US State Department issues warning

I too am amazed that people here in the US really know so little about the country right next door.

I have not only traveled to countries far more dangerous on a daily basis than Mexico but have lived in them and done business.

Mexico has a terrible problem with Crime and Drugs and Gangs, but so do many other countries. Nigeria, Cambodia, Thailand...it didnt stop the 26 MILLION tourists who visited Thailand last year. Including millions of Americans...Russia, Brazil, South Africa and I could go on and on.

These sorts of crimes rarely touch tourists unless they are somehow involving themselves in those activities that connect with the drug trade.

I come to this forum often hoping to read things about Mexico from RV'ers who are there or who have just returned. I was hoping that more people who make the trip south would write about it. Letting us know the good places to stop the prices, the great places they ate. That rarely happens. Most posts seem to be the same things from the same small group of people. What could be one of the most lively areas of this site is really quite dull and uninformative.

I think some posters are scared off by the So called "old Mexico Hands" on here and their posts and responses and some dont want to deal with the America vs Mexico argument that almost every post seems to devolve into.

It's a shame. I am hoping it will improve before I start south.

Tequila wrote:

briansue wrote:
I am among those who often comment on this sort of thing - mentioning crime statistics and events in the US. The point is simple but many continue to miss it. We do get posts here where people say they will not go to Mexico because it is dangerous. They seem to think there are no dangers in the US. Posts bringing up the dangers in the US are attempts to inform those who are unaware that crime happens in the US that these things can happen anywhere. And also to try to point out that incidents that happen in places like Waco do not mean that all of Texas is a war zone - or that the rest of the US is a war zone. Neither is Mexico all bad because of things that happen in certain specific places. There are many areas of Mexico we can safely travel. Bad things happen in every country in the world and these things can happen just about anywhere at any time to any one.

There are also those who find no need to travel anywhere but the US. Fine. We hope you all enjoy yourselves. But this is the forum for people who have some interest in travel in Mexico and NOT a forum for people who have misinformed opinions about Mexico to post negative comments about Mexico - letting us know how little they actually know. Those of us who do travel in Mexico - many of us for many many years - know why we find travel outside our culturally normal environment more interesting and educational. We know of nowhere in the US where we can visit pyramids and even climb them. We roam the streets of colonial cities. We hang out on amazing beaches. We eat food you will never find anywhere in the US. We see billions of butterflies. We expand our knowledge and understanding of the rest of the world - at least part of it.

How about some of you regular contributors to this forum posting some of the many reasons you enjoy visiting and traveling in Mexico - places we go. Post the many amazing things we find in Mexico that cannot be found in the US. No need for those who do not travel in Mexico to make comments here to show us all how uninformed you are.

Hard to argue with that. I have have made it a point to visit as many places on this planet as possible. I have been to about 60 countries at last count, including ones where you can now easily lose your head. People who stay in their own country tend to have a very narrow view of how the world really is. When you discover you are among the privileged 3 or 4 % on this planet, it puts life into a whole different perspective.

I used to get tired of the question and now I laugh about it when people say, "Aren't you afraid?" Afraid of what? Spiders? After all the things that have happened in other countries, I count my blessings everyday for the life I have, the experiences I have had and where I live.

My only regret is that I didn't start traveling to other countries outside of Mexico and the U.S. until 20 years ago. I've missed out on so much. Central/South America and the Caribbean have so much to offer. As I said before, I hope to rv in China and Australia some day soon.

You can watch NGO from the comfort of your chair and dream about it, or get out and do it. There's only one opportunity.

briansue wrote:
I am among those who often comment on this sort of thing - mentioning crime statistics and events in the US. The point is simple but many continue to miss it. We do get posts here where people say they will not go to Mexico because it is dangerous. They seem to think there are no dangers in the US. Posts bringing up the dangers in the US are attempts to inform those who are unaware that crime happens in the US that these things can happen anywhere. And also to try to point out that incidents that happen in places like Waco do not mean that all of Texas is a war zone - or that the rest of the US is a war zone. Neither is Mexico all bad because of things that happen in certain specific places. There are many areas of Mexico we can safely travel. Bad things happen in every country in the world and these things can happen just about anywhere at any time to any one.

There are also those who find no need to travel anywhere but the US. Fine. We hope you all enjoy yourselves. But this is the forum for people who have some interest in travel in Mexico and NOT a forum for people who have misinformed opinions about Mexico to post negative comments about Mexico - letting us know how little they actually know. Those of us who do travel in Mexico - many of us for many many years - know why we find travel outside our culturally normal environment more interesting and educational. We know of nowhere in the US where we can visit pyramids and even climb them. We roam the streets of colonial cities. We hang out on amazing beaches. We eat food you will never find anywhere in the US. We see billions of butterflies. We expand our knowledge and understanding of the rest of the world - at least part of it.

