Ok, so my wife told me that I’d be grossed out by Tijuana. When I told my cousin I had gone, he couldn’t believe I had wasted my time like that.

They were mostly wrong. Yes, Avenedia Revolucion is loaded with lots of people trying to get you to check out their stuff. Cuban cigars for a buck? Come on, I wasn’t born yesterday. No, I didn’t care for Av. Revolucion.

The rest of the city that I saw from my pedestrian jaunt was really enjoyable. No, scratch that, better than San Diego in some ways. Sure, there’s obvious, grinding poverty here. But here’s what no one tells you about Tijuana: it’s pleasant to walk around. You don’t need a car. There’s shade under the trees lining the Paseo de los Heroes, a pleasant boulevard. Street vendors are conveniently located to sell you water and treats when you need a break. In short, this isn’t the USA. You can have a totally foreign experience within a long walk of the border.

The CECUT museum is worth checking out for 20 pesos (as of June 2008). The city was filled with decorated cow sculptures. The food was amazing in flavor and price (just make sure you stop at a place that smells like food and not anything bad—look for locals eating there). The Federal Police, seemingly stationed everywhere, were helpful when I asked basic questions. One of them, whom I asked for directions to CECUT, saw me later and asked how I enjoyed the museum.

Truly a fun place, if you bring a bit of Spanish, a sense of adventure and a dose of common sense.