Tijuana, Mexico - Crossing Borders

I’ve been to Mexico several times, but I’ve never been to Tijuana. While working at the university teaching Spanish, I’ve met a lot of people whose only experience in a Spanish speaking place was Tijuana. I decided that since I was so close to the border I had better go check it out for myself. Honestly, it wasn’t nearly as dirty, crazy or scary as many people try to make it seem. In fact, it was quite clean, laid back and friendly; which can be said about most of Mexico. I got off the beaten path and found a nice market (which wasn’t geared to tourists, but rather to the people who sell things to the tourists). I also had some polla al azteca which is a specialty in Northern Mexico. Basically, it is chicken cooked in a sauce with a cactus pod (spines removed). It has a distinct flavor and was simply divino for a warm, sleepy Mexican afternoon.I’ve been to Mexico several times, but I’ve never been to Tijuana. While working at the university teaching Spanish, I’ve met a lot of people whose only experience in a Spanish speaking place was Tijuana. I decided that since I was so close to the border I had better go check it out for myself. Honestly, it wasn’t nearly as dirty, crazy or scary as many people try to make it seem. In fact, it was quite clean, laid back and friendly; which can be said about most of Mexico. I got off the beaten path and found a nice market (which wasn’t geared to tourists, but rather to the people who sell things to the tourists). I also had some polla al azteca which is a specialty in Northern Mexico. Basically, it is chicken cooked in a sauce with a cactus pod (spines removed). It has a distinct flavor and was simply divino for a warm, sleepy Mexican afternoon.