as strong in the rest of Mexico.

“While the gay community doesn’t become a political force there will be little pressure,” he explains, “when people organize and start claiming their rights, that apparent ‘openness’ will seize to be such, because when people start claiming their own citizenship and asking for those rights to be recognized the conflict will begin because of the clash against moral prejudice.”

Until now, at least 20 same-sex couples have obtained a marriage license and are expected to be married in the next few weeks. It will be only after that the true fight will begin, as these couples ask to be recognized by authorities across the country, including their right to adopt, a true test of Mexican society and its courts.

Link to the article.

Matrimonios Gay en México y la Paradoja en Baja

2010-03-16T19:55:00.000-07:00

Por Mariana Martínez

Baja California ha entrado al a polémica nacional sobre los matrimonios gays, luego de que el gobernador panista José Guadalupe Osuna Millán y su homologo de Jalisco promovieran una demanda que busca no reconocer los matrimonios gays celebrados en el Distrito Federal a partir del 4 de marzo.

Y es que la ley de convivencia del Distrito Federal, que entro en vigor apenas la semana pasada, legaliza la unión entre personas del mismo sexo y tiene que ser respetado como válido en el resto de México. Incluso se plantea un cambio a las leyes de seguro social, créditos hipotecarios infonavit y acceso a créditos, así como la adopción, como parte del reconocimiento de derechos iguales a estas parejas.

Paradójicamente, el visitado sitio de activismo gay en México, Anodis define a Tijuana como “una ciudad tan acogedora como “valemadrista” y la publicación Gay and Lesbian Times la describe como una ciudad más tolerante incluso que San Diego, California; ya que mientras en esta la comunidad gay se hace visible solo en ciertas zonas como en Hillcrest, en Tijuana los gays están en todo tipo de zonas residenciales, laborales y sitios de diversión de todos los niveles.

Esta tolerancia y apertura tan contrastante con la actitud de los políticos estatales, son resultado de una serie de factores históricos entre los que esta una población flotante proveniente de todos los rincones de México, una de una lejanía del centro conservador y la influencia liberadora del movimiento gay en California.

Para el comunicólogo Francisco Murillo, Tijuana ofrece una ventaja frente otras ciudades por ser un espacio que ofrece una cultura amplia, que expone a formas diferentes de vivir y a valores sociales diversos, lo que facilita el camino.

“Otros factores son los espacios de anonimato que dan las grandes ciudades o una línea fronteriza” explica Murillo, “ayudan en el sentido de que dan una seguridad fundamental que después puede prescindir del anonimato”.

Esta percepción coincide con las investigaciones realizadas por el doctor Raúl Balbuena Bello, investigador y catedrático del Centro de Investigaciones Culturales de la UABC en Mexicali cuyo trabajo se enfoca a la identidad homosexual.

Para Balbuena, todas las ciudades fronterizas tienen relación con sus pares, pero estos lazos implican cuestiones sentimentales, familiares, comerciales y la gente homosexual se mueve muy hábilmente entre esos espacios.

“Lo que he encontrado como constante es que la gente [gay] de Tijuana y Mexicali escapa de las identidades sociales escapando a San Diego y Los Ángeles y encuentran cosas que estas ciudades no ofrecen” explica Balbuena, “principal-mente en el consumo sexual, como son las casas de baño, librerías con cabinas eróticas, sex shops… y esto no se encuentran en la ciudad y la comunidad no las pide, porque ya están allá y no existe tanta necesidad”.

La fuerza económica de los homosexuales es también un factor clave que les permite también acceder a numerosos espacios de diversión y vivienda sin miedo a exclusión alguna.

En el sitio de clasificados nacional “Comparto Depa” se muestran al menos 295 anuncios de la categoría “gays” “Tijuana” entre los cuales se anuncian rentas de hasta 10 mil pesos por una residencia compartida, muy por encima del promedio de la ciudad.

“Busco un departamento muy bien ubicado de preferencia en zona Río, me gusta vivir bien soy una persona trabajadora y muy confiable, estoy dispuesto a pagar muy bien por un muy buen lugar” dice uno de los anuncios que ofrece seis mil pesos de renta mensual y se describe como un profesionista gay de 26 años identificado como Israel.

Pero a ese “valemadrismo” aparente se le opone la reciente polémica respecto a la resolución de la ley de convivencia, aprobada en el DF y la posible reacción adversa en el resto del país de intentarse una medida parecida o cuando las parejas originarias de otros estados intenten hacer valer su matrimonio.

