Ojinaga

[SHANEA]

Has anyone crossed into Ojinaga before/lately?  What's it like these days?  Is it "safe"?  A group of us crossed over in the 90's for a very brief visit after our first trip to BBRSP.  Lots of Mexican Federal Police/Army whatever around with machine guns, etc.  We just got to the first street corner, didn't have a clue of where to go or what to do and I got spooked, for no reason at all, and we crossed back over - I was ready to "sprint the bridge" past the Mexican customs people.   Just had a "feeling" that something was not right.  I'd been to Mexico before, Larado, Alcapolco, etc.  I usually listen to my feelings and intuition.  I've always enjoyed going into Mexico - it's a fascinating country.  There was an "incident" a few years ago when a grocery store owner in Presidio was "detained" in Ojinaga for a period of time.   I was expecting Ojinaga to be something like Larado on a scaled down basis, but there didn't seem to be tourist one around.  I've always wanted to go back with a group "in the know" - just check out the place, pick up some tequilia, maybe grab a bite to eat, etc.  Maybe Homerboy will meet me over there sometime and tour me around...

[bdann]

i guess it's been awhile now, but I went over to Ojinaga in '02.  the town seemed pretty sleepy when i was there.  probably something to do with it being around 2pm (siesta time) when i was there.  it took us awhile to find a place open for lunch, but the food was really good.  

sort of a stereotype breakdown while there....my friend Mike and I ate at this little resturant across the street from the art gallery owned by an american dude.  anyway, the food was really good, (thank god for TUMS).  anyway, after the meal, we're standing across the street having a smoke and this guy that served us in the resturant comes running across the street over to us.  he's handing us some cash telling us we left the money on the table.  

IT WAS THE TIP.

the town seemed very clean, quiet, everyone seemed to keep to themselves.

the art gallery was over priced, but whatever.

on the way back in to the US, the border patrol gave us a hard time.  it was 20 questions, then pulll over to the side, get out of the car, empty your pockets on the table, shut your mouth while we search your car, etc.  
the line was long getting back in to the US too, and it was 110....

[SHANEA]

I take it you drove over?  Wow!  Well, since you are reporting this incident I guess they let you go :?:  :lol:    

I'd never drive over on my own, I'd be afraid I'd have a shell rolling around somewhere and the Mexican Federales wouldn't appreciate it.  

So, would you go back over?  Did you find anything like a grocery store or a liquor store?  I was just looking and Ojinaga is relatively "huge" in population.  That figures, the lights of Ojinaga from BBRSP are pretty bright - tip for the day, if camping at BBRSP and you want to gaze at the stars, don't camp at Rancho Viejo.

[bdann]

yea, i'd go back.  it was a pretty normal town, grocery stores, drug stores, liquor stores, etc....just everything was closed when we were there.  this is standard procedure in mexico....siesta every day after lunch.

yes, we drove over there.  we parked in the main square where the big church is.  it seemed safe enough.  ojinaga isn't just a small village, it's a good sized town and from what i've heard will give you a good taste of what life is like in "inner mexico".  it's certainly not your typical "border town".  we walked around quite a bit, straying many blocks from our car.  Not a single person begging on the street, or trying to get us to buy something,  just normal people going about their normal daily lives.

i wouldn't worry so much about the federales getting upset over that stray shell....it's the US Border Patrol you'd have to worry about.  (i know they're just doing their jobs).  The Mexican border officials didn't give us a second glance, just pay the toll and go across!

[desert woman]

Ojinaga seems pretty safe.  I go to the dentist there (much cheaper), the bakery, the corn tortilla store for corn tortillas coming right off the conveyor belt, liquor store, and fruit stand (you can get a list of vegies and fruits you can bring across from the american side Immigration). Friends here on the Ranch go there to have prescriptions filled at the pharmacia.  We eat at Los Comales, a couple of blocks off the square, which has cloth tablecloths and napkins.   You will see the occasional military jeep with federales cruising around with machine guns, but so far no problemo.   I don't speak much Spanish, but I get by okay.  Their speed limits are in kilometers.  I've felt spooked there a few times too.

[Windchime]

A stray bullet rolling around on the back seat floor can get you in mucho trouble in Mexico. Remeber a U.S. citizen a few years ago who attended a gun show in Laredo...bought a box of ammo. When he crossed over, they spied the box in plain view in the back of his SUV. Result: a Mexican jail for a few weeks.  The drug cartels can carry automatic weapons around and it does not cause them to blink, but a gringo with one bullet....JAIL.  I always walk over to OJ since GEICO will not cover me once I hit the middle of the bridge. Usually a taxi around who will take you up to the town square for $5 or so.  Not much to see, but can shop for booze, boots, etc.  Never had a problem with Customs, but usually carry my passport with me when I cross.

[Justin]

I've visited Ojinaga several times without incident.  We always took two trucks across, just in case one broke down while we were over there.  The drive into the main city center takes about 5 minutes, so I'm not sure I would want to walk.  It's not like other border cities in that aspect.  It does always seem that there is more military/police out when I've been to OJ, though I've never been stopped and one time I was driving the wrong way on a one way street when I drove right up to a military truck loaded with soldiers.  The customs officers on the US side seem to ask more questions than at other crossings, but with good reason.  After all, there isn't much to attract non-local people to OJ and the crossing is not that busy. An officer once told me he couldn't ever remember another vehicle with Arkansas tags crossing there. It is certainly not a tourist-oriented border city and it is rare to see other gringos.  We like to go to a place called the "Bikini Bar" which is right off the square where the staff and local customers are always very cordial.  All in all, it really is like an interior city and if you are comfortable with Spanish, you won't have any problems. I could see how someone who has not travelled Mexico much or has only been to tourist spots might get easily spooked in OJ.

[SHANEA]

An officer once told me he couldn't ever remember another vehicle with Arkansas tags crossing there.

I'm sure your info and lisc. plate is bouncing around in several databases...