Hotel Principado Tijuana

... it's made up -- they had a couple of Italian restaurants along one street and so deemed it Little Italy. Probably very cynical of me. The W Hotel is happening tonight ... some big wine tasting event. Lots of sleek young bodies in high heels and/or tight pants. Both men and women. Very amusing. I definitely felt out of place ... <br>

At work all day, then late afternoon flight. No problems with flight at all ... arrived, got rental car, then drove the few miles to the W Hotel. Very swank. The "living room" bar was happening ... but we just went to our rooms, then met for dinner at Rice, the embedded restaurant, which serves Cuban/Asian fusion. Food was fine, not fab.<br><br>Room is fun ... there's a chalkboard (that received a bit of J. Alfred Prufrock from me) and a window seat. And the linens are wonderful.<br><br><br>

... his plate and reached f*r a large green chili, which I disp*sed *f in three hungry and as it turns *ut rash bites. Tasty! ERROR. <br>This was n*t y*ur c*mm*n *' garden pickled Jalapeñ* y*u might find *n an av**age Subway sandwich *r D*min*'s pizza. N*, this was a king-hell ************ bent *n taking *ut f**lhardy gring*s wh* w**e just a bit t** keen. 15 sec*nds lat** tears w**e running d*wn my face and the critt** had induced ...

... with random robberies happening in the streets which was rated as the second most dangerous place in Mexico, just behind Mexico city which was to be our destination the day... great! Not that would change any plans like as our flights were from Tijuana as they came out at about a third of what they would have been from the states, and its all about the bargains.So from leaving the hostel we made our way across to the trolley (which is what they call the tram in the San Diego, i ...

... 30 minutes, got off then walked the 15 minutes it takes you to cross the border then hey presto you have crossed the border. Anyway I would describe the place as pure "cheeseville", lots of people trying to encourage tourists to go into their shops, bars and cafe's buy things from them off the street including jewellery, drugs plus if i named it i cold get it - clearly I didnt ...

... shops all selling pretty much the same souvenirs, but still interesting souvenirs including very colourful blankets, ponchos, local made pottery and kitchenware in lovely bright colours, alligator, ostrich and other leather skin wallets, fancy boots, belts, legal and illegal knives! Sombreros, bright clothes, etc etc! They call out to you 'Amigo, amigo' and compete with each other to try and get you to enter their shops, where you need to haggle the price as it starts out ...

... them. You have to return this Temporary Vehicle Pass upon your return into the US as proof that you still have the vehicle you entered Mexico in. So finally we drive off into the sunset, sort of speak. The roads were not bad at all and the weather was really beautiful. We were exited that we got all the paperwork completed and that we were finally on the road to Mexico. Our only concern now ...

... at precisely 12:25pm and were at the gate by 12:30. I gathered my bags, hailed a cab, and went to my hotel. I am staying at the Town and Country Resort and Spa and was given a very nice standard room. I left my things and decided to go shopping. I walked about 5 minutes to the very impressive mall next to my hotel that had every store from Old Navy to Armani and everything in-between, in every price you can imagine. It was very hard to refrain from buying ...

... most of the 45 minute flight to San Diego as i didn't sleep on the long haul to LA. Having done my research before i left home i caught the local bus to Broadway and 5th and walked up to the hostel. There is a cool little pizza place accross the road. Today, i went to the Zoo along with a girl from my room, Juila. The Zoo is nice. It's bigger ...