Playa del Carmen! I drove through there a dozen times, back in the eighties, running between the Cancun airport and the beaches of Tulum. We would rent a car at the Cancun airport and in fact I fueled up in Playa del Carmen several times, no Problema. Alas, that was 30 years ago. Looks like times have changed.
localdirt you went to Mexico 36 times, damn! You beat my record. I went down 9 times for a total of six months. My first trip, I was a 19 year old kid, drove by myself from Atlanta to the coast right at Isla Mujeres, where Cancun now is. In 1970 Cancun did not exist. Took the ferry and spent a month on Isla Mujeres getting to know some American tourist girls. Tourist girls liked the Wild Georgia Boy. Sandy beach under a full moon at midnight, a big beach towel...
Mexico was a great place to visit back then.
But times have changes I ain't going back.
Simon, I hear you. No good reason to go back now. Cartels own the govt.
Slaves get what they need. Free men get what they want.
Quite true, ironically. Gringos with lots of money buy all the dope Mexico can send across the Rio Bravo. Take away the Gringo dopers and Mexico would be a pretty nice country.
If you got rid of the Mexicans I'm sure it'd be tits.
Why would anybody with a couple of brain cells to rub together go anywhere on the wetback reservation on purpose? I have zero sympathy for anybody that stupid who dies in the process.
Well I don't agree with the zero sympathy part of your statement.. but do agree with why the hell anyone would want to go to Mexico. In the military while stationed in Texas, I've been down on the border several times, and then in recent times, been down on old US 80 in California, that skips right along the Mexican border.. but had no desire to cross over into Mexico, even tho I was a 100 yds from it... or less.
I've been in Mexico ONE time and that was when I worked for a company, that had their annual sales meeting in Acapulco for 10 days. I asked the company if I could avoid attending, as I had NO desire to go to Mexico. They told me, yeah, I could skip it, but I'd be fired instantly. SO I went. Spent time around the people on the street and beach. We were at the Princess Hotel outside of town, the one that Howard Hughes bought when they wanted him to leave.
I had no problem with the people down there. BUT this was back in 1987. We were told NOT to go out on the beach in the early morning or late evening. The reason why? Here's an example.. ONE of the company employees loved the beach there and wanted to go out and go running as the sun came up. He ran from the hotel, out onto the beach, wearing a hooded sweat shirt and running shoes. He made it about 100 yds past the hotel, and was suddenly surrounded by a fair number of Mexican Marine Police, carrying Uzis. He was knocked to the ground, and his face shoved into the sand, while they call some sort of officer in charge. He was frisked, while waiting, still face first in the sand. The Officer in Charge, shows up and they stand him up.. and realized he wasn't Mexican but American. The OiC, spoke English and asked him if he wasn't instructed not to run on the beach, much less even be there, when it was dark or early morning. He said yeah, but he thought it looked safe enough.
he was escorted back the hotel lobby's front desk. Still escorted by a couple of the Marine Police, still carrying their Uzis. He was handed over to the Hotel Manager on duty, and was told once again, to stay off the beach between certain hours, due to the level of crime. Scared the crap out of him. For the rest of the time there he was preaching "Stay off the beach in Morning and Evening and at night!"
Loved the local people in Mexico, but I have no desire to ever go back. I had no idea either that we had to pay an exit fee at the Airport, to LEAVE Mexico. They only took cash. I didn't have any cash left on me either. Thank Goodness a fellow passenger, paid for me and my Girl Friend to leave. As soon as the plane landed in Houston I went to the ATM with the lady in tow, and reimbursed her...
I'd never willingly cross the border into Mexico at all. You ain't no longer in Kansas, when you leave this country... and any third world country, doesn't care if you are an American, or anything else.
"Minus the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the Country" Marion Barry, Mayor of Wash DC
“Owning guns is not a right. If it were a right, it would be in the Constitution.” ~Alexandria Ocasio Cortez
There are places in the USA you don't want to be around after dark.
