Into the Beautiful North

Chuy does not return. After nine hours of being stranded, another bus comes by and takes a few travelers who are willing to stand to Tijuana. Nayeli is ashamed at her own body odour because back in Tres Camarones, she always smelled sweetly, with American soap. When they reach the American border, they are surprised that it looks the same. Tacho remarked, "It just looks like more Mexico" (86).

Once they disembark the bus, the Tres Camaronians discover that their bags have disappeared. Their naïveté appears ever thicker when Vampi gets her period. All of her feminine products are in her missing bag, so she asks Nayeli for something. All Nayeli has is a tampon and Vampi had never used one before. She is frightened.

They are amused by the spectacle of Tijuana, and end up in a restaurant where they have their first beers. The waiter knows exactly why they are there and that they are from the South. He warns them to watch themselves, that the girls will need Coyotes to cross the border, and he advises them to get passports.

Nayeli tries to phone Chavarin (Aunt Irma's contact) but the operator tells her that his phone number has not existed since 1964.