El editor de una publicación gay y librero de profesión, Oscar Soto, considera que la aprobación de los matrimonios gays es un paso clave para lograr la igualdad de derechos en este país que llena de júbilo a muchísimas personas en todo el país.

“No todos los gays quieren casarse y mucho menos adoptar hijos, pero el lograr que sea una posibilidad, un derecho reconocido es un avance importante en el plano social y legal” dice Soto, “que no se presente una relación como simple “amistad”, por cuestiones prácticas, hasta por el aspecto romántico en el que creemos todos… hasta espiritualmente es importante”.

Y es que según Soto, a muchas parejas gays con larga historia juntos les preocupan además las cuestiones prácticas de su unión, como lo es no tener beneficios de servicios de salud que tienen las parejas heterosexuales, no poder acceder a Infonavit, fondos de ahorros o pensiones de cónyuges.

“Hay muchos casos alguna de las dos familias usurpa el derecho del otro de heredar, muchas mujeres tienen hijos que quisieran dejar en manos de sus parejas y no se les permite y son cosas que afectan a mucha gente” cuenta Soto.

Pero entonces la nueva ley de convivencia del DF, ¿dis-parará movimientos parecidos e iniciativas de leyes de convivencia en otros estados? Balbuena dice que no es probable, debido a no haber suficiente presión social para salir del cómodo anonimato en el que vive una gran mayoría de la población gay.

En el DF, esta presión se ejerció sobre la comunidad gay desde los años 80s luego de la satanización de la homosexualidad en la epidemia del VIH-Sida, pero esta presión no fue ejercida con tanta fuerza en el resto de México.

“Mientras la homosexualidad no se convierta en un problema político no hay ninguna presión” explica, “es solo cuando la gente se organiza y empieza a luchar por sus derechos que ese aparente “valemadrismo” no es tal, porque en términos de toda la constitución social, cuando uno comienza a constituirse como ciudadano y pedir reconocimiento, es entonces cuando tiene un gran conflicto al ya enfrentarse a prejuicios morales”.

Por lo pronto hay al menos 20 parejas del mismo sexo que ya tienen licencia para celebrar su matrimonio en las próximas semanas y será después cuando venga la verdadera lucha al pedir que esto les sea reconocido en otros ámbitos, incluyendo la adopción; será entonces cuando se pongan a prueba, tanto la sociedad mexicana como sus cortes.

Enlace al artículo

YouTubers of Mexico Against Homophobia!

2010-03-13T10:27:00.000-08:00

Videos a Media Noche

2010-01-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

Solo

Con Este amor - Thalia

2010-01-09T11:49:00.000-08:00

Mexico enters the Tournament of Roses Parade

2009-12-31T23:59:00.000-08:00

Mexican officials plan to kick off a year's worth of bicentennial events, commemorating their independence with a float at the 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade held on January 1, in Pasadena, California.

"It's about putting Mexico in an international forum ... like the Rose Parade," said Juan Marcos Gutierrez, consul general of Mexico in Los Angeles. "The message is pretty much that today we are starting the celebrations throughout the year."

The float – featuring floral replicas of the Aztec calendar and Mexico City's Angel of Independence, skirted by 36 people dancing to traditional Mexican music – is the first time in recent years that the nation has featured a float in the parade. The last time the Mexican government sponsored a float in the parade was 1968, the same year the nation hosted the Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

More information and photos: Orange County Register

Gay marriage for all of Mexico?

2009-12-30T17:25:00.000-08:00

Mexico City formally put on the books a law allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt children, with Mayor Marcelo Ebrard rejecting demands he veto the controversial measure.

The law was published in the official government newspaper, and will go into effect in 45 days. It was passed by a comfortable margin by this sprawling capital's legislature.

The conservative National Action Party, which controls the federal government, and the Roman Catholic Church have both condemned the law as an affront to the traditional family. Both wanted to block it.

Using Christmas season celebrations as their platform, senior church officials decried the law as "immoral." "We have seen with impotence, pain and consternation ... [this] blow to the most intimate structure of Mexican families, the institution over which our nation has built its rich history, values and spirituality," Cardinal Norberto Rivera said.

Meanwhile, what is being billed as the first gay marriage in Latin America has taken place. In the extreme southern region of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego, gay rights activists Jose Maria Di Bello and Alex Freyre tied the knot on Monday after a court in Buenos Aires blocked their attempt at marital bliss.

