Setting It Up and Settling In

I made my way back down the stairs to the common area where the once lively area bustling with activity was now dormant, leaving behind a lone straggler. I found the Asian fellow I had noticed before still walking about and feverishly attacking the brochure rack. I took a seat a few paces from him when he abruptly and without introduction began to speak to me.

"where you from?"

He didn't even give me a chance to reply and continued talking at a frenzied pace.

"San Diego, its a great place! I haven't been down to Mexico yet, but I plan on going. You know to many Mexicans I might get robed or murdered, but I don't care. I don't know I don't think I'll go, but you know. I want to go to downtown today. Its real nice. I was staying at the hostel down there but they kicked me out."

I couldn't help but laugh in my head and think "I wonder why?".

He continued on with his rapid speech and I began to tune him out as I myself searched through the brochure rack. There I found a free guided walking tour of Tijuana for people staying at the hostel. I couldn't help but instantly attracted to it. I had always heard about the Ill dealings that take place down there. Not to mention the intense poverty and destitution of many of its inhabitants. So yeah it sounded like a great place to go.

Looking for a way to escape this one way conversation I informed the young man I was going to head out and explore my new surroundings. This did not stop him from disengaging his one way conversation. I slowly crept backwards one footstep at a time repeating "uh-huh, yeah, uh-huh ok, yeah" until I found myself far enough away that I had my hand on the doorknob and was able to make my escape.

Upon leaving I noticed that the two Hispanic gentleman still sitting on the bench, but now they had been joined by the Chris Tucker looking man. As I walked pass I couldn't help but notice all three of them sizing me up and giving me looks like I was woman walking past a bunch of construction workers.

Surveying the neighborhood there was nothing much around but an old burrito stand and shopping center with a large grocery store. With a scantily clad area and the sun falling below the horizon I decided to pack it in and call it a night.