The story just hit Yahoo Mexico in Spanish. Same scary headline. We're all human beings and attracted to the negative, nature of the species.
I'm starting to think it is a waste of time to post on the forum. We have run into a ton of rvers in Mexico who never even heard of Rv.Net or the Mexico forum and could care less. Most people who have never traveled outside their country would have problems understanding anything else. Those who have a flag wrapped around them will never give up the slogan, "too much to see in this great "enter the country of choice".
Just like my blog which I closed yesterday, it was about living and boondocking in Mexico. Those who live in Mexico pestered me about where to find cheddar cheese, organic peanut butter or how to get U.S. television channels and wonder why people in stores and government offices don't speak English. Those that rv and fulltime said the blog never really dealt with rving. We spent four months last year rving (mostly boondocking) in Mexico. I guess they might have been looking for rv park info such as cable tv, 100 amp service, doorstep pizza delivery, and English speaking persons on every corner, we don't know about any of those things and really don't care about them either. We rv in Mexico.
My point is that if you don't travel here, make an attempt to speak the language, insist on sticking close to your own kind (ex-pat communities), pay attention to travel alerts issued by your home country which by the way will always wish you never traveled abroad, and read the news as it is posted in this thread, you will never feel safe traveling anywhere outside your confines.
Mexico is Mexico and what is happening here is not just Mexico's fault. It is a double edged sword. What you read in the news for the most part is true, but the rest of the story is never told. I dare not make comparisons to other countries because in the case of Mexico people will say it doesn't count.
All I can tell people is that we have learned to live around this problem. It doesn't or hasn't affected me yet and driving to Yosemite would take weeks not to mention the ever rising gas prices in the U.S., hassles crossing the border into the U.S., so we choose to rv here close to home. It is a personal decision just like staying in a Flying J, rest stop or on BLM land.
I truly believe that in the northern countries people are rving under a sense of false security. It is just a matter of time, money is the guiding force and sooner or later all humans fall to its attraction.
This discussion will end in a political debate, and with the closing of this thread.
That does not happen in countries worldwide, except there is war. This is a particular problem with the border of Mexico to the United States.
In recent years, many mass graves of this type were found along the border with the United States. Most of the people killed have nothing to do with drugs and come from many countries of Central America.
They are victims of the tractor from people demanding money to bring them illegally into the United States. In the deserts to the border they are killed, a human life is worth nothing for the tractor.
But this has nothing to do with an RV - Forum and brings no real new insights ...
Ingrid + Werner
Class A RMB700 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Diesel chassis 416CDI
Munich/Germany
"Just like my blog which I closed yesterday, it was about living and boondocking in Mexico. Those who live in Mexico pestered me about where to find cheddar cheese, organic peanut butter or how to get U.S. television channels and wonder why people in stores and government offices don't speak English."
You are correct. However, this goes both ways.
Mexicans who reside in the US are always looking for Tortillas, Chorizo, etc., they watch Spanish TV programs and, by law, the US is required to provide Spanish for those who need it.
"My point is that if you don't travel here, make an attempt to speak the language, insist on sticking close to your own kind (ex-pat communities),............."
Would you offer the same advice to Mexicans in the US? The ESL mandated programs are necessary in the US because parents do not learn English nor teach their children the language. Have you ever seen Barrios in the US?
I suppose I fall into the 'Ugly American' category because I would not dream of traveling to Mexico without a six month supply of US toilet paper or Mayonnaise made with Olive oil. I also admit that I watch American TV through Direct TV.
However, I am sure the Mexicans will forgive these indiscretions because I also bring about $24,000.00 USD to spend each year (6-7Months) to compensate for my impertinence.
Hmmm, how much do those Mexicans, crossing the border, bring to support the American economy? Oops, I digress!
Chris you have always been a great help to those traveling to Mexico and are a wonderful resource. You keep directing Americans to the Cheddar and I’ll direct Mexicans to the Chorizo Aisle.
Have a good day
* This post was
edited 03/11/12 10:43am by we_rv *
we_rv I agree on each and every point but I never said anything about an ugly American nor was it implied.
I do disagree though on the thinking that Mexicans don't contribute to the financial wealth of the U.S. There will always be takers and bums in every society and I personally believe that many illegals (not all)from all countries fall into that category. Studies have shown that approx. 40% of all human beings are lazy. On the other hand, there are many Mexicans that not only work in the U.S., but also own businesses (most recently in fact) providing jobs to Americans as well as their own countrymen. There are also many Mexicans who retire to the U.S. with their Mexican pensions. Not all Mexicans are poor in fact a teacher's pension is about 1500 dollars a month (I am a teacher) plus a 5000 dollar Christmas bonus. I have many friends who worked as secretaries, entry-level government jobs, teachers, small business owners who have Mexican SS checks from 15,000 to 32,000 pesos a month. More than enough for them to travel back and forth for months between countries.