Source: Los Angeles Times

The consequences of Gay Marriage

2009-12-23T10:04:00.000-08:00

With the possibility of Gay 'marriage' expanding around the globe, it is important to understand the impact that this will have on society as a whole. Please refer to the graph below for more information:

YouTube offering more Spanish language content

2009-12-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

Spanish-language media giant Univision has said “Bueno!” to Google’s YouTube, agreeing to make its television programming watchable on the popular video sharing site, the companies announced.

That marks the first time these shows will have been available for online viewing outside of Univision’s websites. Google hopes the deal will expand YouTube’s Hispanic audience, which grew 80 percent in the last year even before this programming was available.

The deal covers some of the most popular Univision-produced shows, including Nuestra Belleza Latin (Our Latin Beauty), Cristina, Don Francisco Presenta (Don Francisco Presents), Escandalo TV (ShowBiz TV), Veredicto Final (The Final Verdict), Moda Al Rescate (Fashion to the Rescue), Decorando Contigo (Decorating With You), Casa Al Dia (Home, Improved), Que Sabor (Such Favlor!), Mujeres Asesinas (Killer Women), Despierta America (Wake-Up America), Al Punto (To The Point), Noticiero Univision (Univision News), Aqui y Ahora (Here and Now), Primer Impacto (First Impact), El Gordo y La Flaca (The Scoop and The Skinny), Viva El Sueño (Live the Dream) and Premio Lo Nuestro a la Música Latina (Lo Nuestro Latin Music Awards).

Source: Wired.com

Mexico tightens security at U.S. border crossing

2009-12-03T19:25:00.000-08:00

Reporting from Tijuana - Driving into Mexico has been a largely hassle-free experience for decades: There were few customs inspectors, even fewer gates, and for most border crossers, no questions asked.

That's about to change.

The Mexican government is modernizing its ports of entry along the border, including its biggest crossing in Tijuana. The new infrastructure -- which includes gates, cameras and vehicle scales -- is meant to help curtail the flow of drug money and weapons to Mexican organized crime groups.

But bolstered security means more border-crossing logjams, and business and trade groups fear that the new measures will deal another blow to a fragile regional economy.

The System of Supervision and Vehicular Control is still in the testing phase ahead of its scheduled January rollout, but traffic jams already occur regularly at peak crossing times in late afternoon. Cross-border trips from San Diego that once took five minutes can take an hour or more.

Baja California Gov. Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan, fearing more damage to the collapsing tourism industry if increased wait times discourage Southern Californians from venturing south, has lobbied federal authorities to scale back the inspection process.

But President Felipe Calderon, under pressure to show progress in his nearly three-year offensive against drug cartels, declined, saying the measures are a necessary sacrifice. Since 2008, more than 1,000 people have been slainin Tijuana, many of them with guns believed to have been obtained in the U.S.

"We want security," Calderon said on a recent trip to Tijuana. "This requires sacrifice and measures that permit us to stop the trafficking of weapons, drugs, drug money and criminals across this border."

Intercepting the flow of contraband has always caused a headache for northbound travelers. Motorists in Tijuana sit in a sea of traffic waiting to be inspected by U.S. agents who run through a battery of checks, including license, passport and, in some cases, criminal background reviews.

Tijuana customs inspectors in the past conducted random checks and focused on people trying to avoid paying duties on shipments of secondhand clothing, or traffickers bringing hard-to-find drugs, such as Ecstasy, into Mexico. They also found the occasional rooster being smuggled onto the Tijuana cockfighting circuit.

Mexico's new process doesn't approach the sophistication and strictness of U.S. inspections levels, but still represents a dramatic change.

Instead of motorists driving directly onto Tijuana streets, a gate will block the way. License-plate photographs will be run against a criminal database in Mexico City; a scale and vehicle-scanning system will determine if the car may be overloaded with contraband; and canine units will roam the area.

Suspicious vehicles will be directed to a secondary inspection area staffed by inspectors and Mexican marines.

The process, Mexican officials say, should take about eight seconds per car, but business leaders have their doubts. And even an eight-second wait translates into traffic snarls at peak crossing times.

"It adds another brake to the cross-border economic engine. People are already not sure of passport requirements and worried about cartel violence across the border," said Kenn Morris, president of the Crossborder Group Inc., a San Diego-based market research firm. "And as word spreads that southbound border waits can take 30-40-60 minutes out of your life. . . . It's going to really highlight the lack of infrastructure and progress in creating efficient border crossings in our region."

On a recent late afternoon, the long wait times were on full display. Claudia Serrano, a San Diego resident, said she waited about 20 minutes, much longer than the five minutes it used to take her to cross into Tijuana. She was taking her children to a relative's birthday party, but had been ordered into the secondary inspection area, a rare occurrence in the past.

