Border crossing (El Paso, Rio Bravo, West: high crime, how much, home)

[councilor j]

Which border crossing would be the best to go into and why, Im looking for something that has shops within walking distance.Can you please tell me the difference between the 3 and what is in Juarez over these 3 crossings.Im only looking to spend a couple hours in Juarez.

[malamute]

The downtown crossing, the Stanton St bridge is a good one for walking. You can park on the USA side so you don't have to worry about driving over there, and walk over the bridge and there are all kinds of shops -- and taxis waiting if you felt like riding somewhere.

[councilor j]

Do I have to pay a toll when crossing back into el paso and how much in pesos and where do i get them.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by councilor j

Do I have to pay a toll when crossing back into el paso and how much in pesos and where do i get them.

I know the bridge I generally cross at (not sure if it is the Bridge of the Americas?) - anyway, it is near downtown EP and has a big tarp running over it for shade - requires a payment of $0.35 both to enter Mexico as well as $0.35 to leave Mexico. Payments going both ways do not need to be made in Mexican curency...both take US money. (Although, at the exit area, you need to have $0.35 in change...eg: no paper money...the entrance area will take paper money and change it for you)...

[Hyun-Soo]

What's there to see and do in Juarez?

[lipbalm]

Originally Posted by Hyun-Soo

What's there to see and do in Juarez?

Hookers and cheap liquor. That's about it.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by Hyun-Soo

What's there to see and do in Juarez?

I have gone over to Juarez probably about a dozen times.

Yes, Juarez is kind of a classic big-city Mexican border city in many ways. One might compare it roughly/loosely to Tijuana, Mexico...and typically that wouldn't be a highly favorable comparison.

To many/most Americans, Juarez would be described as "dirty", unkept, chaotic, etc.

However...why I find it interesting to go (keeping some safety guidelines adhered to) is because it is a few minutes away from the U.S. only by walking, however, when crossing over, it is indeed easily apparent that one is entering a completely different nation. While El Paso, TX surely has a large Mexican-culture influence, El Paso is NYC compared to Juarez! (That may be over-stating things a bit, but the difference between the two sides is rather dramatic).

Many (most?) Americans would only venture into Mexico - or have the interest to do so - in places like the beach resort towns...Acapulco, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, etc. Those places are popular for a reason - they are gorgeous with great weather, etc. However, they are not "real Mexico" in my opinion. It is like someone who doesn't reside in the United States going to the U.S. for a trip but only going to Disneyland, the strip of Las Vegas, and Hollywood...and thinking that they experienced the U.S. Sure...they experienced a little component of the U.S., but they didn't see the culture of real U.S. cities.

Whereas in Juarez, it is anything but touristy or dressed up. In fact, as many others here have pointed out in the past, it has many negative aspects including high crime and violent crime, drugs, prostitution, etc.

However, if you go over there - adhering to some basic/easy safety procedures - you will assuredly see a real culture, for all of its blemishes.

I was told by a person who lives in southern Arizona that they make monthly border crossings to a closeby border town to donate clothes, food, etc. And while there, they always travel/look around. And it makes them appreciate earnestly everything many Americans take for granted on a daily basis.

Beyond experiencing big/border-city Mexico culture, if you stay to the crowded/well-traveled areas (where you'll generally always see other Americans scattered about visiting)...you'll get very, very good cheap Norteno Mexican cuisine in one of seemingly endless family-owned restaurants or food stands. You'll see some historic buildings and areas. The Mercado de Juarez and open shops/stands, etc., offer the ability to shop for interesting Mexican products, etc., generally at very low prices (where one barters for his/her best price).

Juarez likely isn't a place folks would want to go over-and-over again for sure. However, if you use your head, adhere to some good safety procedures (such as going during the day, sticking to the well-traveled/busy areas, not drinking in excess, and not bringing a great deal of valuables/money)...it can be quite enlightening, and dare I say...yes, to those with an open mind...enjoyable.