But if my local town is an example.... Most people I run into that are from south of the border, seemed to appreciate the USA and being here, much more than the average democRAT.... They stand on their soap boxes and spout how bad the USA is and how its not like the rest of the world... They need to Thank God, we are not like the rest of the world.
Even in Canada, listening to our Canadian campfire members, one can get arrested in Canada and locked up, with the key thrown away, for even words saying they don't like some minority. Thank Justin Trudeau for that. Remember he's the son of Fidel Castro.
I lived in Europe, 60 years ago for 3 years of my youth. I'd still feel safer there than even in Canada, from what I hear of it now. IN 2000 to 2003, I worked in both Canada and the USA for a Canadian Medical Company as a regional manager. I wouldn't want to do that again, from what I hear from posters on the Canadian side of the border.
We are still sorta safe here.... But I'm all in favor of our democRATS traveling to such countries as Mexico. They can have ALL the democRATS they want...or can stomach.
"Minus the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the Country" Marion Barry, Mayor of Wash DC
“Owning guns is not a right. If it were a right, it would be in the Constitution.” ~Alexandria Ocasio Cortez
Did three plant start ups in Saltillo and Torreon. Always condition yellow, but generally felt safe. Finished the last plant start up right before Thanksgiving. Few weeks later, sister plant was having a Christmas celebration. Narcos broke in. Shot the place up. 5 dead. 10-12 in the hospital. Sobering...
In January found out that the Narcos shot up the wrong plant. They were supposed to "send a message" to someone in the plant next door. Bottom line, in today's Mexico you can do everything "right" and still get smoked...
Horrible place!!! Shiity coues deer, the fishing sucks, everyone wants to rob or kill you, stay home, don’t support the drug cartels!!!
Ping pong balls for the win. Once you've wrestled everything else in life is easy. Dan Gable I keep my circle small, I’d rather have 4 quarters than 100 pennies.
Aren't all you fear mongers even a little bit ashamed of yourselves? Some of you have never even been there--or not for decades.
.
We were in Isla Mujeres a few months ago. Twice to Xtapa? the year before. We (Us and another couple) felt safe enough (perhaps foolishly) to walk out at night to resturants within a half mile or so, getting "home" before 8 pm.. Been 8-10 times over the years in Mexico, same Hawaii, 4 times Costa Rica, once each NZ and Australia.
Ain't going back to any of them ever again, just because I am done traveling for "vacation". I'd rather be home. (Well, Maybe Hawaii just to end the nagging....) I loved Mazetlon, and felt safe there, but that was 10-15 years ago and if then were now, I'd go back (travel prejudice excepted). At that time the cartels weren't fuggin with the tourist trade much - they are now. Yeah, M is in Sinola...
In Tanzania, we had to go to a mall to a bank for cash. Our guide hovered within arm's reach, with concern rolling off him in waves...... But hell- it was his tip money.
Why would anybody with a couple of brain cells to rub together go anywhere on the wetback reservation on purpose? I have zero sympathy for anybody that stupid who dies in the process.
"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
I'm currently eyeballing a fishing trip to La Paz for next year. Panama is already booked for next year. Wife wants to head back to Costa Rica. No worries here.
Simonkenton7: I would NEVER vacation in Mexico. Sad that these young people suffered a horrific death/murder/torture - the mexicans would have to go WAY out of their way to TRY to get their murderous hands on me! May those young folks rest in peace and their families gain solace. Hold into the wind VarmintGuy
Aren't all you fear mongers even a little bit ashamed of yourselves? Some of you have never even been there--or not for decades.
Is this a joke or maybe you are?
I was there last April. Walked across the border in Otay Mesa, drove down through TJ to Rosarito in an armored van. Walked back across later that day.
I'd never go back again. Maybe that experience isn't recent enough but the people that live/work there, built the plant I was visiting saw fit that they required the armored car for movement through the area and the live there every day - why would I be so arrogant as to argue with them about the situation in their own yard/city?
