Is Mexico Safe?

[TRIZUM]

Originally Posted by SchizzMan

I think of this as a universal aspect of organized crime. Not a good idea to ride down there and join a cartel.

ehh, you're probably right. I'll have to call and tell em to shred my resume.

[mark883]

Originally Posted by TRIZUM

ehh, you're probably right. I'll have to call and tell em to shred my resume.

Woo hooo! I just got called down for a follow up interview!

I just hope they don't follow up and verify my PhD from Hahvahrd.

[going south]

Originally Posted by mark883

I just hope they don't follow up and verify my PhD from Hahvahrd.

PHD......

That stands for Pretty Hilarious Dude..... right???

[Flagixxer]

Originally Posted by SchizzMan

I think of this as a universal aspect of organized crime. Not a good idea to ride down there and join a cartel.

Last year, while in Mexico, I had an opportunity to talk with a member of the Cartel. He was one of the guys who help dig the "many" tunnels under the Rio Grande. His advice.. Do Drugs? Buy Drug? Deal Drugs? Own money? Stay out of Mexico!! We had an opportunity to offer him something that money could not buy.. Hope he is still alive!!

[tricepilot]

It's Breakfast Taco time!



Tell me you're not hungry after watching that

[tricepilot]

[tricepilot]

Choice Cut of Mystery Meat?


From the link:

"The flank is located under the filet, along the sides of the beef. It is a cut of meat that benefits greatly from marinating. It can be used for fajitas, although arrachera is preferred. North of the border, it is used for London broil, but in Mexico it is the cut of choice for carne deshebrada (shredded meat) used to make the beef salad called salpicón, and in any number of cornmeal-based snack foods, such as taquitos and chalupas. The fatty piece under the falda is the panza or pancita, sometimes used to make a rather fatty stew called mole de panza. Between the falda and the lower rump is the suadero, not usually found on charts and generally only cut to make tacos de suadero, most often found in Mexico City."

[subcomm]

Originally Posted by bajaburro

the bodys of 9 people were found hanging from a bridge in nuevo laredo mexico.5 men and 4 women.mexican athotities say also discovered were 14 headless bodies.14 severed heads were later found outside the mayors office in ice chests.is mexico safe?not for these unfortunate souls.

I saw these pics on Borderland Beat and it was horrible. It is a real shame that in many parts of this country it is complete anarchy. Hopefully one day it will get better. Also keep in mind that there is a essentially a complete news blackout regarding the violence, very little of it is reported.

[PirateJohn]

Well ... I posted on my Facebook account that there had been several bodies hung from an overpass in Nuevo Laredo not far from where I regularly traveled.

The bad guys are sending a message that they don't want you to work with their competition or you will get a closed coffin funeral. For us tourists that message is understood and not at all hard to comply with.

Gruesome deaths to send a message aren't new in Mexico - several US outlaws had their heads left on poles near the border during the 1800's as a message that they weren't wanted en Mexico.

For that matter, gruesome death for extraordinary crimes has a history in Anglo Saxon culture - the last person drawn and quartered in England was executed sometime in the early 20th Century.

[PirateJohn]

Added: I see that the Nuevo Laredo murders have been discussed earlier. Honestly, I have heard that Boys Town had gotten a little hinky after Midnight (no first hand observations, alas ;) but by and large I feel pretty safe all around town, particularly considering the reputation of the place.

[tricepilot]

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

The bad guys are sending a message that they don't want you to work with their competition or you will get a closed coffin funeral. For us tourists that message is understood and not at all hard to comply with.

Gruesome deaths to send a message aren't new in Mexico

This is the view I hold.

Unless and until that message becomes "bring your Gringo ass to Mexico and we'll whack you as soon as you cross the borderline", in my view, and I may be the only one holding it, nothing at all has changed vis a vis the risk of travel in Mexico for the vagabond motorcyclist.

Absolutely, one can never get used to viewing these abhorrent news reports of hanging bodies and heads in ice chests, but the approach I take is to take is to judge the violence climate in the context of who is whacking who and why.

Others can and do take a different approach and/or might use the Nuevo Laredo incident as a "last straw" marker,....it doesn't matter because each rider's conclusion is right for them and nobody can be faulted for the view they adopt. One side or the other is not "nuts" for applying their personal formula of risk managment to international travel. What would be nuts would be not being comfortable traveling in Mexico and being talked into it.

[crashmaster]

Originally Posted by tricepilot

What would be nuts would be not being comfortable traveling in Mexico and being talked into it.

I dont completely agree with that. I have talked a few buddies into riding in Mexico and they were very uncomfortable with it, but after all my prodding and good natured jabs, decided to check their fear and go see for themselves. They had an irrational fear that the second they crossed the border they were likely to get shot. They didnt get kidnapped, shot at, nor get robbed at every street corner. They have been back numerous times since then and dont understand what everyone is so afraid of.

Living in fear is a very debilitating thing.

[bobobob]

Originally Posted by crashmaster

They have been back numerous times since then and dont understand what everyone is so afraid of.

Living in fear is a very debilitating thing.

Media hysteria is very profitable.

[acejones]

I'm not going to try to talk anyone into riding anywhere if the are uncomfortable. I don't want to be riding with people who are worried or uneasy. That just complicates my ride.

[PirateJohn]

I agree with what Trice wrote and what Crashmaster wrote with the caveat that while I personally don't get too excited about the perceived danger I wouldn't force someone that was fearful of flying to get on an airplane.

As far as violence selling newspapers that was quite true when I was living in McAllen. At every mention of violence across the border sales went up dramatically as people read the reports for one reason or another. Good news doesn't make you concerned about your relatives but bad news sure does.