They are two completely different experiences. TJ's la Zona has been set up as a commercial mongering spot for decades, if not a century. It has appealed the occassional tourist who comes over from LA and San Diego, and residents of southern California. It is not a rich city, so it will look like the run-down areas of SJO.
You will not find Colombians or other foreign chicas in la Zona. However, Mexican chicas will come from all parts of the country to work there.
Prices vary. There are the street girls who congregate in one particular "alley" (it is a actually a narrow street). There are at least a reinforced platoon, sometimes a whole company's worth of them on that street any given afternoon or evening (30-150) and all you need is to just pick the best one or two out of the SG's leaning against any solid wall. Sometimes, to pass the time, they will be reading comic books or novelas. That is good odds, and their low prices will amaze you. Take one to your hotel room and amaze her with clean sheets, a warm shower, and the prospect of not having to stand in the heat of summer or the cold of winter for hours at a time.
There a several clubs that masquerade as strip clubs. There is Adelitas and Chicago Club, which is where I have gone. There, you will be meet HLH-DR-SL level gals in all shapes and sizes. While some try to replicate the product that come out of the laboratories in Colombia that churn out "The Six Million Peso Chica" TM - "We can rebuild her...we make her better than she was before..." I am designing "Bionic Chica" T-shirts for sale...price...."cien" - the price is a lot less.
TJ mongers would never pay cien. When the economy tanks in the US, TJ feels it immediately. AND the newstories of "dangerous" TJ work in your favor. You don't hear "cien" in TJ. It is more like $60 or $80. Too many chicas, too few mongers. Also, most of the TJ mongers are "regulars" and they don't spend like CR mongers. TJ mongers are "commuters", while CR mongers are "tourists".
I have driven down from LA, parked my car at the parking lot across the street from the turnstiles, and walked the 10 minutes from the crossing to la Zona Rosa. Sometimes, I have gotten a room in a chica friendly hotel either in the hotel (basic) or a mile or so away (nicer). I recommend using a cab during the evening or enjoy the day time action. Many girls prefer the day shift because the atmosphere is less crazy and allows them to tell their family they have a legit job during the day or for day care reasons.
It is not hard to convince a chica to meet you off site before or after her shift. One chica just took me back to her apartment back for the TLN. AND she had a border crossing card, so a few days later, I picked her up and took her back to my place near Pomona. We had chemistry and the trust worked both ways. She made me pancakes on Monday, I made her pancakes for breakfast a week later.
The on site experience is more akin to a low end Tico MP. Better to take them back to your room. Since the clientele is different, the atmospherics are different. If you use the clubs' facilities or the street girls hot sheet motels, you will get a sleazier experience.
Learn some Spanish. Go to one of the many sites devoted to TJ. Learn the map. If you are down there and another revolution breaks out (highly unlikely) the worst case is you will have to run a "Mogadishu Mile" back to the border like the Rangers in the last 5 minutes of "Blackhawk Down". But you will never have THAT much fun.
NOBODY, but nobody, wants to kill the cash cow that la Zona is. Not the cops, not the gov't, not criminals. Just don't get stupid with the cops, remember you are a guest in the country - even though you can see San Ysidro from almost any where in TJ - and act like you would in any big city in the states. Do NOT ask about donkey shows, Spanish Fly, or whether the water is safe to drink. The first two don't exist, and I go bottled all the way...no ice, please.
I use a money belt, keep my head on a swivel, put a "sucker wallet" in my back pocket, and when I walk, I cruise like a battleship. I walk slow enough not to attract attention, but fast enough that if anybody gets any ideas about following me, I'm already at my destination before they can get organized.
Goodness, all the great memories, minus the hassles of Homeland Security, the plane fare, and the time. I particularly enjoyed taking 2-3 days off work, and going in the middle of the week. Fewer gringos that way. Drive a couple hours from LA, get a hotel either in San Ysidro or in TJ, do the day scene, do the night scene, cultivate a favorita, invite them back to the room for a more casual experience. Sometime a three day weekend was good for that, too.
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
Calendar
Would I choose TJ over CR, no, but I also would not chose CR over Colombia now, and I just had a very good time last week in CR. IMHO, just as the women in CR offer better services, the women in Colombia are a step above their sisters in CR, in looks and service, at a lower cost. I'm sure that others disagree with me.
So far the CRT members that I have gone with enjoyed it. My other option is to go to a strip club and get blue b*lls for more money.