Serrano, an import-export broker who crosses twice daily, can't avoid the waits. But she said many of her Mexican friends don't cross anymore. "They hate waiting so long."

Some Americans didn't seem bothered by the slow crossing, including those heading south last weekend for the Baja 1000 off-road race. Traveling in convoys of trucks pulling expensive dune buggies and motorcycles, many said they appreciated the extra security. "It's a sign of the times," said Jim Blackmore, a member for the Riviera Racing Team.

Some experts question whether the new measures will affect southbound flows of contraband, pointing out that U.S. inspectors intercept a fraction of the drugs entering the U.S., despite having even more sophisticated detection methods. Mexican authorities say they're confident that the inspections will enhance their ability to spot traffickers.

"There's a lot of information we can exploit here," said Cesar Montoya, the port director.

The people most affected will be daily cross-border commuters like Richard Corona, 32, whose waits total more than one hour on some days. Corona, a construction worker, moved his family from the San Diego area to lower-cost Tijuana last year due to the slowdown in the construction industry.

"I'm thinking of going back," said Corona, waiting about 20 minutes for Mexican officials to inspect his Ford Escape. "This is not even worth it."

Source: Los Angeles Times

Also check this article at The Real Tijuana

Baños Vica

2009-11-20T13:45:00.000-08:00

El unico baño de vapor gay amistoso en Tijuana.
No de lujo, pero limpio.
Regadores comunitarios y cuartos de vapor individuales privadas.
Botanas, refrescos, y cerveza.
Masajista profesional para servirle.
Abierto diario 6:00 a.m. a 9:30 p.m.

Ubicado en Blvd. Diaz Ordáz una media cuadra este (a la derecha) desde la entrada del Mercado de Todos en La Mesa.

Baños Vica is the only gay-friendly bath house in Tijuana.
Not at all upscale, but clean.
Communal showers and private individual steam rooms.
Snacks, sodas, and beer.
Professional masseur on duty.

Open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Located on Blvd. Diaz Ordaz, about a half a block east (to the right) of the entrance of the Mercado de Todos shopping bizarre in the La Mesa section of the city. (About a mile east of the Caliente Race Track).

Bar Taurino

2009-11-20T13:30:00.001-08:00

Tijuana's oldest gay bar, El Taurino, located at the corner of 1st (Artículo 123) and Constitution downtown, has re-opened. All of the waiters dress as cowboys and take an occasional break to perform a joint dance on the dance floor. The interior decor of the bar has changed somewhat, but looks nice. On Sundays starting at noon, there's an open bar for $5 dollars that includes liquor and cocktails. The beer is of the Corona family of cervezas as before, but now includes Negra Modelo on draft!

City and Area Maps

2009-11-07T20:10:00.000-08:00

Provided by Baja Times
Baja California
Ensenada
Wine Country
Mexicali
Rosarito Beach
San Felipe
Tecate
Tijuana

Baja Advisor Map of Tijuana Places

Rosarito plans promotional campaign to make it a vacation center for gays

2009-10-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

Article from the San Diego Reader

Mexico: A top gay destination

2009-10-13T11:50:00.000-07:00

When people think of Mexico they tend to think of this country as traditional, macho and Catholic. Nothing is further from the truth. Just like everywhere else there are places where there is open and accepted homosexuality in Mexico.

Civil unions between gays and lesbians have been legalized in the northern border states of Coahila and Mexico City. The states of Veracruz and Michoacan are on the verge of passing the same measures, just like Jalisco, Colima, Puebla and Guerrero.

Still, homosexuals remain in the closet. Many gay men still maintain a macho facade and lesbian's are mostly underground, even though Mexicans are very liberal in their attitude towards homosexuality.

Mexicans prefer to be more discrete then Americans, however gay travelers are greeted warmly in most of the country. As a matter of fact, in 2007 Planetout named Mexico travel destination of the year.

Let's take a look at the Mexico's top gay destinations:

Cancun. Is the newest hot spot for gay visitors. Traditionally it was Acapulco, or Puerto Vallarta. This even though it has an image that it is a place for straight people on Spring Beak. Cancun is located in the state of Quintana Roo in the Yucatan Peninsulameaning it has a subtropical climate. The average temperatures range 81 to 95 degrees F.

The best places for gays to go to for a bit of night life is downtown which is about fifteen minutes from the Hotel Zone. There is the Karamba, this place is popular for a mix, young international crowd for the last thirty years. There's also the Picante, the crowd that this place is popular for is, straights, gays, drag queens, transvestites.

