Warning issued against Americans traveling to Progresso

The poverty, corruption, mordida and bad government is a legacy from the Spanish conquest and ocupation, most of the Spaniards that emigrated to the Americas where all the criminals from the dungeons of Spain.

Upper class Mexicans continue to do that type of corruption, there is a term for the teenagers of the wealthy "los Junior" in the Sanish epock they where called "los Hidalgos" until the independence, "DON MIGUEL HIDALGO Y COSTILLA" a priest called to "arms" the church people at 5 oclock in morning of September 16th 1810.

AND NO "5 DE MAYO" IS NOT THE INDEPENDECIA IT IS THE BATLE OF PUEBLA.

The beer company that sells CORONA made the gimic to sell beer in the States

Today some of the govrnments are trying to correct the mordida but it is going to be a long strugle, until then we have to live with the quirks of this country
if you can live with them cool if not stay away.

All of this BS about shoting among gang members is yust that narcos shooting narcos, at least they are not sooting the small children in school or the AMERICAN terrorists trying to kill us.

navegator

In a country well governed poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed wealth is something to be ashamed of.

-Confucius

navegator wrote:
Mexico stoped being a third world a long time ago, they have more car factories than the US more Chemical companies most of the flat screen tv's are manufactured in Mexico and sold in the US, my wife worked for SIEMENS, German electronic company in Mexico that manufactured electronic chips from the git go, when the chips where labeld they printed made in Germany so that the US and Cnadiaan consumer would accept them, same chips where sent to europe, labeld made in Mexico.

More vehicles from Mexico are imported to the US than from any where else, they also manufacture a lot of parts for the commecial aviation industry, but then all you nay sayers see is the guy under the sombrero taking a siesta aginst the saguaro, well there are beatifull homes down Mexico way that only the very rich in Canada or the US would be able to afford, most Mexicans the ones under the sombrero with money will come to the Staes but they prefer to go to Europe, since most of them speak, read and write fluent English French and or German, so third world?

Buy the way can some of you speak Spanish, I know some of you Canadians speak French and no English.

And yes I have been to mexico, wife and I own a House in Mexico City and travell quite often, and we speak several languages.

navegator

Visiting cities like Monterrey, Puebla, Guadalajara and others is a very eye opening experience. These are amazing beautiful cities that compete with cities like Vancouver and Toronto. Highly educated populations and large middle class sections. Good security and quality of life second to none. I think many have outdated perceptions of what Mexico is. They focus on the poverty, drug problems and security issues of the country instead. No doubt there are problems but a lot of "painting with a large brush" goes on.

Speaking of Mexicans travelling to Europe, during our 9 week summer European trip we ran into at least half a dozen Mexicans travelling in Europe including a large family from Chiapas at the Louvre museum in France. We spoke at length to them (in Spanish) about our favourite Mexican city which is of course San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas.
Shared a river cruise in Germany with another family from the DF and talked with an 18 year old young guy who was trying to cover as much of Europe before heading to University in the fall. We met him in France Spain Border as we picked up the high speed train. He had 9 hours to make it to Madrid to catch his plane back home. Hope he made it. It was fun comparing his Castellano to what we were starting to get used to hearing in San Sebastian.

I agree with the comments on multilingualism. A german scholar once said "the limits of my language define the limits of my world". We enjoyed speaking English, Spanish French and German during our trip and feel the ability to speak those languages greatly enhanced our experience over there. It would be nice to see a greater emphasis on second language training and immersion in our North American schools. I think it will be key to keeping our economies competitive in an ever growing Latin market place. Spanish is now the second most spoken language in the world and English has moved to number three.

Mexico stoped being a third world a long time ago, they have more car factories than the US more Chemical companies most of the flat screen tv's are manufactured in Mexico and sold in the US, my wife worked for SIEMENS, German electronic company in Mexico that manufactured electronic chips from the git go, when the chips where labeld they printed made in Germany so that the US and Cnadiaan consumer would accept them, same chips where sent to europe, labeld made in Mexico.

