A recent episode of the podcast The Wild Project stirred debate after guest “Zazza, the Italian,” a travel YouTuber, shared candid—and critical—thoughts about Tijuana.
During the discussion, Zazza recounted his visits to cities across Mexico, including Monterrey, Mexico City, and Tijuana. His comments about Tijuana were particularly pointed:
“Shit place, Tijuana. Poor people. I visited as a child with my parents; we stayed for just a couple of hours. I saw pregnant women with four kids on the street while I had toys from McDonald’s,” he said, also adding that, in his view, conditions in the city have worsened over time.
Zazza described Tijuana as “ugly” and “chaotic,” suggesting that while the city once had a tourist appeal, it now draws Americans primarily for activities like prostitution and drug use. He also noted that, despite Tijuana’s reputation for danger, tourists are generally not at risk: “The cartels fight among themselves for control, not against visitors.”
He also shared critical impressions of San Diego, which he visited during the same trip. He contrasted the city’s new buildings with the presence of people struggling with drug addiction:
“You look up and it’s amazing, all the new buildings. You look down and see a lot of people using hard drugs, like meth and fentanyl,” he said.
Zazza’s remarks have prompted discussion online about perceptions of border cities and the realities of life in Tijuana and San Diego.
