As someone who has lived here for many years, all I can say is that I have not been directly affected by cartel violence. It is true about the black cloud that has always hung over Mexico. For some reason, we are made to be the underdog. I guess that is our lot in life.
I could care less about what the cartels do and how many of the low-life scum bags they or the military kill. All I wish is that the cartels paid their workers better wages so that they wouldn't be inclined to extort from small businesses and kidnap people who are trying to make an honest living. Those are the things that affect me.
The violence I can't control, and in reality, as much as we travel for work and pleasure via all forms of transportation including rving last year for 4 months in 11 states, and the many rv trips we take back and forth across the border, I doubt they are looking for me anyway. Maybe some nut hyped up on drugs who is desperate for money. The way I see it, it could happen anywhere in the Americas.
I am not trying to antagonize anyone, or get a thread closed. It is only that there is so much to experience in other places and we have the vehicle to do it in (in most cases) and the fact that the continent is free to travel. I've never quite grasped the division between Canada the U.S. and Latin America. One continent and we don't even have a working agreement to help each other.
Why not shore up the American continent, eliminate poverty, grow education, economic prosperity and reduce illegal immigration. To heck with the rest of the world, lets clean up our house first. We really need cooperation between the countries in America. But, I guess there isn't anything here that anyone wants and goodwill doesn't seem to be worth much anymore unless there is a buck to be made.
I doubt most of us who go down year after year are discouraged by bad publicity. Its almost a balancing act. In some ways many of us are glad that enough people are discouraged that we find it easy to get rv spots, but on the other hand we don't want them going out of business either.
We also travel extensively in Mexico (7 Yrs) and have had zero problems. I'm not concerned as such, but I have a friend who lives in Chapala and he says a lot of his acquaintances are talking about leaving because of the "troubles". I haven't seen anything on the radar that would seem to be a problem or a danger to tourists, but just wondering if someone here could enlighten us on the "why" ?
We're already contemplating what parts of Mexico to visit this Nov-April and have no active concerns. Thanks, RYV
Many of our very experienced Mexico travel adventure friends have stopped driving in northern Mexico. Some have 40 years of experience and usually have spent 1-2 months in Mexico over each winter. Many are fluent Spanish speakers. The few who are going are flying from the states to the Yucatan, renting a vehicle and touring around that area with no problems. In fact at our recent national convention with 1100 attending there were two talks advising the above. Not worth it many say, as there are too many other places to go. There have been too many close calls with people shot not far away. Who wants to be caught in a cross-fire.
I have noticed a drop in RV'ers over the last couple of years, but many parks you still need to reserve a year in advance. Laguna del tule you almost need to reserve 2 years in advance. The fact of the matter is that if you like being by the ocean and warm without tsking out a second mortgage, you can't beat Mexico. There are ways to make it safer like traveling in small groups. I certainly can't come up with any reason to stop wintering there.
It's not Mexico anymore, it is everywhere. Show me a place where rvers don't pack a gun. Show me a city where the crime rate, gangs, cartels, drugs, and illegal weapons don't rule. We were invited to Chicago this summer. I said no way. 280 murders so far this year in one city, gangs, police with bullet proof vests and big guns just like here in Mexico. What's the difference. Friends living in England, France and Greece all reporting the same thing. It is the wave of the future. Guns, drugs and easy money. I don't want to be in some campground where some nut gets drunk or is high on drugs and gets crazy.
I know Mexico, why should I go into new territory and risk my life. I'll stay here in the good ole U.S. of Mexico, at least I know they aren't after me.
And RockyRoadCamper, please be careful if you are going to take your flight from Nashville (83 short miles from Browder, KY shown in your profile). See this Link for a google search of bad things happening near you. I am sure you don't want to get caught by a stray bullet or the other concerns in your post.
I suspect this thread will soon go south, so i will say my peace quickly.
Life is full of risks. You have more chance of being killed in a road accident or your own bathtub than you do in Mexico. You can sit at home and feel safe or you can get out and live your life. Personally i prefer to do the latter, and so do many others here. I have been here in England for a month. Probably been in at least 6 Cathedrals. They are all full of dead bodies, in crypts and under the floors. It hit home to me, that we all end up there eventually. I am betting the ones who take chances and get out and live, and maybe on average die a bit earlier, were far more fullfilled than the ones who always played it safe.
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