BajaNomad - What people think about driveing in Mexico

What people think about driveing in Mexico

Steve&Debby - 1-30-2008 at 11:45 PM

We just returned from a great trip down to Mulege,Santispec and Loreto.Along the way we had some machanical problems.A mexican truck driver ,whose name was Jose stopped his truck and helped us get back on the road.We appreciated it very much, and made him take some mony to buy his wife something.
Anyway my point is,when we get back to the states and tell our stories about our travels in Mexico I can't believe the reaction we get. Most people can't believe we drive in Mexico. They say, aren't you afraid of getting robbed or killed? My wife and I just laugh and tell them we are more afraid of driveing through LA.
Most people think Mexico is Cabo,Puerto Vallarta,or Mazatlan. Not that there is any thing wrong with those places,but we would rather get away from the big cities.

Just a Thought

[Edited on 1-31-2008 by Steve&

ebby]

Paulina - 1-31-2008 at 12:05 AM

"Most people can't believe we drive in Mexico."

I understand that. I was once in a conversation with a couple who didn't know I was a frequent Baja traveler. They warned me that if I ever went to Baja I should be careful, " People drive down there and can drive right off the edge!"

They must have stopped reading their geography books around Columbus' days.

P<*)))><

BAJACAT - 1-31-2008 at 12:09 AM

I rather drive by my self from Loreto to Cd Constitucion at night. Than to drive, in Compton,watts,south Gate(Los Angeles).I have the same reaction from my mexican friends that don't share the idea of camping and exploring Baja.They think Im nuts," How could you drive that far,How could you drive to that remote place,what about this what about that""it's it dangerous?..It just pee's me :fire:

ps this next pix, doesn't compare,to be stuck in the 405,101,5,805,8 or any highway....

red san borja.JPG - 41kB

bajatorres - 1-31-2008 at 01:48 AM

A friend of mine was going to come stay for two months, and needed a vehicle while here. So she was going to drive here. In fact, I was going to fly up and drive down with her. When she mentioned that to other friends and relatives, she encountered many objections about her driving in Mexico. "There were going to be many bad things happen to her."
Of course she was very concerned. My suggestion was to ask all those that were concerned about the " bad things" to explain what happened to them last time they drove down. That stopped them in their tracks, as they had never driven in Mexico, in fact some had never even visited Mexico.
That trip was a great one ( there haven't been any that weren't).
My experiences have always been positive.

Pescador - 1-31-2008 at 07:24 AM

Ya gotta learn to quit correcting these people who have misconceptions about Baja. We need people who stay north of the border which makes more room for us. :bounce:

4baja - 1-31-2008 at 07:40 AM

the beach is allready too crowded!

Alan - 1-31-2008 at 07:47 AM

I love the drive and have done it many, many times. The vistas, the ever changing geography and the support of people you meet along the way. For me, the horror stories of Baja have always been placed in the same category as the dreadful Chubacabra. In each "personal" acccount that has been relayed to me over the 30+ years of driving the peninsula I found that if one dug deep enough, the real basis of the horror story was always the result of an alcohol related incident and the person involved behaving with their head up their %$#!

Unfortunately the events of this past year have changed all of that for me. The incidents of this past year cannot be traced back to stupid behavior that people brought upon themselves. I know many still want to compare these reports to Chubacabra sightings.. They try to make comparisons to crime in the US or tell you that you have a greater chance of being struck by lightning yet they provide directions for an alternate route so one doesn't have to "Run the Gauntlet" of the toll road (sometimes even in the same post). Why would it be necessary to detour around a Chubacabra if it is merely a product of fiction?

I am encouraged that there really haven't been any significant incidents reported against tourists since the Baja 1K (If one disregards armed assaults against police chiefs). Maybe the actions they have taken are starting to work but I am not yet ready to run the gauntlet. I am very saddened by these recent events in BCN and I know it is making life even more difficult for all of the people that live and work in that area that don't have the option of staying away.

At the same time it is not a problem that I or any tourist have a right to try to solve, any more than a visitor to MY country should tell me how I must fix things. In time the problem will be resolved by the people who live there but until it is I intend to stay out of this area. Staying away is really the only way I can help. The loss of tourism is an economic impact that will eventually force a solution. Unfortunately many innocent and hardworking people are the ones that will be hurt by it.

I actually prefer the drive to BCS and overall the drive is still very safe but until I don't have to run a gauntlet to get to the safe area I will continue to fly.

TMW - 1-31-2008 at 08:34 AM

Alan the robberies on the toll road and in TJ that were told here were all in the very early hours of the morning. Typically 2-4am. I don't think anyone was attacked during the daytime in those areas. Most crime of that sort usually happens in the dark of the night when there is less chance of a witness seeing them. The only daytime event that occured that I can think of was when the lady from LA Bay was shot in her car when she and her husband were driving north and that may have been an inside job, so to speak, by a former employee.

David K - 1-31-2008 at 08:50 AM

A bad day in Baja still beats a good day in L.A. ! :lol:

Paulina - 1-31-2008 at 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador
Ya gotta learn to quit correcting these people who have misconceptions about Baja. We need people who stay north of the border which makes more room for us. :bounce:

Very true. I just listen and nod. Besides, if I did convince one of these nay-sayers to give it a try, something would probably go wrong and I'd never hear the end of it.

