Hard working ladies in Tijuana.

Mexico, Tijuana, 04-10 2002.

Not my first time in this sleazy and tawdry border town that attracts hordes of americanos on any given day either on a shopping spree or else for cheap booze, s*x and gambling.

are local mexican ladies that hang out in front of the hotel`s entrance

Whatever is illicit in the USA flourishes here, you just need a full wallet. Though Tijuana is the gateway to Baja California, most visitors never get beyond this sin city which main streets are broad and full with one-day visitors, curio shops and souvenir sellers. You can even get your photo taken in the presence of a burro painted like a zebra from Africa.

Rumour has it there is a huge population of locals camping outside the city in a massive tent city waiting for a chance to hop across the border illegally hoping for a better life, a way out of mexican misery, from poverty to luxery. Get their part of the cherished american dream.

I`ll just stay overnight in this mad place, no nightly visit to La Zona Nocturna where all the rowdy bars are located, instead stay here in the courtyard of Hotel Del Prado, drink a few DosXXs beer in front of my little cockroach invested room.

I`m actually the only Gringo in this hotel, all the other guests are local mexican ladies that hang out in front of the hotel`s entrance in the hope of luring half drunk american males back to their room.

I`ve been given very serious handmade invitations, flashing eyes and unabashed interest from these mexican Hot Mommas which I`ve all ignored, reading my newspaper instead and keeping a secret mental acount of exactly how many customers each lady manages to drag back to her room in the course of the evening.

I`ve no doubt these ladies will work untill deep into the night but I`m sure I`ll have a good night`s sleep despite the obvious noices their job will produce.