Tecate

in the summer of 2005 my youth group went on a mission trip to Tecate. While there we stayed at the true light ministries facility, where we ate, slept, and daily participated in a camp like chapel. Every day we would go to the churches being built and help out their. At our construction site, we had a v.b.s. style gathering with crafts games and stories. We also went around to homes in the neighborhood and passed out toys, soap, toothbrushes and such. I had a great time serving for Jesus, and made new friends, while getting closer to old ones.

Crossed the border into Baja Mexico here. Was very easy, uncrowded, nice little town. And on our way back up into the US, we stayed the night in Tecate at a hotel and ate yummy tacos at a little food stand, and wandered around, looking at the city at night. Fun.

My grandparents had a house in Tecate when I was younger. The house was across the street from a park but my mom wouldn’t let me or my brother go to it by ourselves (probably because I was about 6 and he was about 8). She also said it was a sketchy sort of place, not very safe. I suppose that was true, because my grandparents ended up having to sell their house because they were being blackmailed and threatened into doing so. Even so, it was fun when I was little. I remember eating watermelon flavored ice cream with seeds in it (sugar seeds, I think…) and playing in an inflatable pool in the front yard. The house also had pretty neat architecture, and a brick grill in the backyard. It actually was a cool little place. Not so much touristy, but very laid back. I want to go back someday.

Better than TJ and great for beer and pottery. Cleaner and not as crowded!

I went down here on a mission trip. Building a church. Neat little place, It’s a little bit of the “real mexico” feel but still retains the “border town” tourist stuff, like bars and flea markets with english speakers.

It is a border crossing point which has a lot fewer people than Tijuana, so it is much faster to get across going southbound.

Then the highway between Tecate and Ensenada has some vineyards on it.

An absolutely beautiful gem in the great country that is Mexico.
Nights in the desert were gorgeous (though cold). For a week I worked on a children’s camp on top of a mountain, and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
Oh, and the people in town were very friendly when our car broke down!

This is the best Baja border crossing because it is a very low-volume crossing so there is no waiting, very little confusion about where to go/what to do.

And the woman in the Banco del Ejercito who served me was so hot.

without the crowds of Tijuana

I’ve worked with a small community in the Tecate suburbs – great people, hot hot sun.