Tijuana's Av. Revolucion, shop until you drop and more...

Avienda Revolucion is the destination of choice for 99.999% of Japanese, Eropean, norteamericano and all other varieties of visitors and tourists. "Av. Rev." contains portions of Coney Island, Disneyland, Zona Norte, WalMart, and perhaps a little bit of Buck Owens rolled up in one, sanitized, tourist-oriented package. In other words, it defies any logical description. It is a shop-until-you-drop paradise, particularly if your taste lends itself toward handcrafted, uniquely Mexican items. If you want a souvenir of Tijuana, or one from Mexico, for that matter, Av. Revolution should be your destination of choice.

Photos: Looking south on Av. Revolucion, from the base of the huge Tijuana arch.

Av. Revolucion proper starts at the huge Tijuana arch, which is located at Av. Revolucion and Av. Puente Mexico, the brick-paved, shop-lined mall that leads to the bridge that crosses the Tijuana River. Note: Av. Revolucion actually extends to the river, but north of the arch, it goes by the name of Chihuahua Revolucion, and literally, rapidly goes downhill... The tourist mecca of Av. Revolution extends from the Tijuana arch, eight blocks south to the Jai Alai stadium, which is situated on the corner of Calle 8 and Av. Revolucion.

Photos: Marichai band plays for tourists at a restaurant, located under the Tijuana arch, at Av. Revolucion and Av. Puente Mexico, or Calle 1.

What is Av. Revolucion all about? Shopping. Partying. People-watching. Craziness. Bars. Food. Most of the stores situated along the eight-block strip cater to tourists. They sell many hand-crafted goods, such as leather belts, silver buckles, jewellery, clothing, hats, pottery, and uniquely tourist-oriented merchandise such as huge sombreros, as only a facsimile of a real Mexican vaquero would wear, leather vests and serapes. Note: I've never seen a real Mexican citizen wear a serape as "real" wear; I guess it's like I've never seen a real U.S. citizen wear a John Wayne, Texas-style ten-gallon hat except in a movie or a rodeo. Any Mexican souvenir that your mind has ever imagined, and countless others that you haven't even dreamed of can be found on Av. Revolucion.

Left: American tourists try on traditional Mexican garments. Right: Of course they can't resist having a digital photo taken as they're wearing the garb.

Have you ever seen a zebra-striped donkey? Did you know that they even exist? I think that Tijuana has a special pedigree on that particular breed, as it seems unique to the city. The zebra-striped donkeys aren't just a mundane black and white variety, no sir, in Tijuana you can choose between black and white or brown and white. Plus, for a tidy fee of course, you can have your photo taken beside one, or sitting on them. The donkeys seem to take it in stride, judging by the patient look on their faces.

The zebra-striped donkeys on Av. Revolution are a real Tijuana tradition. Back in 1970, during my first visit to Tijuana, I had the opportunity to witness my first home-grown, striped donkey. I can attest, as of my last visit in April of 2005, the zebra-striped donkey lives on. Check out the Tijuana zebra-striped donkeys on the Tijuana landmark section of this web site.

Left: Some of the craziness shows on Av. Revolucion, between Calle 3 and Calle 4. Right: Looking south on the east side of the "avenue."

People watching on Av. Revolucion? In a word, awesome! Sure, those walking the streets are mostly tourists, but they're interesting to watch. Add to the mix locals who are employed in Av. Revolucion retail, cocktail waitresses on breaks, barkers attempting to entice you into their particular strip club, and just regular citizens going about their mundane business, and you have a cornucopia of people-watching and street photography.

Left: Tourists and locals marvel at the quantity, quality and variety of goods available for sale from the many stores that line Av. Revolucion in downtown Tijuana. Right: Are you hungry for a ice cream bar? This vendor may be the guy you're looking for.

If you're thirsty, there are more bars and honky-tonks than you can ever explore. Many of them feature second-story lounges that are open to the street, and will be crowded with boisterous party-goers who will raise their beer glasses to you and shout at you as you walk on the sidewalk below. Most bars feature strip shows, and will have a barker in front advertising their fine venue. If you choose to go inside, the will pat you on the back and make you feel welcome. Since I was thirsty, I succored to such banter, but as far as I would tread would be the bar, to order a cold Pacifico beer, and then sip it at one of the tables that look out to the sidewalk, the street, and the circus outside.

Restrooms: Well, that's sort of a culture shock, when you visit Tijuana, or anyplace in Mexico. To be specific, if you're visiting Av. Revolucion, there's a mall on the east side of the street, just south of Calle 4 that advertises that it has restrooms. Yes they do, and the restrooms are clean, but there's a price, as it will cost you $5.00 (pesos) to use the restroom and it might be a good idea to bring your own toilet paper, if that's your mission. The restroom has an attendant, who's job is to greet you, hand toilet paper out to your if you request it, and to keep the place clean. There is no "official" fee, but you'd be a boor not to tip him the $5.00, as this is how he makes his living. My lovely wife Sharlene tells me that it's the same in the ladies' room, except, of course, the attendant is a female. However when I'm prowling the streets of Tijuana, or almost any other Mexican city, I usually keep a sharp eye open to spot porta-potties. Things seem to be constantly changing in Tijuana, so that means construction, and construction means porta-potties, and in my experience, porta-potties are always unlocked and free, but the cleanliness quotient is dubious, at best. Boy, what I'll do to save a few pesos...

Left: This jewelry vendor has found an interested couple. Right: This vendor is selling American cigarettes by the carton and has captured the interest of a couple of young American tourists.

Now the best part: Food, a.k.a., comedia! There are no world-class restaurants on Av. Revolucion, if that's the cuisine you're looking for, head a mile or so east to Zona Rio, as you'll find the finest restaurants in Tijuana located there. But if food is what you're looking for, you have everything to choose from restaurants that serve American "Denny-boy" style food, to Mexican, down-home-push-cart vendors, not to mention everything in between.

Photos: Av. Revolution offers an mind-boggling assortment of locally-crafted souvenirs, ranging from museum-quality goods to chintzy junk. My advice? Caveat emptor!

Here's a pet peeve of mine: Why would any norteamericano travel to Tijuana, Tokyo or Tehran, and want to eat "Denny-boy" style food? Comfort food? Post 9-1-1 food? Hey dude, eat the local food! If you don't, you're missing one of the finest experiences that a human can have while visiting a foreign country and savoring the local culture. I realize that many folks are afraid of getting sick from eating street food, but I ask you this question: Would the locals patronize a vendor who's food made them sick? I think not. Av. Revolucion has many taquerias and "puestos," a.k.a. vendors that sell food from push carts or bicycle-based operations. For a taste of real Mexican street food, you owe it to yourself to patronize these guys. When visiting Tijuana, or anywhere in Mexico, "street food" is my cuisine of choice. You can't experience Mexico any better than that!

Av. Revolucion is all things to all people, and a must-see if you visit Tijuana. Check it out and enjoy!

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