By Josemaria Moreno
I recently visited Tijuana, and although I expected to find a dynamic and multifaceted city, the reality was surprising. The city is vibrant, its culinary sceneāan obvious mix between Mexico and the USāis innovative, and its people extremely friendly. Here are a few tips for those who visit there.
First, transportation. Currently cheap flights abound, especially with Viva Aerobus and Volaris. I traveled with the latter for 1,700 pesos round trip, leaving LeĆ³n airport at 9am. It is difficult to get from San Miguel de Allende to the airport for a flight at that hour by bus. First, you have to travel to Guanajuato or LeĆ³n. However, since there are no connections at that hour, I took the BajĆo Go shuttle for 500 pesos. The transport company picks you up at your domicile and leaves you at the desired time at the airport. I flew back at the same time, and for convenienceās sake used the shuttle service again. It’s not cheap, obviously, but it’s practical.
When it comes to lodging in Tijuana, you will have no problem finding a hotel or an Airbnb that suits your budget and needs. I was fortunate to be able to stay at a friend’s house, which made the experience much easier and more interesting.
Once in Tijuana, the itinerary depends on what you are looking for. In particular, I would like to recommend three places that I hope will open up your perspective and serve as a starting point to create your own adventure.
The first place is a well-known reference point: CECUT (Tijuana Cultural Center). The site is iconicāa large earth-colored sphere that houses an IMAX cinemaābut also a regional history museum. The tour of the museum is interesting and contains well-researched information on the history of Tijuana and its surroundings, from its first settlers to the present day. Keep in mind that Tijuana is currently the second-largest city in Mexico.
At sunset you can visit a brewery with a different concept. Frontera Beer is located in Cam. Neighborhood 1125, Los Pirules. Curiously, this brewery is part of a type of bus station or grocery store. Getting to its parking lot can cause some confusion, but if you follow the directions on your online search engine, you won’t have a problem. The place is an industrial-style tap room, clean and open. At the bar you can try the varieties in stock, and on the ground floor you can see the factory where the beers are brewed. All of Fronterās beers are of the highest quality.
Finally, do not miss Avenida RevoluciĆ³n, the famous street that begins at the border bridge between Tijuana and San Diego. Here you will find a potpourri of shops, restaurants (such as Caesar’s Restaurant, where the Caesar salad was born), breweries and bars, and concerts of all kinds (Nirvana, for example, played here in the ā90s, the only place where the group performed in Mexico). The street boasts a festive, fast-paced, colorful, and eclectic atmosphere.
