% 619-685-4900 for 24-hour recorded info, % 619-233-3004 daily from 5:30 am to in .NET framework

Creating Data Matrix in .NET framework % 619-685-4900 for 24-hour recorded info, % 619-233-3004 daily from 5:30 am to

8:30 pm to speak with a real live person Weather For local weather and surf reports, call % 619-289-1212

The San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau s International Visitor Information Center (% 619-236-1212) is downtown on First Avenue at F Street, street level at Horton Plaza It can provide you with the slick, glossy San Diego Visitors Planning Guide, as well as a money-saving coupon book Open Monday through Saturday from 8:30 am to 5 pm, plus Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm June through August

Tijuana (tee-wah-nah), the fourth largest city in Mexico, lies just half an hour south of San Diego If you asked us, of course, we wouldn t go there on a bet And yet, we would tell you to go Why Well, for starters, you ve never been, and at all times, we re in favor of new experiences, to say nothing of any opportunity to cross any border It s just that Tijuana is hardly the best that Mexico has to offer, and it s hardly the most authentic Mexican experience It s a tourist trap of mass-produced crafts, knockoffs, and other dubious goods, and in between, there is mucho drinking going on (it s a sacred destination for rowdy frat boys) But it s an experience, to be sure, and easy to be had Getting to Tijuana from San Diego is simple and inexpensive, but beware: The crossing at the border takes longer and longer Driving is also a bad idea because of the following: US auto insurance, as well as many rental-car agreements, isn t valid across the border Traffic is terrible in Tijuana Getting through customs and back across the border can be more difficult if you re on your own Having an accident in Mexico, major or minor, is a bad idea

Note: Although a passport won t be required of US citizens traveling overland from Mexico until January 1, 2008, carrying yours will speed up your return across the border Be sure to at least have your driver s license handy

Leave your car behind instead and hop aboard the San Diego Trolley (% 619-685-4900 or 619-233-3004; wwwsdcommutecom), nicknamed the Tijuana Trolley for good reason Get off at the last stop in San Ysidro From there, just follow the signs to walk across the border The one-way fare for the 40-minute trip is $250, and the trolleys run constantly, with the last return from San Ysidro after midnight On Saturday nights (or should we say Sun mornings) there are two or three trolleys that run between midnight and 5 am because the schedule changes frequently, call and confirm as after a night in Tijuana, the trolley stop is probably the last place you want to hang out Or leave your car at one of many border parking lots, which cost $8 to $10 for the day Most lots are just a block or two away from the pedestrian walkway into Tijuana Exercise caution, especially after dark, and don t be one of the last cars left After you re in Tijuana, getting around by walking or taking a taxi is easy Tijuana s main event is bustling Avenida Revolucion, the city s original bawdy center for illicit fun Changing times and civic improvement have toned it down a bit; shopping and drinking are now the main order of business If a marketplace atmosphere and bargaining are what you re looking for, head to Mercado de Artesanias (Crafts Market), at Calle 2 and Avenida Negrete, where vendors of pottery, clayware, and other crafts fill an entire block Before you go, get information and maps from Baja California Tourism Information, 7860 Mission Center Court #202, in Mission Valley (% 800-522-1516, 800-225-2786, or 619-299-8518; wwwbajamexicovacationscom)