Ensenada isn't all about tourism, fish tacos and cruise ships.  It's a major city of about 370,000 people that's a major distribution center, manufacturing hub and trading center on Baja's west coast.

The locals don't shop on Ave. Lopez Mateos.  The main street in Ensenada, Ave. Benito Juarez, is lined with stores that sell everything a city of 370,000 needs.  These photos were taken during my visit on April 18, 2005.

 

Left:  Looking north on Blvd. Benito Juarez, the main street in Ensenada.  Right:  Morning rush hour, as this photo was taken about 0730.  Note the red and white mini-bus, which is a common sight in Mexican cities.

It never ceases to amaze me in a place like Ensenada, when you wander just a couple of blocks from Ave. Lopez Mateos, all traces of tourism disappear and the real Mexico emerges. English disappears. Pesos appear.  You won't see your pot-bellied, Hawaiian-shirted gringo tourist wander around Ave. Juarez.  You see real citizens of Ensenada, going about their daily business, shopping, going to and from appointments and, above all, making a living.  

 

Left:  Busy Blvd. Benito Juarez, the main street in Ensenada.  Right:  Perhaps my favorite photo as I capture a husband and wife street vendor in action selling their wares, in this example, corn.

Not as many Mexicans own private automobiles as Americans.  So when you're in a place like downtown Ensenada, you see a lot of people on the street, walking.  You'll also notice the city buses, many of them are ex-school buses that have been converted into municipal buses.  As in most Mexican cities, Ensenada has a plethora of mini-buses which are really vans that hold about a dozen passengers.  I didn't ride any of the city buses on this trip, as I was more interested in hiking around the downtown area and taking pictures.

 

Left:  Lunch in downtown Ensenada.  Whatever they sell, it must be good, considering the crowd that has gathered. Right:  I capture a corn vendor on Blvd. Juarez.  Note the propane tank and the fact that his rig is powered by bicycle.

In many ways, a city like Ensenada reminds me of an American city, circa 1955.  It has a centrally-located downtown where people come to shop, eat and socialize.  Adjacent to the main street, Ave. Benito Juarez, there are businesses that support shoppers, but don't cater to them, like banks, small restaurants and auto repair garages.  In Ensenada, and many Mexican cities, there are no shopping malls.  

 

Photos:  I suppose you could say that Ensenada has traffic jams, as witnessed on Blvd. Juarez at around 1700 on Monday, April 18, 2005.  However, at least to me, the beautiful mountains in the background would provide a bit of comfort.  

As in most Mexican cities, there are street vendors everywhere selling food and merchandise.  TelMex has pay phones on every corner.  Now you know you're really in Mexico.

 

Left:  As in most Mexican cities, pay phones are situated in every cornor and enjoy continuous use.  Right: Downtown Ensenada, looking south on Ave. Benito Juarez from the hills flanking the north end of town.

So if you want to see what Ensenada is all about, take that six-block east from Ave. Lopez Mateos and hike around downtown Ensenada, on Ave. Benito Juarez.  You'll see the real Ensenada and a priceless slice of a real Mexican city.