Monday, March 23, 2009

These guys really like wrestling





When I was a kid I wanted to be a wrestler too. My mom still laughs at me once in a while when she remembers. But then, just like that, I got over it.

But these guys didn't.

On the recent Wednesday night, behind the city's auditorium, where El Santo, El Perro Ahuayo and Tinieblas fought historic matches, 40 or so men were trying to get their wrestler license.

It was a grueling three-hour test that nobody passed.

These are some of the pictures of the guys, whose ages range from 17 to 34 or so. The guy in charge of signing off on the licenses told students to tell the teachers: “You guys are sending me sissies.”

Wrestling is not for sissies, as you can see in this video I did some time ago.

Wrestling hurts.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

tijuanenses fleeing violence...

All this violence in Tijuana reminded me of a recent story / video I did on the subject on how many more people are moving to San Diego for relative safety.


It used to be only the rich would / could move to San Diego. Many had papers or were US citizens. But these days, professionals or other middle class people are moving here, even if they have to do so illegally...

Unfortunately for them, they are not necessarily safe in San Diego, either...

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

16 bodies found in Tijuana

Unbelievable. It's early Monday morning. Several shots are fired in a middle-class Tijuana neighborhood. 16 bodies lay there, some seminaked, some missing tongues, and a sign that reads: 'this is what's going to happen to those who work with el ingeniero,' whose real name is Fernando Sánchez Arellano, the head of the Arellano Cartel or Cartel de Tijuana. Read the full story here. Photo by my friend David Maung.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Inmates say they are ok...

After several days of riots that led to the death of 24 inmates and dozens of injured, authorities offered this video to the media in which they ask the prisoners how they are doing.

What would you say if a prison official holding a camera asks you how you are doing? Here's what they said:



New Photos of Caos at Tijuana Prison

These are some of the photos I took while covering the riot. I was more focused on shooting footage, so the photos you see here were just taken very quickly.



Officer looks into a potential escape route






Smoke fills the air.











The buildings set ablaze three days earlier...
















A close-knit community.






Tuesday, September 23, 2008

New images inside penitentiary

Mexican authorities released a video of inmates talking on the phone, teleconferencing with family members, cooking in the kitchen, and overall showing that everything is under control.

But the day after they released the footage, an inmate died beaten to death. Four prisoners are suspected of committing the crime.

Hard to believe.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Man jumps border fence



Why dig a tunnel, as a good friend of mine recently asked, when you can jump the fence?

This guy should know. He fired himself from Tijuana to San Diego, and landed masterfully. Took the photo with my digital rebel.