Unofficially the gay beach is the Playa Delfines. It has the longest and widest beach. The Villas Tacul is geared towards homosexuals.There appears to be about one hundred hotels to choose from that are gay-friendly.

Latin Hot Party is the very first great event dedicated to all GLBT in the world. Unlike many others meetings, this event has the enormous advantage of being perfectly organized and structured in order to ensure a safe and fun time! The best gay night clubs and the most beautiful gay beaches in Cancun.

Mexico City. This city has a large population of gays and lesbians. Recently Mexico City made history by making same sex civil unions legal. For entertainment there are gay plays, and about two dozen gay clubs located mostly in the Zona Rosa. And then there is the Annual Gay Pride Parade.

Guadalajara. This is Mexico's second largest city in terms of gays and lesbians. This city is very open about it's large and openly gay citizens, especially in Plaza Tapatia. This city features a gay radio show along with a gay cultural center. Guadalajara has really large population of lesbians.

There is a long list of gay bars and clubs. But here is just a couple. The Angel's bar that plays electronica. Monica's Disco plays Latin rhythm disco. To locate other clubs and bars for a bit of nightlife look for La Guia Rosa or Zona Gay.

Article by: Ricardo D Argence, Founder and CEO of Alojate, one of the biggest web hosting providers in Mexico.

Helpful tips series > Part 2

2009-09-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

Continuing with the Helpful tips series, here are a few tips when preparing to travel anywhere:

Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine or scanner, copy both sides of each license, credit card, etc., you will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel.

Copy your travel itinerary, passport or other important documents. Leave a copy at home, take two copies with you but keep the two copies in separate places. You may also want to e-mail scans of the documents to yourself so they can be accessed online.

Unless required by law, carry a copy and not the original passport when sightseeing. Most nations require that adults carry government issued identification. A driver license or military identification and copy of your passport will usually be sufficient. Check with the embassy or consulate of the country you are visiting for specific details. Place your passport in a lock box, safe or other secure place whenever possible.

Avoid "Traveler burglaries" when your car is away from home. Take all documents from your car (registration, insurance card, etc) that have your home address, cover the address only, and then photocopy or scan the documents. Place the duplicates back in your car and keep the original documents in a safe place.

When traveling internationally, be sure to have the local (not toll-free) phone numbers of your credit card issuers and their website addresses. A toll-free telephone number on your credit cards may not work when you are calling from outside of your home country, so use the local phone number and call collect. Be sure to have the phone number and address of the local embassy or consular office before you leave home. Information is available HERE.

See Helpful tips series Part 1

Companionship services

2009-09-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

It is true that man-for-man companionship services exist in Tijuana. It is also true that you can find companionship online through Craigslist.org or SexyTijuana.com, among others, and in the classified advertisements in El Mexicano newspaper. It is also true that meeting someone for companionship, online, in-person, or through an agency, can be tricky and even dangerous if you don't keep your wits about you so there are some basic tips to follow:

- always ask for identificiation

- anyone over 18 must have legal ID

- be sure the person you will be with is of legal age

- meeting in a bar is not proof of age

- meet in a place you know whenever possible

- use safer sex practices and precautions

- use precaution with money and valuables

- always let the big head do the thinking, not the little head

- if your inner voice says you are in danger, LISTEN

Note: the age of consent in Baja was lowered to 16, however, if you are a US citizen you can still be prosectued by the US Federal authorities for sexual contact with a person younger than 18. The age of majority in Mexico is still 18, so if you offer alcohol or other intoxicants to a minor the Mexican authorites can prosecute on those grounds as well.

Visit Baja Advisor on MySpace

2009-08-31T14:30:00.001-07:00

BMG - MySpace

Club41

2009-08-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

Tijuana's new dance bar Club41 has it's grand opening today.
Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
Located downtown on Avenida Revolución between 1st & 2nd.
Club 41 MySpace Profile
__________________________________________________

Day after report (Thursday, August 27, 2009):

BMG arrived for the grand opening at about 9:00 p.m. and the doors weren't open to the public yet due to some technical delay. All of the waiters were standing outside on the sidewalk. Manager and co-owner Jesús "El Puré" Rodriguez, who used to own and manage the former Terrazas 9 lgbt dance bar on 6th was out directing everything amongst the waiters, photographer, and search lights.

About a half hour later the ribbon-cutting ceremony to the stairway that leads up to the second story establishment got under way. By then the place had about 200 patrons, and about another 100 trickled in within the next hour. Except for a 5-minute power outage during the first hour, everything seemed to go smooth the rest of the evening.