[Trainwreck20]

Many (most?) Americans would only venture into Mexico - or have the interest to do so - in places like the beach resort towns...Acapulco, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, etc. Those places are popular for a reason - they are gorgeous with great weather, etc. However, they are not "real Mexico" in my opinion.

I tend to think of it another way - Juarez is not the real Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Mexico City, etc. are the real Mexico. The border cities are under economic and political influences total different than the majority of Mexico.

Of course, just my opinion

[lipbalm]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

I tend to think of it another way - Juarez is not the real Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Mexico City, etc. are the real Mexico. The border cities are under economic and political influences total different than the majority of Mexico.

Of course, just my opinion

I disagree with both. Mexico is a very diverse country with different regions and customs that is sometimes hard for outsiders to understand. I don't know what the real Mexico is, if you can call it that, but it's something in between the chaos of the border towns like juarez, the artificial dressed up beach resorts, and the cities in the interior which are to numerous to mention.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

I tend to think of it another way - Juarez is not the real Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Mexico City, etc. are the real Mexico. The border cities are under economic and political influences total different than the majority of Mexico.

Of course, just my opinion

I guess I should clarify a bit...

I agree that places like Juarez and Tijuana are not "typical" of much of Mexico. Surely, they are border towns...and that is why I tried to describe it (possibly inarticulately! ) as "experiencing big/border-city Mexico culture" rather than simply "experiencing Mexico culture"...

I would agree that places like Mexico City, Guadalajara, etc., are even more indicative of "mainstream" Mexican culture. Monterrey, Guadalupe, and Ciudad de Chihuahua are other Mexican cities that would be more overall "general" Mexican culture, despite each city/region being distinct and different like the regions of the U.S. are.

However, I would still say that places like Puerto Vallarta are much less daily Mexican culture (at least the places most Americans would go there) than Juarez. Afterall, I do believe Juarez is the 6th biggest city in Mexico (Tijuana is in the top 10 as well). I think it offers more of an overall picture to the day-to-day Mexican lifestyle than the more classic, popular Mexican beach resort towns.

I agree with lipbalm though too...Mexico is a large country...like the U.S., it is very diverse culturally. It is just like the U.S.; go to Grand Island, Nebraska and Boston, Mass. I would consider both to be very real American cultures, however, very different.

I guess I was really driving at the ability to see an everyday huge Mexican city functioning - albeit a border city - without the smoke and mirrors of a resort town's function (eg: the strip in Las Vegas, Disneyland, etc. in the U.S.).

Maybe one could equate going to Juarez like to a non-U.S. resident going to some of the rougher, or at least more bare-bones part of Detroit, or Oakland, or Chicago. Surely they aren't reflective of all parts of the U.S. (like Juarez isn't reflective of all parts of Mexico; heck, they aren't necessarily reflective of all parts of Metro Chicago, Metro Detroit, or Metro Oakland!)...however, I would contend that they at least offer a bit more of a "realistic" glimpse into a bit of a part of American culture than say Cancun does.

And while personally, loving Mexico, I would rather go to Chihuahua any day over Juarez, the nice aspect of visiting Mexico via border town is that of course, it is much less of a logistical/time hassle.

And...of course...with the huge immigration-debate echoing throughout American politics...seeing a border town (with the Rio Bravo dividing line, the bridges, etc.) up close and personal is a very deep way to bring home an understanding of what just goes on each and every day on the border between U.S. and Mexico, which is another very "real" item that is talked about throughout America each and every day. I just think there is more - call it educational value if anything - perspective gained of a different nation/peoples visiting a place like Juarez than lying on a beach surrounded by 90% Americans.

Don't get me wrong...if given a free trip to Puerto Vallarta or to Ciudad Juarez...it would take me about zero seconds to take the PV option! Just like Disneyland, West Palm Beach FL, or the Las Vegas strip in the U.S., there is nothing at all wrong with great resort areas in a nation. Mexico has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world!

I just think though for a more realistic depiction of everyday existance in Mexico without having to try to get deep into Mexico City, Monterrey, etc. - albeit in a far northern big border town - Juarez would fit the bill.