Mainland Mexico is largely still devoid of American cultural assimilation despite the fact that the local Mexicans like to wear cowboy boots and New York Yankee baseball jackets. They are still devout catholics (mostly), are disarmingly freindly and can party like its 1982. However, as soon as you tread foot upon Baja California (especially Baja California Norte), the proximity of the USA and the influence of American culture is alarming and in your face. There are big diesel SUVs (with San Diego and LA license plates) everywhere, all the restaurants sell hamburgers and not hamburguesas or other more traditional Mexican fare and the friendliness of the locals is replaced by dollar- hungry pushiness. I have dubbed this area Amerixico because its not America and its not Mexico.