Tijuana, Border metropolis in Baja California, Mexico.
Tijuana is a city in the Mexican state of Baja California, positioned directly at the border with California in the United States. The city spreads across hilly streets and wide avenues, with residential neighborhoods on uneven slopes, commercial zones near the main road, and a coastal strip that opens toward the Pacific Ocean.
The settlement grew from a ranch owned by a Mexican landholder family in the mid-19th century. After decades of gradual expansion, it gained city status in 1889, and later Prohibition in the United States brought waves of visitors seeking entertainment south of the border.
Street vendors and taco stands open from early morning until late evening, serving regional dishes prepared by families who have passed down recipes through generations. On weekends, markets fill with locals buying handcrafts and fresh food, while parks become gathering spaces where neighbors chat and children play throughout the day.
Main roads become crowded during peak hours, especially in the hours after sunrise and before sunset when commuters use the border crossings. Visitors exploring on foot should expect varying slopes in residential areas, while central zones tend to be flatter and easier to walk through.
A small museum near the city center displays the development of the border region through old photographs and handwritten documents that many visitors overlook. Outside the main urban area, several vineyards have been growing grapes for decades and now welcome visitors, though few travelers know about them.
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