Re: CJ Mexico trip (long)
 

Sounds like a great trip. Some thing I've alway's wanted to try. Some
day i will.

Later Mike

Re: CJ Mexico trip (long)
 

Sounds like a great trip. Some thing I've alway's wanted to try. Some
day i will.

Later Mike

Re: CJ Mexico trip (long)
 

mabar wrote:
> Wow! Sounds like quite an adventure!
>
> I am VERY reluctant to ever go to Mexico, mainly for security reasons. Some
> of the things that I have heard (please correct me if I am wrong:)
>
> 1. Corrupt police

Yes. But mostly concentrated in the border towns and Mexico City, where
it pays to be corrupt.

> 2. Corrupt military

Mostly only in the pay of the drug lords to protect the drug shipments,
not interested in small money from stray gringos.

> 3. Lots of Banditos all over the countryside

Only in the border towns where they're running drugs and illegals across
the border.

> 4. Possible kidnappings

Only if you look like a rich gringo. And mostly only in the border towns.

> 5. Water that will probably make me sick

Probably. Ask for cerveza rather than water, alcohol kills germs,
y'know? :-). If you must drink water, you can get chlorine dioxide
tablets at any sporting goods store (I think they're called "Aqua-Pur"
or something like that), fill up a gallon jug, drop the tablets in, and
an hour later you'll have good water that might have a slight chlorine
taste but at least isn't absolutely nasty like the old iodine tablets.

> 6. No way to protect myself, since it is illegal for a "gringo" to have a
> weapon.

Realistically speaking, any bad guys down there have assault rifles and
will *not* take you on solo, you'd be facing basically a reinforced fire
team or squad. All that a small handgun would do in that situation would
be to get you killed.

> 7. Big-time jail time for possessing a gun or even possessing one bullet!

Yep.

> 8. Grinding poverty for much of the population, especially in the back
> country,
> away from the tourist areas

True enough. But once you are away from the tourist areas, they are the
friendliest people you'll ever meet, as long as you are polite and
courteous rather than playing the ugly American. Just stay away from the
places where criminal activity are the main enterprise (primarily the
border towns and some ports on the Gulf Coast), and you will be safer
than in any large American city.

-Elron

Re: CJ Mexico trip (long)
 

mabar wrote:
> Wow! Sounds like quite an adventure!
>
> I am VERY reluctant to ever go to Mexico, mainly for security reasons. Some
> of the things that I have heard (please correct me if I am wrong:)
>
> 1. Corrupt police

Yes. But mostly concentrated in the border towns and Mexico City, where
it pays to be corrupt.

> 2. Corrupt military

Mostly only in the pay of the drug lords to protect the drug shipments,
not interested in small money from stray gringos.

> 3. Lots of Banditos all over the countryside

Only in the border towns where they're running drugs and illegals across
the border.

> 4. Possible kidnappings

Only if you look like a rich gringo. And mostly only in the border towns.

> 5. Water that will probably make me sick

Probably. Ask for cerveza rather than water, alcohol kills germs,
y'know? :-). If you must drink water, you can get chlorine dioxide
tablets at any sporting goods store (I think they're called "Aqua-Pur"
or something like that), fill up a gallon jug, drop the tablets in, and
an hour later you'll have good water that might have a slight chlorine
taste but at least isn't absolutely nasty like the old iodine tablets.

> 6. No way to protect myself, since it is illegal for a "gringo" to have a
> weapon.

Realistically speaking, any bad guys down there have assault rifles and
will *not* take you on solo, you'd be facing basically a reinforced fire
team or squad. All that a small handgun would do in that situation would
be to get you killed.

> 7. Big-time jail time for possessing a gun or even possessing one bullet!

Yep.

> 8. Grinding poverty for much of the population, especially in the back
> country,
> away from the tourist areas

True enough. But once you are away from the tourist areas, they are the
friendliest people you'll ever meet, as long as you are polite and
courteous rather than playing the ugly American. Just stay away from the
places where criminal activity are the main enterprise (primarily the
border towns and some ports on the Gulf Coast), and you will be safer
than in any large American city.

-Elron

Re: CJ Mexico trip (long)
 

mabar wrote:
> Wow! Sounds like quite an adventure!
>
> I am VERY reluctant to ever go to Mexico, mainly for security reasons. Some
> of the things that I have heard (please correct me if I am wrong:)
>
> 1. Corrupt police

Yes. But mostly concentrated in the border towns and Mexico City, where
it pays to be corrupt.

> 2. Corrupt military

Mostly only in the pay of the drug lords to protect the drug shipments,
not interested in small money from stray gringos.

> 3. Lots of Banditos all over the countryside

Only in the border towns where they're running drugs and illegals across
the border.

> 4. Possible kidnappings

Only if you look like a rich gringo. And mostly only in the border towns.

> 5. Water that will probably make me sick

Probably. Ask for cerveza rather than water, alcohol kills germs,
y'know? :-). If you must drink water, you can get chlorine dioxide
tablets at any sporting goods store (I think they're called "Aqua-Pur"
or something like that), fill up a gallon jug, drop the tablets in, and
an hour later you'll have good water that might have a slight chlorine
taste but at least isn't absolutely nasty like the old iodine tablets.

> 6. No way to protect myself, since it is illegal for a "gringo" to have a
> weapon.

Realistically speaking, any bad guys down there have assault rifles and
will *not* take you on solo, you'd be facing basically a reinforced fire
team or squad. All that a small handgun would do in that situation would
be to get you killed.

> 7. Big-time jail time for possessing a gun or even possessing one bullet!

Yep.

> 8. Grinding poverty for much of the population, especially in the back
> country,
> away from the tourist areas

True enough. But once you are away from the tourist areas, they are the
friendliest people you'll ever meet, as long as you are polite and
courteous rather than playing the ugly American. Just stay away from the
places where criminal activity are the main enterprise (primarily the
border towns and some ports on the Gulf Coast), and you will be safer
than in any large American city.

-Elron

Re: CJ Mexico trip (long)
 

Awesome trip - I wish I was closer than Montreal to enjoy the south.
It's just not the same up here man. Thanks for the nice mental images!!

Re: CJ Mexico trip (long)
 

Awesome trip - I wish I was closer than Montreal to enjoy the south.
It's just not the same up here man. Thanks for the nice mental images!!

Re: CJ Mexico trip (long)
 

Awesome trip - I wish I was closer than Montreal to enjoy the south.
It's just not the same up here man. Thanks for the nice mental images!!