The majority of patrons consisted of middle and upper-class twinkadonnas. The rest were mostly middle-age men.

On the corner of 2nd & Revolucion is the gay dance bar Colibri, also know as Camaleon. The owner opened up another gay dance bar right next to it called Freedom, which later closed down. Club41 now occupies that space. It is nicely decorated and upscale. It has a somewhat small stage that also serves as a dance floor when the three hot male strippers that were entertaining from it last night are not using it.

The live dj-choreographed dance music and videos on big flat screen TVs that go along with it consists of mostly techno/house mixes--instrumentals, and English and Spanish vocals.

The club has a full bar. A cubeta (bucket) of 30 bottles of beer costs $180 pesos ($14 dollars U.S.). Those of us who had a grand opening VIP pass got our first beer free.

Like Colibri, the place is probably going to be more of a gathering place for friends and couples rather than a cruise bar.

Possession of small amounts of drugs now legal in Mexico

2009-08-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

Effective Friday, August 21, 2009.

MEXICO CITY – Mexico enacted a controversial law Thursday decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs while encouraging free government treatment for drug dependency.

The law sets out maximum "personal use" amounts for drugs, also including LSD and methamphetamine. People detained with those quantities will no longer face criminal prosecution when the law goes into effect Friday.

Anyone caught with drug amounts under the personal-use limit will be encouraged to seek treatment, and for those caught a third time treatment is mandatory — although the law does not specify penalties for noncompliance.

Mexican authorities said the change just recognized the long-standing practice here of not prosecuting people caught with small amounts of drugs that they could reasonably claim were for personal use, while setting rules and limits.

Under previous law, possession of any amount of drugs was punishable by stiff jail sentences, but there was leeway for addicts caught with smaller amounts. In practice, nobody was prosecuted and sentenced to jail for small-time possession, said Bernardo Espino del Castillo, the coordinator of state offices for the attorney general's office.

"We couldn't charge somebody who was in possession of a dose of a drug, there was no way ... because the person would claim they were an addict," he added.

"This person obviously couldn't be charged, not yesterday, not the day before, not a year ago, but the bad thing was that it was left up to the discretion of the detective, and it could open the door to corruption or extortion."

In the past, police sometimes hauled suspects to police stations and demanded bribes, threatening long jail sentences if people did not pay.

"This is not legalization, this is regulating the issue and giving citizens greater legal certainty ... for a practice that was already in place," Espino del Castillo said.

In 2006, the U.S. government publicly criticized a similar bill. Then President Vicente Fox sent that law — which did not have a mandatory treatment provision — back to Congress for reconsideration.

The maximum amount of marijuana considered to be for "personal use" under the new law is 5 grams — the equivalent of about four joints. The limit is a half gram for cocaine, the equivalent of about 4 "lines." For other drugs, the limits are 50 milligrams of heroin, 40 milligrams for methamphetamine and 0.015 milligrams for LSD.

The law was approved by Congress before it recessed in late April, and President Felipe Calderon, who is leading a major offensive against drug cartels, waited most of the summer before enacting it.

Calderon's original proposal would have required first-time detainees to complete treatment or face jail time. But the lower house of Congress, where Calderon's party was short of a majority, weakened the bill.

Mexico has emphasized the need to differentiate drug addicts and casual users from the violent traffickers whose turf battles have contributed to the deaths of more than 11,000 people during Calderon's term. In the face of growing domestic drug use, Mexico has increased its focus on prevention and drug treatment.

Sen. Pablo Gomez of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party praised the legislation: "This law achieves the decriminalization of drugs, and in exchange offers government recovery treatment for addicts."

Previously, possession of any amount of drugs was punishable by stiff jail sentences, with some leeway for those considered addicts and caught with smaller amounts. But in practice, relatively few people were prosecuted and sentenced to jail for small-time possession.

While the United States openly expressed concern about the 2006 law, this time around it has been more circumspect.

Asked about the new law in July, U.S. drug czar Gil Kerlikowske said he would adopt a "wait-and-see attitude."

