There was a time that when I read the ravel warnings I just ignored them. My thoughts were that I lived in Sonora ,a peaceful place. Sure we had a few killings in HMO but there is nowhere in Mexico without some activity. They were targeted killings. Beginning about 18 months ago our Mexican friends started to tell us that Sonora was changing. They no longer drove on 15 to visit family in Sinaloa. One family has 4 family members that are truckers. 2 of them were stopped by gangs. Told to hand over their wallets and shoes. The gangs left with the truck and trailers. This has become so common place that truckers travel those areas in some sort of convoy. Buses are stopped and everyone hands over their valuables. These are mostly common criminals. Far more dangerous than cartels. If you don't do drugs and stay away from bars after dark you wont encounter cartels. But the wanabees don't care that you are a tourist. They are armed and looking to add a notch in their belts (or guns). I don't ever remember a travel warning for hwy 15. Nor one for San Carlos. For us this is getting close to home. The police do not respond nor interfere in these criminal actions. We have a new to us RV for travelling south in Mexico. In the spring we decided not to go beyond SC. Now we will not ravel beyond HMO. Nor will we take the back way to Penasco. Things are changing and I really do not care if San Diego is bad. Briansue ( whatever happened to him?) would post all those statistics. If New York is more dangerous than Mexico does that make it OK to travel in Mexico? The Mexican feds are turning a blind eye to all that is happening. I think everyone should open their eyes and ask Real Mexicans about the changes.
Moisheh
