Green Angels

[Canada_Irl]

Could some please provide me with details for contacting the Green Angels. Will be heading down 15 toll and 200 to Manzanillo.

Would like cell #, telephone # and CB channel please.

[briansue]

Yep, I saw the reforma sign up but normally do not want to do much signing up - privacy issues - so we did not read it there.

[John___Angela]

I don't think it would matter if you had a fully qualified auto technician. Other than a rad hose, flat tire or maybe running aout of fuel, little can be done to todays vehicles to fix it on the spot. I also don't believe the language barrier is that important. More of a nice to have than a need to have. With todays technology, portable translators on smart phones etc its just not a big deal. We have never needed the Angels but know a couple folks who were happy to see a smiling face when they had problems. Glad to see they are looking at improving things though.

[moisheh]

Brian: The article originated with the news service Reforma. You can view it there if you want to sign up. I did not bother.

Moisheh

[briansue]

If you download Google Translate it will work to translate most articles such as this - we use Windows 7 and it translated this for me. I also tried to Copy & Paste and cannot get it to work - and cannot find the same article on any other website - it could appear in other places later.

[goducks10]

Can read Spanish. anyway to translate?

[moisheh]

Green Angels ineffective This was in El Imparcial today. I don't know if the link will work after today and I cannot cut and paste the document.

Moisheh

[briansue]

Sorry for the term "throw-away". By that I mean a cheap pre-paid phone and not same fancy phone with a multi-year contract. We don't throw ours away. We just buy more time - or get a new SIM if it runs out. The phone is junk but it works. We don't need anything more.

[qtla9111]

Get a Mexican cell phone, either Telcel or Movistar. It will make life easier.

[kca87]

On our last trip, we had a blowout in our 5th wheel on Mex 1 about 100 km north of La Paz. We didn't have a cell - but since we changed the tire ourselves, we didn't see the need for Green Angels. That said, we were asked several times by construction workers in the area if we were okay and needed any help.

Another time we got stuck in some sand at the beach. Passersby stopped and helped us and when they couldn't get us "unstuck" - gave my husband a ride to town to get help. Help came - all free of charge because it's just the Mexican way.

Having a cell phone where you can make the call is certainly a good thing - but the culture is such that people will help you and if all you need them to do is make the call for you, that's easy.

If you're really worried about it, get a cheap phone at TelCel for the journey once you cross the border.

[JerBear]

pomsplus wrote:
I have a Canadian cell phone - I have purchased service that allows me to use my phone in Mexico and I have used it several times with local calls and calling home. I assume it will work with 078 but am hoping that I don't ever need to call but it is nice having the security of knowing I could if needed.

My Canadian phone will work in Mexico. Used it twice this morning. But can't get anybody when I dial 078. Thought I would try the Green Angels number just to see if it would work....and in case I might need it sometime. Maybe the cheap Telcel phone is the answer.

[kca87]

When I got my most recent cell phone from TelCel, it was not a throw away, but it cost me 300 pesos and came with 300 pesos of airtime. So it was basically free. We recharged it for 100 pesos and that lasted us for about a month. So it's very economical to just stop at at a TelCel store and ask for a phone right when you cross the border.

[briansue]

We buy a cheap throwaway prepaid phone from Telcel to use when we need a phone in Mexico. We don't use it often but it is there if we need it. We bought our phone a few years ago and the first thing we do when we got to Mexico is go to a Telcel office and get it reactivated. We get 200 pesos of time and that is usually all we need for our months in Mexico. It is way to expensive to try to us our US phone in Mexico.

[pomsplus]

I have a Canadian cell phone - I have purchased service that allows me to use my phone in Mexico and I have used it several times with local calls and calling home. I assume it will work with 078 but am hoping that I don't ever need to call but it is nice having the security of knowing I could if needed.

[moisheh]

Using a Canadian cell phone in Mexico is futile. I doubt you could dial 078. Get a cheap Telmex phone. No contract required. We carry one for emergencies and often call CG's while on the road to check for construction or detours.

Moisheh