Road Trip, vol. 8

January 16, 1933 The next morning we drove into Mexico to see what there was to be seen. The Mexican authorities examined us at the border but all they did was just look at us and then motion for us to go on. The town of Tia Juana (sic) is only three or four miles across the border, and quite a while before we got there we began to see many beer and whiskey signs. In fact, they were about the only signs to be seen at all. About all we saw in the town were bars and saloons with a few stores and hotels sandwiched in between them. We drove through the town and went on to Rodriquez Dam, which is about 15 miles from the border. It is to be an irrigation dam, apparently, though work had seemingly just started on it and was going forward at a very slow pace. Going out to the dam we had to stop at two more Mexican inspection posts though all they did was just wave at us to go on. At the second post which was only a half a mile from the dam, we saw about half a dozen soldiers. all of them armed with heavy rifles and sidearms. We supposed they were there just to inspect trucks to try and stop contraband goods, perhaps rifles and ammunition.

On the way back to Tia Juana we stopped at Agua Caliente, which is a large racing and gambling center built up entirely by American interests. It was built up on a hilly desert where practically nothing would grow. They had transformed it into a really pretty place and had developed it into a very popular resort. We were there on Monday, which is the only day when races are not held, and so we could see nothing beyond a few racehorses warming up on the track. It is said the place cost several million dollars and is a very popular resort.

Then we drove back to Tia Juana and stopped in a curio store. There were about half a dozen women clerks there who paid absolutely no attention to us so far as we could see. However, they were speaking in their native tongue so we could not tell what they were saying. We bought a few things and paid for them, receiving change in our own money, but when we asked if they had Mexican money, we found that they had only a few pennies that they sold for souveniers, otherwise their exchange was wholy in American money. This gives just about the true light on the town. It is Mexican, but is for the Americans' benefit only.

When we drove back into the United States we were inspected by U.S. authorities, though all he did was to glance through the car and ask us if we had purchased any merchandise, and then allowed us to go on and so we were on our native soil again.

That afternoon we visited Balboa Park and viewed the museum there. There was a very interesting animal display containing all the birds and animals common to that territory. There were also many more objects of interest. The park was an old exposition ground and had vegetation of many different climates there. Most of the buildings on it had been put up hurriedly some years ago and most of them were unsafe now. The walls were constructed so that they seemed to be made of concrete but upon tapping them with our hands, we found them to be only plaster and board construction.

We went to Chula Vista in the evening