On a recent assignment to Nogales, Sonora, Mex., I noticed the most important subjects were missing: the shoppers. This alley, few steps away from Avenida Obregon, is usually filled with shoppers from "el otro lado," according to Maria, a vendor stationed near the alley who refused to give her last name.
Maria remembered a time when a "puente," or long weekend, would bring in countless shoppers from the United States and fill the entire shopping area near the border.
Look closely to the photo above. The only people in the alley are vendors and their buddies, most of whom quickly turned their Spanish slang into, "Come on in, we have good price for you," as soon as I walked by.
So what happened to all of the shoppers? "It all started when the twin towers went down," Maria said. She blames the higher security measures and the "bad publicity" that Nogales has been receiving since September 11, 2001 for her slow sales. Though other shop owners didn't say why, they also noted that the absence of shoppers was pretty odd for a long weekend.
Talking about American shoppers, this article on about.com provides a "guide" for spending a day in Nogales and includes bartering tips and dining recommendations, which I suggest you read, but don't necessarily follow. Instead, experience the sights, sounds and flavors on your own. Pick up some antibiotics on your way out (just in case the seafood you ate was sitting out a bit too long) and say hi to Maria for me.
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