"If the sanction becomes completely nonexistent I think that would be a concern, but I actually didn't read quite that level of de facto (decriminalization) in the law," said Kerlikowske, who heads the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Source

List of maximum allowable drug quantities approved for personal use:

Opium: (raw, to be smoked): 5 grams
Heroin: 25 milligrams
Marijuana: 5 grams
Cocaine: 500 milligrams
LSD: .015 milligrams
MDA: 200 milligrams
MDMA (Ecstasy): 200 milligrams
Mescaline: 1 gram
Peyote: 1 kilogram
Psilocybin (concentrate, pure, active ingredient): 100 milligrams
Hallucinogenic mushrooms (raw, off the farm): 250 milligrams
Amphetamines: 100 milligrams
Dexamphetamines: 40 milligrams
Phencyclidine (PCP, or Angel Dust): 7 milligrams
Methamphetamines: 200 milligrams
Nalbuphine (synthetic opiate): 10 milligrams

Men of Tijuana - part 3

2009-08-12T21:03:00.000-07:00

A visitor sent some photos of guys who live in the TJ area. The person who sent the photos says he found them on the internet and did not make the photos himself.

The second set of this guy is here.
Warning - contains nudity

Tijuana Map updates

2009-07-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

Updates to Tijuana have been made. Let us know about places you think should be added.

Click the link to see the Tijuana Map

Men of Tijuana - part 2

2009-07-18T18:55:00.000-07:00

A visitor sent a link to some videos of guys who live in the TJ area.

Warning: contains sexual content and nudity. By clicking on the link you will be directed to another blog not affiliated with BMG. Once the link opens, scroll up.

Amateur TJ Guys

Men of Tijuana - part 1

2009-07-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

A visitor sent some photos of guys who live in the TJ area. The person who sent the photos says he found them on the internet and did not make the photos himself.

The first set is here.
Warning - contains nudity

What do you know?

2009-07-01T18:53:00.000-07:00

BMG is seeking your input...been to a bar, hotel, or cruisy spot and have information to share - do it here!

You are welcome to post comments on this thread, or feel free to send an e-mail to BajaMexGay@gmail.com.

Tijuana Pride Parade was a success

2009-06-20T20:52:00.000-07:00

The weather in Tijuana was not very good and there was a threat of rain but the crowds showed up to cheer on the marchers at the 14th Tijuana Pride Parade.

Check out some great photos on the blog by Rex Wockner: WOCKNER

Guadalajara & Puerto Vallarta

2009-06-07T11:50:00.000-07:00

Guadalajara is called the gayest city in all of Mexico and Puerto Vallarta is not too far behind. If you are going to visit Guadalajara or Puerto Vallarta be sure to visit our friends at GayGDL for information. GayGDL.com

Mexico City Pride

2009-06-06T18:18:00.000-07:00

See the website for details: Orgullo LGBT

Border crossing rules in effect June 1, 2009

2009-05-31T11:27:00.000-07:00

New rules requiring passports or new high-tech documents to cross the United States' northern and southern borders took effect Monday, June 1, 2009. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials say they're confident the transition will be smooth.

"Our research indicates approximately 80 percent of the individuals coming in now, U.S. and Canadians, are compliant," and are crossing with proof of citizenship, said Thomas Winkowski, assistant commissioner for field operations at Customs and Border Protection. The higher noncompliance areas, he said, are primarily U.S. citizens in the southern border region. Travelers who do not comply with the new requirements will get a warning and be allowed to enter the U.S. after a background check, said Michele James, director of field operations for the northern border that covers Washington state. "We're going to be very practical and flexible on June 1 and thereafter," James said.

Under the new rule, travelers also can use a passport card issued by the U.S. State Department to cross land borders. The card does not work for air travel. At $45 for first-time applicants, it's a more affordable alternative to the traditional passport, which costs $100. More than 1 million passport cards have been issued since last year. Identification documents available under the "Trusted Traveler" programs are also accepted. Those require fees ranging from $50 to more than $100. These programs, developed by the U.S, Canadian and Mexican governments, allow vetted travelers faster access to the border. In some cases, members in these programs have their own lanes at border crossings.

There will be some exceptions. Children under 16 traveling with family, people under 19 traveling in youth groups, Native Americans and members of the military will be able to use different forms of identification. Also, travelers in cruises that depart from a U.S. port, sail only within the Western Hemisphere and return the same port do not have to comply.

The rules are being implemented nearly eight years after the Sept. 11 attacks and long after the 9/11 Commission recommended the changes. They were delayed by complaints from state officials who worried the restrictions would hinder the flow of people and commerce and affect border towns dependent on international crossings. In 2001 a driver's license and an oral declaration of citizenship were enough to cross the Canadian and Mexican borders; Monday's changes are the last step in a gradual ratcheting up of the rules. Now thousands of Americans are preparing by applying for passports or obtaining special driver's licenses that can also be used to cross the border.
- - -
Excerpted from the Associated Press. Writers Eileen Sullivan and Matthew Lee in Washington, D.C., and Christopher Sherman in McAllen, Texas contributed to this report.

