I always attempt to arrive at my day's destination around mid-afternoon, as most motels start check-in around 3:00 PM.  Checking into a motel is always a first priority, as I can park the car, get my stuff situated and have the rest of the day to hike around and explore the area.  Not only do you have the pick of the motels, but you have time to enjoy the sights before it gets dark.  By the way, my nightlife usually consists of sitting my motel watching TV!

 

Left:  Looking west on Av. Juarez toward downtown Tecate. Right:  Looking east on Av. Juarez near the major intersection of Calle Cardenas.  That's Parque Hildago the the right of the photo.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005 was no exception, as I pulled into Tecate, turned left onto Av. Benito Juarez and started looking for a motel.  Since this was my first trip to Tecate, I had absolutely no idea of where any motels were located, but as Av. Benito Juarez is the main street in Tecate, in addition the route of Mexico Highway 2, I knew this was the place to look.  I had also read that there very few motels in town, so I was eager to find a place to stay.  My quest was rewarded as I spotted the Motel El Dorado, located at the corner of Av. Benito Juarez and Calle Esteban Cantu, on the west side of the street.  I was greeted by the friendly girl at the desk in English, but she was surprised as I returned her greeting and Spanish and continued the transaction in her native language. In a couple of minutes, after parting with about $35.00 (U.S.) for the night, I checked into my motel room for the night.  I was sort of surprised, as El Dorado is a pretty good-sized place, but it was almost empty of guests.  Tecate was quite a contrast to the crowded coast that I had experienced a few days prior.

 

Left:  Hotel El Dorado, at Av. Benito Juarez and Calle Esteban Cantu.  Right:  Tecate's El Centro features many stores and small shops.

As I mentioned before, Av. Benito Juarez is the main street in Tecate, and also the route of Mexico Highway 2.  The street runs east and west, east to Mexicali and west to Tijuana.  It's the main commercial district in town and is the place in town where the locals shop.  

The best way to see a town is to walk.  Not only do you get to windowshop, but you get to mingle with the people and you get to experience the sights, sounds and smells of a town, up close and personal.  I hiked east on Av. Juarez, toward downtown Tecate, looking at the stores, vendors, people and, well, everything.  Not that I exactly blended in, as I had gringo written all over me.  But the people of Mexico, and Tecate in particular, are warm and friendly, and I have never had a bad experience.

I couldn't help to notice, but I didn't see any other Americans but myself.  In fact, during my visit to Tecate, I didn't see any other gringos.  However, to be honest, I wasn't really looking for any.

The main intersection in Tecate is Av. Benito Juarez and Av. Lazaro Cardenas.  Do these names sound familiar?  If you head north on Av. Cardenas, it will lead you to the U.S. border, but that wasn't the direction that I was headed. I spent quite a bit of time around Juarez and Cardenas taking pictures and just enjoying the views.

After amuzing myself for a half-hour or so, I hiked south on Cardenas, past Parque Hildago to Calle Hidalgo and turned west on Hidalgo, in the direction of the brewery.

 

Left:  Another view of Av. Juarez, looking east in the direction of Mexicali.  Right:  The famous Tecate brewery.  I arrived too late for a tour.

The Tecate brewery is, perhaps, the most notable landmark in town, a major employer since the early 1940's and is easily recognized as, its so, well, industrial looking.  Not to mention the large Mexican flag, the smell of brewing beer, and the constant plume of white steam escaping from the building.  It is located at the corner of Calle Miguel Hidalgo and Calle Pte. Elias Calles.  I walked up to the beer garden at the east end of the building hoping for a tour, but since it was a late Wedneesday afternoon in April, they weren't giving tours.  I guess that's something I'll have to do on my next trip.  By any standards, the Tecate brewery is an impressive building and, judging by the plethora of Tecate beer signs in town, it must be mighty popular in its namesake town.

The area south of the brewery is a mix of commercial buildings and industrial buildings.  Like many border towns, Tecate has benifited since the creation of N.A.F.T.A. and I noted maquiladoras along busy Av. Defensores de B.C.. I also noted many small restaurants and taquerias, which comes as no surprise.

 

Left:  Another view of Av. Juarez.  Right:  Looking east on Av. Juarez, from Calle P.T.E. Portes Gil.  You have to love a street with a name like that!

So after several hours of hiking around town, it was time to head back to motel, power-down a few ice-cold Tecates, enjoy some carne asada tacos, and call it a night.