wayne49 said:
Prostitutes? Where and at what time were you in Algodones?
Obnoxious border guards? Not my experience. Universally obnoxious is TSA, that's been my experience.
I will tell you exactly. That was January this year. Av B on one of the street corners, north side. On my way back to the crossing.
As for the obnoxious border guards there is a particularly nasty black guard and I have had the misfortune to encounter him a couple of times. Also met a couple of very easy going guards too.
This is not unique to Algodones. I think my worst experience was in New York. I forget the airport. Kennedy I think.
I have a flag next to my passport in the system. So I am always taken to 2nd level questioning. After more than 20 years of this I am quite used to it. I have had guards try to help with advice (Miami) and even apologize. I have had a background search done by the FBI to see if it is them, that included fingerprints. Nope. The guards say they don't know where the flag is originating from.
Then you get the officious jackasses. The Mr Robotos. They treat you like some kind of criminal or are in the prison system.
I am not making this up I have been dealing with it for over 2 decades. Crossing at Algodones is not fun.
I am a world traveler. VERY experienced from USA, Europe, Russia and the far east. I know how this goes. For example in LA I am put into a locked room but treated very nicely. In NY the only thing missing is the handcuffs. Miami is a pleasure so is Dallas Fort Worth. Algodones I get rudeness and ungloved fingers rummaging around in my medicine bottles in the pills. If I say anything I am told to stand away from the desk and practically order me to attention. As I have said thank goodness they are not all like that.
This is what I have experienced. I am glad you have had a better experience. I stopped jumping on planes in 2017. Unfortunately I am not rich and so have to go to Algodones for dental work. If it was cheaper in the States I would never cross the border again.