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I Hear You Knocking But You Can’t Come In
Nogales, Arizona
2022

Another architectural feature of downtown Nogales, which abuts the international border with Mexico.  Immigration issues abound on our southern border, but that fact is still operative suggests that this kind of fencing effort is at best of dubious effect. To twist a phrase, it’s just putting ugly lipstick on an already ugly problem.

Not What It Used to Be
Nogales, Arizona
2022

There is a lot of the “not what it used to be” going on with the buildings in downtown Nogales. This former Woolworth store is now simply called La Tienda (the store).

Love for Lease
Nogales, Arizona
2022

Thanks to Cole Porter, I’ve heard of love for sale; in Nogales however, money can’t buy you love, you can only lease it.

The streets of downtown Nogales were quite empty the day I was walking around photographing so it was quite serendipitous that I was able to capture this amazingly color-coordinated woman passing by at just the right time.

Stupid Is as Stupid Does
Nogales, Arizona
2022

All Agog
Nogales, Arizona
2022

On the north edge of Nogales, there is a fairly recent, thriving area containing all the big box stores, restaurants, and other retail locations you can find in just about any city of consequence in the country anymore. It’s a very crowed place to even try to drive around in. That of course means that business in old town Nogales is anything but thriving or crowded. I prefer to spend my time in these older, more neglected areas–that is, unless I need to buy something.

If It Is Electronics?
Nogales, Arizona
2022

The Acosta folks may well be very good at what they do, as looks can be deceiving. But I am perhaps to be forgiven if it comes across to me as more of a baling wire and chewing gum kind of repair place. I’m pretty well versed in those kinds of repairs myself.

Patriot’s Dream #75
Nogales, Arizona
2022

What’s more patriotic than locating next door to the local Democratic Party headquarters?

Patriot’s Dream #74
Nogales, Arizona
2022

Hilda’s American has quite a bit fewer than 50 states.

Which Side Are You On?
Nogales, Arizona
2022

Walking around Nogales, Arizona I realized, that not much seems to distinguish one side of the border from the other, at least language-wise. Wandering into a store invariably produced the greeting “hola”, with the staff quickly switching to English if I answered “hello.” Probably the same thing happens on the other side of the border, although I’ve not been there for almost 50 years. But I imagine if you drugged me and dropped me in the area without knowing which side of the fence I was on, it would take me a while to figure it out.

Another question of interest: is it more correct to say “which side of the border” or “what side of the border”? I believe in this instance “which” is correct, but there is strangely sparse advice on the issue compared to other grammar questions on the internet.

Stink Bomb
Livingston, Montana
2010

Found this oldie but goodie while noodling around in my past catalog of images. If you venture into this pit toilet, don’t say you weren’t warned!