After you've explored downtown Mexicali, it's natural to head a little further east.  You move east from "El Centro," past the three-story "skyscrapers" of downtown Mexicali.  Head a little south from the border, about three city blocks, and you'll come to the major east/west thourghfare of Av. Alvarado Obregon.  Continue to head east on Av. Obregon and in a half-mile or so, you'll find yourself in the vicinity of Calle E and Av. Obregon.  

Are you interesteed in seeing what a real Mexican city looks like?  Do you want to avoid the gringos and other norteamericanos?  This is it.  If you look to your north, you can easily see the ugly steel border fence that the U.S. government has erected, but the border crossing is well over a mile away, yet in attitude, language and culture, you're miles away from Los Estados Unidos.  You're in a real Mexican city, and you're mingling with real, very friendly, Mexican people.

Photos:  Av. Cristobal Colon and the ugly U.S. border fence to the right, nead the intersection of Colon and Calle B.

Unlike Tijuana, Mexicali is the capital of the Mexican state of Baja California.  Unlike the famous border town of Tijuana 120 miles to the east, Mexicali is not really very tourist-oriented.  In fact most citizens of Mexicali identify themselves with Mexico City, and see themselves a bit more sophisticated than the residents of Tijuana.  Although Mexicali borders the California city of Calexico, it is a world away, and the residents of Mexicali seem to feel that way.  This is not to say that they're not friendly; they are.  As in any city of 800,000, you'll find many diverse individuals, and Mexicali, and Av. Obregon is no exception.

Left:  Since I've been working for S.B.C. for the last quarter century, how could I help not to photograph TelMex's impressive central office building at Av. Obregon and Calle Nicolas Bravo?  Right:  A pottery shop along Av. Obregon, near Calle A.

Av. Obregon is a very busy commercial street, and it is lined with commercial establishments, typically stores, restaurants, small shopping centers and many automotive-oriented businesses, such as repair shops, parts stores and tire shops.  Not to mention Mexicali's major telephone exchange is located on Av. Obregon, at Calle E.  Oh, did I say puestos and taquerias?  While exploring Av. Obregon, I had the opportunity to eat an excellent lunch of tacos at Asado Almada, at Calle E and Av. Madero, just a couple blocks north of Av. Obregon.  

Photo:  Across from the city hospital, at Calle Lemo de Tejada and Calle E, these guys have set up shop and are cooking tacos for lunch.  

Av. Obregon is just three blocks south of the U.S. border, but it's worlds away.  When you're visiting Mexicali, check out Av. Obregon, east of Calle E. for a "real" visit to Mexicali.