BajaNomad

Anyone catch the Baja slam on the ABC evening news last night?

Woooosh - 12-29-2008 at 10:24 AM

They told the story of the surfer couple who had their RV shot up and the lady sexually assaulted.

They interviewed a lady in San Diego who paid a $2 Million dollar ranson for the returnof her TJ Pharmacist husband in 2006- and he has still not been released.

They told how the FBI was now saying innocent Americans, with no ties whatsoever to the drug trade, were the target of kidnap and extortion gangs.

Luckily this story ran at the same time as the Chargers game-so no one noticed. (I think the Chargers had a 20-something point lead then- so I was flipping channels)

[Edited on 12-29-2008 by Woooosh]

teadust - 12-29-2008 at 10:31 AM

Didn't see it on TV, but it's posted on their website:

ABC News: Kidnappers Target Americans in Baja

Woooosh - 12-29-2008 at 11:17 AM

I forgot the best part-- a commerical for Rosarito Beach tourism ran right after it.

Talk about wasted money and bad timing.

Bajahowodd - 12-29-2008 at 11:27 AM

I saw the story. In the end, it didn't seem to have a point. Good thing nothing like that ever happens North of the border, huh?

fdt - 12-29-2008 at 11:34 AM

That's a good point.

Woooosh - 12-29-2008 at 11:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by fdt
That's a good point.


You guys would pee on my leg and tell me it's raining.

Bajahowodd - 12-29-2008 at 12:02 PM

Depends. How tall are you?

Hook - 12-29-2008 at 12:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
I saw the story. In the end, it didn't seem to have a point. Good thing nothing like that ever happens North of the border, huh?


It does.............and they report on it.

Nothing wrong with reporting on it happening down there, too, right?

Do you actually think the per capita level of kidnappings in Baja is similar to the US? :rolleyes:

I dont..........but I guess factual comparisons are impossible when victims in Baja are reluctant to notify the authorities because:

a) they're incompetent
b) they're complicit

I'm thinking 50 American kidnappings in the last two years might be considered a "point".

Have a nice flight to the Cabo airport........................we'll let you know when they start hijacking commercial airliners and it might actually affect you.



[Edited on 12-29-2008 by Hook]

Bajahowodd - 12-29-2008 at 01:28 PM

Actually, Mr. Hook, I rarely fly to Cabo. Too much to enjoy, making the drive.

Phil S - 12-29-2008 at 05:27 PM

I too prefer the drive to Loreto & Cabo. I like the options of 'discovering" new experiences. However, last trip, I was more attentive to autos traveling behind me, and potential autos in front of me that might be driving suspiciously. (alright. who is going to be the first one to ask me to describe suspiciously? and be prepared to not 'get an answer'.!!!!!!!!
I won't drive through TJ anymore, after seventeen years of using tj for my access to Baja. Now I use Tecate both directions. I'm off the road by 4 p.m. at the latest. And don't leave until about an hour after sunrise next morning. Paranoid? Yeah, I guess so. I haven't protected this ole 74 year old carcass all these years for 'nada'!!!!! Nor do I plan on ceasing my trips via auto because of the drug cartels & doped up people out there. Same applies for driving in the states!!!!!!!

If it Bleeds, it Leads.

MrBillM - 12-29-2008 at 05:31 PM

Today, the cable news kept recycling the killings in TIA JUANA over the weekend and described the town as controlled by the Drug Cartels. Americans are crazy to go there. Or, so they said.

Barry A. - 12-29-2008 at 05:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Phil S
I too prefer the drive to Loreto & Cabo. I like the options of 'discovering" new experiences. However, last trip, I was more attentive to autos traveling behind me, and potential autos in front of me that might be driving suspiciously. (alright. who is going to be the first one to ask me to describe suspiciously? and be prepared to not 'get an answer'.!!!!!!!!
I won't drive through TJ anymore, after seventeen years of using tj for my access to Baja. Now I use Tecate both directions. I'm off the road by 4 p.m. at the latest. And don't leave until about an hour after sunrise next morning. Paranoid? Yeah, I guess so. I haven't protected this ole 74 year old carcass all these years for 'nada'!!!!! Nor do I plan on ceasing my trips via auto because of the drug cartels & doped up people out there. Same applies for driving in the states!!!!!!!


RIGHT ON, PHIL S. I applaud you!!!

Barry

Woooosh - 12-29-2008 at 06:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
Today, the cable news kept recycling the killings in TIA JUANA over the weekend and described the town as controlled by the Drug Cartels. Americans are crazy to go there. Or, so they said.


If you are implying that TIA JUANA is incorrect- the jury is still out. Something about an Aunt Jane's ranch being here back in the old days or something...