How about some of you regular contributors to this forum posting some of the many reasons you enjoy visiting and traveling in Mexico - places we go. Post the many amazing things we find in Mexico that cannot be found in the US. No need for those who do not travel in Mexico to make comments here to show us all how uninformed you are.

Hard to argue with that. I have have made it a point to visit as many places on this planet as possible. I have been to about 60 countries at last count, including ones where you can now easily lose your head. People who stay in their own country tend to have a very narrow view of how the world really is. When you discover you are among the privileged 3 or 4 % on this planet, it puts life into a whole different perspective.

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."

- Saint Augustine

I am among those who often comment on this sort of thing - mentioning crime statistics and events in the US. The point is simple but many continue to miss it. We do get posts here where people say they will not go to Mexico because it is dangerous. They seem to think there are no dangers in the US. Posts bringing up the dangers in the US are attempts to inform those who are unaware that crime happens in the US that these things can happen anywhere. And also to try to point out that incidents that happen in places like Waco do not mean that all of Texas is a war zone - or that the rest of the US is a war zone. Neither is Mexico all bad because of things that happen in certain specific places. There are many areas of Mexico we can safely travel. Bad things happen in every country in the world and these things can happen just about anywhere at any time to any one.

There are also those who find no need to travel anywhere but the US. Fine. We hope you all enjoy yourselves. But this is the forum for people who have some interest in travel in Mexico and NOT a forum for people who have misinformed opinions about Mexico to post negative comments about Mexico - letting us know how little they actually know. Those of us who do travel in Mexico - many of us for many many years - know why we find travel outside our culturally normal environment more interesting and educational. We know of nowhere in the US where we can visit pyramids and even climb them. We roam the streets of colonial cities. We hang out on amazing beaches. We eat food you will never find anywhere in the US. We see billions of butterflies. We expand our knowledge and understanding of the rest of the world - at least part of it.

How about some of you regular contributors to this forum posting some of the many reasons you enjoy visiting and traveling in Mexico - places we go. Post the many amazing things we find in Mexico that cannot be found in the US. No need for those who do not travel in Mexico to make comments here to show us all how uninformed you are.

moisheh wrote:
The mod should have killed this thread. It has zero to do with RVing in Mexico. Why don't we just post every violent action that takes place in Canada or the USA. This would be a busy forum. HAs nothing to do with Mexico being safe or not safe! Tequila new he would get lots of action with that post. That is the definition of a troll.

Moisheh

Maybe you should be telling that to everyone who posts every act of violence here that occurs south of the border, trying to scare people off. You know the type, they are the ones who say "There's too much of the good old USA to see still" as they trash Mexico & its people. Most of them have never set foot in Mexico with an RV. At least I spend 6 months a year down there, care about the country & its people and I get sick and tired with Americans (and a good dose of Canadians) believing that every Mexican is a rabid drug dealer waiting to murder them. 99.9% of the people there are wonderful and most would go a lot further out of their way to assist a traveler in trouble than your average American or Canadian. Many here can attest to that, myself included. That is why I do what I do, introduce people to RVing in this country and get them over the fear. Many others here do the same. I am sure most of us enjoy introducing them to new experiences and changing their pre-conceived notions. My post was to illustrate the double standard. If we can have a good laugh at the same time, all the better. Lighten up.

Kidoo wrote:
USA has an average monthly salary of $4000, Mexico is in the $800. Comparing the two countries is allways a nonsense.

But, motorcycle gangs and cartels work hand in hand, they are both responsible for violence and drug related killings in USA and Mexico.

Correct, interesting series of articles in the Vancouver paper this month on how the Hells Angels control the Vancouver waterfront and facilitate the passage of containers full of drugs. Definite connection between drugs & some biker gangs.

buta4 wrote:

fla-gypsy wrote:
Scottish descent and tough enough to wear a skirt

Wear that skirt in Key West and then we'll see how tough you really are! :B

LOL. I apologize to Fla--Gypsy for the suggestion he may be German. It was an obvious conclusion due to his temporary lapse of sense of humour. He redeemed himself with the skirt comment.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Trolling........

It's not trolling, it's satire designed to make a point. Obviously lost on some.

Tequila wrote:
I think people realize the point I am making.Its not trolling, just illustrating that there is a double standard at play.

BTW cloud Dancer, San Antonio is no problem for me, after all I have to drive through Surrey BC to get to Vancouver. Link

:)