Pre-COVID, is used to visit TJ 3-4 times a year for a 4-day jaunts. I could gather all of my BA buds, and even my out-of-state pals who were happy to get out of the cold or heat.
Due to inflation in general, and "Mexinomics" (i.e. raising prices to make up for decreased volume), it's not the bargain it was.. prices for an arriba in the clubs is now north of $120, factoring in the fichas and the room.
The street selection is way down, the HK Oligopoly is crushing other venues, and imposing monopoly pricing on all of the HK Brands (Chevalas, Cascadas, HK etc).
Savvy mongers with good Spanish are cutting out the middleman with Telegram groups, but my Spanish has decayed to where It's a struggle.
Some things have gotten better .. the Gastro quarter, the Brewpubs, Telegram/Escort chicas are a good way of getting out of the Zona, which can be downright depressing after a while.
I contrast that with a rocking, socking AAMP experience at an hour's notice, 15 minutes from my door.
Yes, there's a big difference having a wide selection of 20-something Criollas with whom you can have a basic chat in her native language, vs a middle-aged hi-volume scripted trick turner, to whom you have zero common language and culture.
I'm laying out the pros and cons, not kvetching .. sometimes things have run their course, you just have to know when.
I can anticipate some responses .. enroll in a Spanish course, do more research, plan non-hobby activities.
I'm looking for arguments for or against.
Thanks.