Also see: http://bajamexgay.blogspot.com/2009/05/travel-requirements-for-entering-us.html

Tijuana gay bars

2009-05-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

This is a current listing of the most popular cruise bars and dance clubs in Tijuana.

MENS BARS & NIGHTCLUBS

PLAZA SANTA CECILIA (map below) is located in downtown Tijuana between 1st Street and Avenida Revolución and 2nd & Constitución. Ave. This plaza is easy to find because the famous Arch is at the end on Av. Revolución while the other famous arch (Mc Donald's) is at the other end on Constitución. Revolución is Tijuana's main tourist spot full of souvenir shops, restaurants, bars, and night clubs.

The following bars are within Plaza Santa Cecilia. They open daily at 10:00 a.m. and remain open until at least 2:00 a.m., and even later on Fridays and Saturdays.

El Ranchero is Tj's most popular men's bar for cruising. It has a ground floor and upper level. The upper level gets the busiest. Clientele consists of men of all ages and all economic backgrounds from both sides of the border. Some hustlers work it as well.

Hawaii a few doors to the right from El Ranchero as you look at the front door. It is most popular for its nightly male stripper shows.

Villa Garcia is just to the right from Hawaii and under the same ownership as El Ranchero. It usually doesn't get very busy, but often has drag shows on a small stage.

Bar D.F. is several doors to the left of El Ranchero. Clientele mainly consists of older locals and younger macho types who hustle them.

DANCE CLUBS

The following clubs open at 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays:

Zky Blue is a spacious two-story, upscale dance club located in downtown Tijuana on Avenida Madero between 1st and 2nd (Juarez) Street, just one block east of Ave. Revolución. The building sits back from the street due to its front parking lot. It is particularly popular among other things for its long, spacious dark room. Clientele primarily consists of middle-class twinks and middle-age men, middle-class on up, from both sides of the border.

Directly across the street from Zky Blue is El Rincon de Bobi, or just Bobi's a smaller men's cruise bar with a small dance floor.

Colibri is similar in atmosphere and clientele to Sky, only it is not as large and does not have a dark room. It is located at the corner of 2nd & Revolución. The entrance consists of a stairway accessible from Ave. Revolución. This club is also called Cameleon

Club Fusion (map below) is approximately one block west of the San Ysidro border crossing on Calle Larroque just west of Av de la Amistad. This area is called Plaza Viva Tijuana and is where the Mc Donald's is located just inside Tijuana at the pedestrian gate.

If you cross the border on foot through the turnstiles, keep walking until you see the large "Tourist Information" booth slightly to your right, where you will then make a sharp right turn and walk to the next set of turnstiles. After passing through those turnstiles, keep walking across the street at the crosswalk, and continue in the same direction along the sidewalk for about a half a block to the entrance to the club.

Club Fusion was once two separate clubs (Extasis and Cahuamamama's) until the owner of both"fused" the two together. The club is spacious, upscale, and includes male stripper shows and long, narrow dark rooms. Clientele primarily consists of twinks and middle-age men, middle-class on up, from both sides of the border.

LESBIAN BARS

El Closet Bar is located on Ave. Revolución between 1st & 2nd. Clientele and staff are mostly lesbian, but includes some gay men, and drag shows for entertainment. Opens at 8:00 p.m.

Yadira's is located on Ave. Madero between 7th & 8th. It includes a number of pool tables and draws some straight clientele. Open from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Border Crossing Stations

2009-05-09T11:48:00.000-07:00

Border Crossing Stations to the northern part of Baja California:

San Ysidro Station: (619) 690-8800 (open 24 hours)
Otay Mesa Station: (619) 671-8000 (open 24 hours)
Tecate Station: (619) 938-8330 (open 5AM-11PM)

Wait time recordings: (updated hourly)
San Ysidro Station: (619) 619-690-8999
Otay Mesa Station: (619)671-8999

Tijuana local (664) 700-7000 - recording is in Spanish
Cell phones by Mexican service provider call: *LINEA

Remember, you do not need a tourist card (FMT) if staying in the country for 72 hours or less and if not traveling south of Ensenada. You will need a Passport or Visa to re-enter the US. See this post: Travel Requirements

information in this post was reviewed and updated May 2010

Cruz Roja (Red Cross)

2009-05-09T11:14:00.000-07:00

If you reside in Baja, or plan to, it is highly suggested that you seek out your local Cruz Roja delegation to learn more.

The delegation in Rosarito Beach is very organized in how they supply services to the local community. More information can be found on their website: Cruz Roja Rosarito,