Sign in with Facebook"Discovering Tijuana" Tijuana by anagrettel
Tijuana Travel Guide: 640 reviews and 1,027 photos
If you are looking for FUN Tijuana is the right place, you can eat some of the best food, you can find horse racing, bingo, bullfights, great restaurants, nightclubs and bars. But also you can find museums, theater, art crafts and more. The secret is to know what are you looking for, and where to find it.
Tijuana for many visitors is only an escape; the city of party, alcohol and Mexican Fun. But for me the real great thing about this city is his history that you could find in hiding places. I'm not from Tijuana, but I lived there around 10 years and I never end discovering Tijuana. Out of the tourist area the famous or infamous Ave. Revolution that is full of bars, corruption, and poverty, Tijuana is also a very interesting place if you learn about it or as myself enjoy the treasure hunting. Most of the best little diamonds in this city are really hiding as La Mona or The historic casino de Agua Caliente with his charming history and many, many really great legends of gangsters, love and ghost that still hunt Tijuana. This is great place to discover, but unlucky for many of us, the most beautiful and historic areas are hiding and/or closed for tourist access. You can find many of the history, photos, etc. in the “ Museo de las Californias”
I often hear comments from Americans and also Mexicans that came to TJ and go saying, Tijuana is really ugly, and they are right! But, remember before criticize that most of the 50% of the population in Tijuana has been formed by Mexicans from other regions that end living in Tijuana, with the dream or hope of cross the border to USA. That's why Tijuana is filled with poverty. People usually arrive to Tijuana with nothing more than just dreams and they end living in the city after many tries of crossing the border without success.
The faces of poverty are very scary for many foreign people. Probably they prefer to be blind to poverty and pretend that it doesn't exist, but the faces that you will see around Tijuana will be of poverty, and also hope. Most people in this city know by personal experience about suffering, but also know about how to face it, with a smile and open arms to every visitor.
I have to say that I used to live here, and visit frecuently
The city was originally called Rancho de la Tia Juana and was given its birth after the borders were set up between the United States and Mexico.
During the 1920's, the U.S. Prohibition Liquor Laws made this border city an obvious magnet to liquor thirsty tourists from California and beyond. It soon offered casino gaming, horse racing, shopping, a world famous health spa, and Caesar Salads.
In the 1930's born Agua Caliente in Tijuana, Mexico. A lavish resort built by 3 American gangsters (Ben "Bugsy" Siegel was supposedly involved) and a Mexican Governor "Abelardo Rodriguez", Agua Caliente opened in 1928. Bungalows, waterfalls, several golf courses, gourmet cuisine, Agua Caliente was like a small town unto itself. Agua Caliente also had a racetrack operation for a while, opening in 1930. This was before there was a Las Vegas. Movie moguls and stars of stage and screen would take the jaunt down to Agua Caliente for the weekend and play the horses, golf, swim, and just be seen. More than 80,000 people attended the races there every weekend. Celebrities who played the Agua Caliente Casino or started their careers include; Jimmy Durante, Rita Hayworth, Tom Mix, Oliver Hardy and Fred Astaire.Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford and Spencer Tracy and Al Capone were guests.
The casino did tremendous business, but was closed down by the New Mexican president Lazaro Cardenas in 1935 and was replaced by 5 schools. Many Tunnels were found in the casino that were used by Al Capone and his people to cross liquor to U.S. and are actually closed.
- Pros:Multicultural, Historic places and Leyends.
- Cons:Safety, bars, corruption, and poverty.
- In a nutshell:A place with hidding treasures.
Reviews (10)
Shopping at the Border
Shopping
(1)
There are many small curios shops located next to the border, no need to get out of the car, you can take a look while... more travel advice
Learn about Tijuana
Things to Do
(2)
Another thing you can do it's know Tijuana, yes what nobody does when visit this city is actually know what is Tijuana... more travel advice
Playas de Tijuana
Off The Beaten Path
(2)
Not a caribbean beach but a nice one, a good place to walk and relax is "Playas de Tijuana" more travel advice
La Mona
Off The Beaten Path
(2)
"La mona" or "La mujer casa" (the doll or The house women) She looks as the statue of liberty, but is a home. The home... more travel advice
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Comments (10)
Interesting tips and photos. I have never been to Tijuana, so I appreciate you telling us about it! Best from NJ, Bill
Thanks for an insider view of TJ. Having grown up in California I knew there must have been more to it than just the border areas. Have a great holiday!
Great tips! I enjoyed your page and i agree with you when you say "Please stop this children labor and abuse! Don't give them money"
interesting place. as they say, tijuan, tijuan sleep with me sister ?
wonderful page Ana, good tips and useful information
Hi Ana, I like your thoughtful and insightful explanations about Tijuana.
Ana, this is a wonderful page on Tijuana with very interesting and unique information!
Nice little page with great information!
Thas an informative page you've built. Nice reading!
F E L I Z C U M P L E A Ñ O S!!!! Ana deseo a ti muchas felicidades. And many days lleno de alegrias e cosas buenas! Tu hijo es hermoso. Thanks for sharing the tips of Tijuana. And I promise not to go to "Ave Revolution." Parabens!!!!