TIJUANA, SAN DIEGO'S SISTER CITY

HAVING FUN IN TIJUANA: A Day Tripper’s Guide, by Sam Warren (Bookwarren Publishing, San Diego, California, 2017, 14 pages.)

Book Review by Dennis Moore

September 15, 2017 (Tijuana) - Sam Warren, the founder of SDWriteway, an online magazine in San Diego that has partnered with the East County Magazine, has written the indispensable guide to navigating through Tijuana, Mexico, and enjoying it; Having Fun In Tijuana: A Day Tripper’s Guide.

Warren is also the author of another book about Tijuana, as well as The Bible Naked: the Greatest Fraud Ever Told, which I also wrote a review of.

Warren set the tone for Having Fun in Tijuana, by stating: “You’re an idiot if you don’t visit TJ. For the price of a trolley ticket you can visit an exotic foreign country. Some people still think that TJ is a sleazy border town full of bars, drug cartels and prostitutes. But Tijuana is bigger than San Diego and a modern major Mexican city full of factories and industry. The days of the drug cartels are long gone and safer than most U.S. cities.” I am inclined to agree with him.

Having once lived in Tijuana myself for 5 years, this book resonates with me for a variety of reasons. My living in Tijuana actually started me off on my becoming a book reviewer with SDWriteway and the East County Magazine, as a freelance contributor to the Baja Times in Rosarito Beach, Mexico. My five years in Tijuana was a rich cultural experience for me, as well as my 13-year-old daughter at the time. I recall getting up early in the morning to take a bus to the border, stand in a long line with her, and walk her across to attend Junior High School in San Diego.

The author identifies many landmarks in Tijuana, such as “The Cultural Center (CECUT)” and “Avenue Revolucion”, which I have had the occasion to visit. Warren also identifies in his well-written and easily understandable book “Nearby Places to Visit”, such as Rosarito Beach and Puerto Nuevo, which I have also visited.

Looking down from my bedroom window in Tijuana in an area known as “Tomas Aquino” towards the Pacific Ocean, is a picturesque view of the beauty of this sometimes and somewhat maligned city. But the author paints a picture of what is good about Tijuana. I actually wrote an article for the Baja Times Newspaper when I was living in Tijuana that puts into perspective this city; Accentuate the Positive.  I also wrote another article for the Baja Times Newspaper when I lived in Tijuana; Why Not A Major League Baseball Team In Baja California, which speculated on having a major league baseball team in Tijuana that would produce a rivalry with the San Diego Padres baseball team.

I have actually had my own “Having Fun In Tijuana”, as I am pictured here “Grillin” watermelon and pineapple on my deck in TJ. It seems that I got all caught up in the cultural embrace of this iconic city and community. I also recall while living in Tijuana going down to the neighborhood restaurant on Technoligico Avenue and having a meal of fish tacos. I still say to this day that the fish tacos that I had numerous occasions to have in Tijuana, were the best food that I have had anywhere in this world, and I have travelled to Quebec and Cancun, as well as many other places known for their food.

Warren’s book provides maps and pictures to readers, to give a flavor of this community, and to help navigate through it. He even gives information on the “Rate of Exchange” between dollars and pesos, further stating: “I recommend paying for everything in dollars as it makes it easier to know how much you are spending and how much to tip.”

As Tijuana is actually located in what is called “Baja”, the attached “What is Baja?” video will give the full flavor of this beautiful and iconic city, by clicking on here.

Although a review of Warren’s well-written and informative book, the complete book and guide can be read here.

Dennis Moore has been the Associate Editor of the East County Magazine in San Diego and the book review editor of SDWriteway, an online magazine for writers in San Diego that has partnered with the East County Magazine, as well as once being a freelance contributor to the Baja Times Newspaper in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, and the Baja News in Ensenada, Mexico. Mr. Moore can be contacted at contractsagency@gmail.com or you can reach him at: @DennisMoore8.