More vehicles from Mexico are imported to the US than from any where else, they also manufacture a lot of parts for the commecial aviation industry, but then all you nay sayers see is the guy under the sombrero taking a siesta aginst the saguaro, well there are beatifull homes down Mexico way that only the very rich in Canada or the US would be able to afford, most Mexicans the ones under the sombrero with money will come to the Staes but they prefer to go to Europe, since most of them speak, read and write fluent English French and or German, so third world?

Buy the way can some of you speak Spanish, I know some of you Canadians speak French and no Engish.

And yes I have been to mexico, wife and I own a House in Mexico City and travell quite often, and we speak several languages.

navegator

My wife lost her passport there a few years ago, the shop owner who found it sent an employee out in the streets to look for her to return it. They probably could have got good money for it on the black market but choose the extra effort to return it. The shop was the Galeria, we always make a point to patronize their shop and tell our friends as well. Lots of good people there who work hard to make a living.

That is what I find so irritating about the extra taxes collected at the border on alcoholic products. I would rather let the hard working honest Mexican business people make a living than put them out of work. Used to be, one could save forty percent or more on some purchases. Not so, when there are people waiting on this side to add thirty percent taxes on those same purchases. I understand the appeal of tariff's, but also the negatives. The extra few dollars in taxes does not affect me, but it does a lot of vendors. No wonder they want to move here to do business. No tariffs.

John and Joey very good observations.
I would like to further comment on your following comment

"Progresso is not that way, which always made me wonder why that was. Vendors don't bludgeon you with requests to buy, children don't surround you relentlessly, and young men drinking on street corners don't stare at you with glassy eyes. Things in Progresso are very neighborly and respectful. Would be a real shame to see that disappear. "

I also wonder why the merchants and people of Progesse are so incredibly honest and kind hearted? I learned this first hand last winter when I lost my camera in Nuevo Progresso and had no idea where I had left it. When I went back the next day retracing my steps I was assured at my first stop that if it was found in their town I would get it back. And I did!!!! At that point I gained a whole new respect for the people of Nuevo Progresso.

Shirley

There are many places in the world just like what you have described not only Mexico. I have no idea what the answer is, or how to make it better.

I was once taught that education was the solution to all social problems. But many developing countries have fine school systems, just not the opportunity for the young to go forward in life. The lure of easy illegal money is a strong incentive for the young. Being educated and driving a taxi for the tourist isn't so rewarding for many.

Funny how you described Progresso, I told a friend it was shabby chic, more shabby then chic though. Most places in the world where that is true you get a very real feeling that the "have nots" look at the "haves" with a certain spite.

Progresso is not that way, which always made me wonder why that was. Vendors don't bludgeon you with requests to buy, children don't surround you relentlessly, and young men drinking on street corners don't stare at you with glassy eyes. Things in Progresso are very neighborly and respectful. Would be a real shame to see that disappear.

Happiest words I ever hear is when customs tells me "Welcome home." We are blessed to live where we do. Those that don't travel I think lose sight of what we have.

Over 1300 beheadings in last 5 years, 12 kidnappings per hour, unstable central government, people afraid to go to the police for help because of police corruption. Cartels running things along the border. I guess technically your correct. Mexico isn't 3rd world. But it sure sounds like it. All this and it borders one of the richest countries on earth. Can you imagine what Mexico would be like if things were stabilized. The country is beautiful. South Texas would be a one night stop over on the way south. The beaches, the mountains, the culture. The stores in Progresso are junk shops. They could have the finest Jewelry stores, fresh produce markets, fine hotels, beautiful tropical RV parks, casinos, first class entertainment. You have to wonder why that isn't happening.

moisheh wrote:
Mexico is a developing nation NOT 3rd world.

Moisheh

Yep. Mexico and Brazil are considered "NICs" or newly industrialized nations. There are a few others but Mexico and Brazil are the considered to be the closest to achieving "developed country" status or what we commonly call first world. They also have one of the fastest growing middle classes in the world. Interesting reading on this topic as there are a few "first world" (developed) countries that will probably fall back a notch within the next couple decades. Time will tell.