McAllen, Laredo, San Antonio, San Marcos outlets and the RGV could not live without Mexicans who visit, vacation and work there during the non-Winter Texan months. We swarm to the border to do novelty shopping, going to SPI and many other activities including filling up private military and language schools. How many border Mexicans work on the Mexican side but live and own homes on the U.S. side paying property, income and sales tax. A huge contributor to the border communities.
Regarding toilet paper, I can understand. After 27 years I have tired of using corn husks as it is not a suitable substitute and I may fall prey to Charmin but Charmin made in Mexico
Although rving is just a small drop in the bucket for the Mexican economy (a niche market), I would hope someday though that Mexico follow the same rules on food products entering the country that the U.S. does. I've never understood bringing six months worth of food with you when it is all fresh product and super super cheap here in Mexico.
'Ugly American' was italized. should have included a smiley emoticon.
"Although rving is just a small drop in the bucket for the Mexican economy (a niche market), I would hope someday though that Mexico follow the same rules on food products entering the country that the U.S. does. I've never understood bringing six months worth of food with you when it is all fresh product and super super cheap here in Mexico. "
Vegetables, yes, they are the moderators of any discussion about Mexico. However, meat, fowl or fish may, occasionally, need the assistance of the forum Moderator.
This year we visited "the Valley" where vegetables are grown and could not believe the quality/price of the produce.
We toured the farms and processing plant and the cleanliness of the facility was spectacular. As we watched the sorting and grading of the vegetables we could easily determine which were going to Whole Foods and those destined to Safeway.
We buy our veggies and fruit from the Central Market because the freshness of the produce there exceeds the supermarkets by 5X and US prices by 10X.
Perhaps you missed this line - - "no signs of violence"?
Obviously you missed the sarcasm. And it's 'Old-Biscuit'
Violence is everywhere. Some places worst than others.
The great thing is everyone has choices. I have been to Mexico many times.......use to go bird hunting (quail/dove) down in the Milo & Sesame Seed fields for years.
I choose NOT to go anymore.....the violence has gotten to the extreme and unfortunately is NOT confined to drug cartel/criminals....just like it has done in the US.
I choose NOT to place myself & loved ones in that environment there or here either. I also choose NOT to place myself in a situation just because of being a gringo to have to pay bribes or be threatened. At least here in the US I have options available to me that I must forfeit when I cross the border.
Where others travel is their choice.....and great. I'm glad that people have the ability to make a choice.
To do so with one's eyes closed or their head in the sand thinking "It won't/can't happen to me" is stupid.
Be informed, choice wisely, do what is comfortable........and if it isn't.....GET OUT.
No one has ever suggested that anyone who does not choose to go to Mexico should change their opinion. You choose not to go - don't go.
The point of my original post and so many other posts on this forum has to do with how ridiculous so much of what we see/hear/read in the news can be. It also has to do with what any of this cartel craziness has to do with tourists. It also has to do with are there really any statistics that indicate that - other than the cartels - there is more crime or violence in MX than in the US - NOTE - I said other than the cartels.
I have read the stories about how someone got hassled by police - many of them for many years. In 40 years of travel in Mexico I have never been hassled by police - never - not ever. But I have been hassled by police in the US. I know it is certainly possible to be hassled by police in MX but I never have - nor can I recall ever meeting anyone who was actually hassled by police.
I have never witnessed, encountered, experienced, crime of any kind in MX. I know it happens as it does everywhere.
So it bothers me that we read these headlines and these reports which have nothing to do with tourists or RVers yet they are reported on this RV forum about Mexico because they happen in Mexico.
So, since many choose not to go places because they feel the risks are unacceptable, why does their list of places not to go not include places like California, New York, Florida, Washington,DC - where the risks could be just as great or greater than in Mexico. Keep in mind that it is still a well known fact that almost all the crime and violence and killings and so on - in Mexico - are cartel people doing bad things to other cartel people - not to ordinary citizens. In LA a guy walks into a beauty salon and klls 7 people. In Denver a guy walks into an IHOP and kills a bunch of people. These stories and a great many more happen all over the US everyday. My head is not in the sand - it is quite clear and quite focused on the facts. I do not allow the fear mongering sensationalism of the so-called "media" (idiots) cause me to suspend my life and keep me from doing things I enjoy.
So if you do not enjoy going to Mexico no one would ever suggest that you should. But please - to all of those who feel such a great need to come on this forum and spread stories which are either not true - rumor - gossip - speculation - hearsay - or whatever - please provide factual supportable information and specifically let us all know where these facts can be found. The rest of much of what we hear is just nonesense.
Right, I just saw it on local news here in Monterrey. Dates back to pre-hispanic era. There is still lots of speculation from the 50s PRI era when many disappeard to a guerilla group that existed during that time. Who knows, we humans like to modify history to make it fit an agenda. Time will tell.
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