Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. NiceGuy
If you have no problems, then "it's no problem." If you run into problems, there are no easy solutions. Once you are south of the border, you are on your own. A caravan with kindred spirits would provide a measure of safety, especially for mechanical breakdowns. However, this won't help much when confronting corrupt "authorities" or hardened criminals.
Mexico is in chaos because of the cartel wars. Corruption is out of control. Because law and order has collapsed, everyone can be an easy target of opportunity by anyone. Robbery, extortion, kidnapping, violence and murder have skyrocketed. These facts can not be denied. If you want to google around, there is lots of current information available that is not reported so much in the normal media. The reality of the situation sucks.
I'm pretty sure I'll get a lot of negative response from those of us who have loved going to Mexico for many years and even lifetimes, but the situation has deteriorated rapidly and dramatically in recent years. I mean no disrespect to anyone.
Common sense and personal safety for you and your loved ones should come first. I believe in calculated risks. That's always been a part of my life. I try to avoid foolish risks as much as possible. Please don't be naive.
Anyway, FWIW. I'm not your mother :-)
Good luck!
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No negative response from me. I like this kind of advice. After living down here for 4 years and traveling down here for 20 plus years, frankly, if not one more gringo comes down here, I'm fine with it. I will say this, for every negative report you hear about in your so called "normal" media, I can give you 10 examples of undeserved and unprompted kindness and generosity afforded to me by the Mexican people, which won't ever make the news. I leave my house unlocked with the door usually wide open. My truck is unlocked with the keys in it always. My boat, with $3000 of gear and electronics is parked in the open in my yard, almost always. Try that in Southern Cal. I drive at night and some night, I will hit a cow. Just a question of when. If I do, the next car that comes along will offer assistance, unless it's a gringo, and they will do what it takes to get me on my way. Even feed me and put me up for the night. I have never been shaken down by the policia and by the way my Spanish is embarrassingly horrible. Come on down and enjoy Baja and I will almost guarantee you that your worst experience will be how you are treated by your fellow Americans crossing back into the States.