But 40 or 50 years ago, tourists from the U.S.A. (and elsewhere) went to Tijuana for a convenient getaway for a day or two. Go to the numerous bars, bet on the ponies, get a quickie divorce, buy all kinds of souvenirs (sombreros, woven goods, pottery, and so on), and generally have yourself a swell time. There were some less savory things you could do there too, but we'll leave those to your imagination!
I love this picture of four gringos getting ready to have their photos taken on a street corner. Some entrepreneurs have painted a donkey with zebra stripes, placed a painted backdrop on the donkey cart, and provided a selection of sombreros for the tourists to wear. "Cisco Kid" is my favorite. I can see a "Just Married" hat in the background, and I've also seen photos with another that says "Just Divorced". In fact, I've managed to find several photos of this same photo-op location; I'll bet they made a nice chunk of change.
Here's another photo from the same lot, showing some of the local attractions. The Nuevo Kentucky Cafe, the Long Bar, and "BUM BUM", which looks like it was a "nite club" where you could also get married or divorced. I want to be illegal fireworks, can you tell me where to buy some, por favor? Meanwhile, dig the cool cars.
Here's another photo from the same lot, showing some of the local attractions. The Nuevo Kentucky Cafe, the Long Bar, and "BUM BUM", which looks like it was a "nite club" where you could also get married or divorced. I want to be illegal fireworks, can you tell me where to buy some, por favor? Meanwhile, dig the cool cars.
Fun stuff, Major! Except of course for the poor painted donkey! I hope they're not still doing that today.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like when Maurice Chevalier got mixed up with the Ricardos and the Mertzes in Tijuana, and get in a traffic jam because of a donkey.
ReplyDelete"Marriages And Divorces." One-stop shopping! I don't know whether to laugh or cry...
ReplyDeleteThis vendor is still providing a similar photo-op service to tourists, although the zebra-painted donkey is gone. Tastes have changed, and, perhaps influenced by the gritty reality of Clint Eastwood's westerns and the films of Robert Rodriguez, modern border-hoppers want more authenticity in their tourist snaps. They want a real donkey and lots of brown accessories.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, in the past 40 years, donkeys have actually become very scarce on the Baja Peninsula due to a combination of increasing population, less available pastureland, and the ever-increasing number of automobiles. This shortage has led to some creative solutions on the part of the locals. My understanding is that this particular vendor now uses a brown-painted zebra.
Oh my gosh, how this made me laugh. Why? Because it reminded me of the trips my family would take to Tijuana in the 60's. Up at the crack of dawn (to avoid traffic) and the long drive south. We would spend the morning walking up and down the main drag, shopping and then...off to the bull fights. I hated the bull fights. UGH. After that, we'd go eat dinner, walk around a bit more and then pile back in the car for the long drive back home, and I would enjoy my bag of freshly deep fried churros which were 5 for a $1.00!
ReplyDeleteI remember begging my parents for a picture with the donkey, then alive. They always said no. In the 70's, I continued going to Tijuana whenever I'd camp in San Diego. I finally had a photo taken but by then, the donkey was a dead, stuffed donkey. Eeewwwww!
We spent the afternoon there in 1982 and had a lot of fun. We were almost scammed out of $200 by the taxi driver and my wife was propositioned by numerous shop keeps. It was fun bargaining down the price on items we bought.
ReplyDeleteEh? What's those signs say? "Nuevo Kentucky"? The New Kentucky? "Bum Bum is here!" Outta my way amigos! rotfl!
ReplyDeleteLove the cars.
ReplyDeleteThese are great, Major. Big thanks.
JG