P<*)))><

[Edited on 31-1-2008 by Paulina]

bajarich - 1-31-2008 at 12:22 PM

Steve & Debby, Your post answered a question I asked in a post the other day, about driving in Baja. I will be crossing the border on Tues or Weds next week and was wondering if there were any new cautions to watch out for on the drive. I too have been driving to Baja for many years (since 1992) and have never experienced any problems. I had a breakdown last year in Ensenada and a young Mexican couple stopped to help me out. She spoke a little english, and he had a friend who had a backyard garage. He towed me over to his friends with his car. My A/C pump had frozen up and melted my serpentine belt. His friend bypassed the A/C with a shorter belt and got me on my way. He charged me only $10 plus the cost of the belt ($29).

Your post has reasured me what I already knew about Baja, that driving down there is a joy.

When people ask me if I'm afraid to drive to Baja, I reply "Yeah, I'm afraid someone will break into my house while I'm gone." And thats the truth!

Rich

DianaT - 1-31-2008 at 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paulina

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador
Ya gotta learn to quit correcting these people who have misconceptions about Baja. We need people who stay north of the border which makes more room for us. :bounce:

Oh so true---we have actually convinced a few people to travel to Baja and the Mainland and it was a REAL mistake in some cases---- :yes:

Diane

Fine Sifter

Gypsy Jan - 1-31-2008 at 01:10 PM

That's what I think of the border and people's attitudes towards Baja and Mexico in general.

The sifter keeps people who are uninformed, incurious about other cultures and fearful confined to home or venturing out only in strictly controlled environments, i.e., tours where they only need to interact with others of the same background.

The people who pass through the sifter to travel independently usually have a broader world view and are worth getting to know.

Cypress - 1-31-2008 at 01:32 PM

You learn to be on the alert for speed bumps AKA topes.

bajaboolie - 1-31-2008 at 01:54 PM

I enjoy the drive down to Mulege for the beautiful and varying landscapes, as well as our stops along the way. The last couple years I've been nervous about driving through TJ & past Ensenada, but we've just made modifications to be safer. Not fond of passing trucks and the shoulderless road, though! Luckily we've never had car problems, but I'm always happy to see the posts about those good samaritans.

DENNIS - 1-31-2008 at 02:10 PM

In the good ol' USofA, AAA is as heartfelt as it'll get. Not a bad alternative though.

Fred - 1-31-2008 at 02:11 PM

I have been driving my "Westy" down HWY1 for many years. It usually take me 4 weeks from Tecate to Los Barriles. It is a great drive with wonderful sites, great beaches and lot of friendly people ( Mexican, Canada and US). Have broke down a few times, but always seems to get the van running again. Most of the people I know in the states either hate Mexico or love it. I tell the ones who hate it not to go. So, as you can tell I am never in a hurry on the road and love to camp and meet new people. I have never had a bad experience driving in Baja. Opps, that one time in high school in TJ..........

something to think about

woody with a view - 1-31-2008 at 02:20 PM

while driving in baja.....

100_1794 (Small).jpg - 41kB

Alan - 1-31-2008 at 08:36 PM

TW - I agree all these issues have been confined to the wee hours of the morning. Unfortunately that is when I used to drive through that area because I typically tow a boat and the lighter traffic is much easier to deal with. Notice I said used to. I know I will still have occasion to drive the gauntlet but now it will be done during daylight hours as I would rather deal with traffic than armed assaults :lol:

Bajarich - I agree with the way people help one another. It was just a few years ago that my axle came off on my boat trailer headed north on the toll road about 11:00 at night. A Rosarito policeman spent 4 hours helping me reattach it! Then came back in the morning after he got off duty to lead me to a tire shop.

Steve&Debby - 1-31-2008 at 10:41 PM

I forgot about last years trip to San Flippy. We stayed in San Flippy for 2 weeks then we went across to Ensanada to do some shopping. We got a late start and it ended up getting dark on us before we got to Ensanada.Well I ended up taking the wrong turn on the back side of Ensanada and got lost. The road got narrow the turned to dirt and our motorhome is a 40 footer with a trailer behind it,needless to say I was a little concerned. We drove a little further and someone behind us started flashing there lights so I pulled over. It turned out to be a young college kid and his girl friend,He asked if we were lost? Duh!!. Any way kid was very nice and said follow me,and took us to familar territory. Good people.

Mexican Mechanics great!

juangrandebigjohn - 2-1-2008 at 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdtrotter

Quote:

Originally posted by Paulina

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador
Ya gotta learn to quit correcting these people who have misconceptions about Baja. We need people who stay north of the border which makes more room for us. :bounce:

Oh so true---we have actually convinced a few people to travel to Baja and the Mainland and it was a REAL mistake in some cases---- :yes:

Diane

Yes,mechanics good and cheap in Mexico,used to worry about breaking down in Mexico,now hope I AM in Mexico if problems.Bigjohn

DENNIS - 2-1-2008 at 06:40 PM

Take it from JuanGrande....He knows.

Hi there, John..........All is well?