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Keep a sense of humor, bargain hard, and remember: what you see is what you get. You may find some lovely folk art, a decent leather purse, and fine silver jewelry (see Avenida Revolución).

This large outdoor shopping mall features Dorian’s and Sara’s department stores, where you can find inexpensive clothes and specialty and service shops.

If you’re walking over the border, wander through these shops first to get an idea about prices. Treasures exist amidst the vast amounts of pottery, glass-ware, blankets, and baskets.

Strolling through Tijuana’s open-air food market is an amazing education in exotic fruits, herbs, and chilies. Indoor shops sell housewares and the largest piñata collections ever seen.

The best folk art shop on Revolución carries a fine selection of alebrijes , which cost far more in the US, and Ken Edwards earthenware from Tlaquepaque.

Although they don’t have as much inventory as years past, you can still find glassware, Ken Edwards earthenware, and sculptures by the famed Mexican artist Sergio Bustamente.

Over 30 stores are devoted to the sandal, the mule, and the pump. Prices range from inexpensive to the still-affordable.

Some worthwhile folk art is hidden among a hodgepodge of Hummel figurines, assorted brica-brac, blown glass, and black clay pottery. They have a good collection of alebrijes .

Genuine Mexican silverwork is lovely. By law, it must have four identifying marks: “.925,” “Mexico,” a tax identification number of the company, and the initials of the city of origin. Anything else is fake.

The hundreds of pharmacies in Tijuana cater mostly to Americans forced over the border by obscene US drug prices. Technically, you must have a prescription and can only bring back a reasonable personal amount.