AcuDoc - 12-29-2008 at 06:56 PM

After reading Phils report I'm thinking of taking Tecate when I make my trip this spring. Has there been any problems on the road to Ensenada via Tecate? There are some lonely stretches. I've never taken it south and only a few times north.

Either that or cross the TJ border during daylight hours and hopefully caravaning with someone that is headed south at least past Ensenada.

Have there been in problems in Ensenada? I usually stop there for a night either to or form or both.

By Implication

MrBillM - 12-29-2008 at 07:52 PM

Of COURSE, that's what I'm implying and the jury isn't out. The CURRENT name of the town IS: Tijuana. Regardless of its historical origins.

I don't know how many times I've watched a News Gringo on TV say "Tiajuana" only to have the Mexican he was talking to reply with a sharp "Tijuana" to make the point. The News guy always ignored it and kept saying "Tia".

Along those lines, I am also irritated when I hear a U.S. News Flack pronounce Pinochet as "Pino-shay" as if he were French. The most laughable instance was a documentary on the General where the news people would consistently say "shay" and the Chileans being interviewed would consistently say "chet".

How hard is it to get this stuff right ?

[Edited on 12-30-2008 by MrBillM]

Woooosh - 12-29-2008 at 08:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
Of COURSE, that's what I'm implying and the jury isn't out. The CURRENT name of the town IS: Tijuana. Regardless of its historical origins.

I don't know how many times I've watched a News Gringo on TV say "Tiajuana" only to have the Mexican he was talking to reply with a sharp "Tijuana" to make the point. The News guy always ignored it and kept saying "Tia".

Along those lines, I am also irritated when I hear a U.S. News Flack pronounce Pinochet as "Pino-shay" as if he were French. The most laughable instance was a documentary on the General where the news people would consistently say "shay" and the Chileans being interviewed would consistently say "chet".

How hard is it to get this stuff right ?

[Edited on 12-30-2008 by MrBillM]


OK. But if you were to start a new thread "Tia-juana or Ti-juana" it would never end.

We still call native americans "Indians" and that was 400 years ago when some explorer was lost. And I took hate it when a news anchor decides to pronounce a word in foreign accents in the middle of an english sentence or when TV Chefs use the "real" italian words for their ingredients. IT just makes them look like boors. tres gauche. oops.

Bajahowodd - 12-29-2008 at 08:59 PM

Personally, I still prefer the TJ route on the cuota road. It's not like you have to drive through miles of city streets. The Tecate route does involve a whole lot of rural driving. As for the Otay crossers, it seems to me that the east part of TJ, including the area near Blvd 2000 is teeming with the bad guys. I just think that sticking with the crowd along the border fence to the cuota road is potentially safer and faster. That being said, I do not cringe while passing through, and have spent a great deal of time in Ensenada the past few years, never feeling threatened.

postholedigger - 12-31-2008 at 12:09 AM

According to the last reports I've seen from FDT (pretty reliable I'd think), we are to avoid the Blvd 2000 especially after dark due to construction/little to no light...or I could have it wrong...

woody with a view - 12-31-2008 at 06:43 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
Today, the cable news kept recycling the killings in TIA JUANA over the weekend and described the town as controlled by the Drug Cartels. Americans are crazy to go there. Or, so they said.



yes, i am crazy. i'm gonna work on it this coming year. if you know me, don't get your hopes too high for any noticeable progress.....:no:

EnseNADAslim - 1-16-2009 at 10:39 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by AcuDoc
Have there been in problems in Ensenada? I usually stop there for a night either to or form or both.


Interesting Thread. I live here in Ensenada and we just don't seem to have the problems as they have in TJ (or should I not say Tia Juanna), but TJ is the tip of the funnel. I now use the Otay crossing and there is a new HWY that takes you around the southern edge of TJ and it dumps you out just south of the Fox Studios.
I too take note of who is driving in front and the rear, and we do our best to travel only during the Day, but at times we need to drive at night. But yea,,,,so far all is good down here in Ensenada.

[Edited on 1-16-2009 by EnseNADAslim]

BajaGringo - 1-16-2009 at 10:47 AM

You travel only at night?

DENNIS - 1-16-2009 at 10:52 AM

i think it's the general concensus here that one shouldn't drive the highways at night but, to each his own.

EnseNADAslim - 1-16-2009 at 10:58 AM

Doh!! Sorry, I edited to what I meant to say,,,but yea, sometimes we make the drive at night, but I do everything to avoid it, which includes staying over in San Diego.

BajaGringo - 1-16-2009 at 11:07 AM

I do like to leave real early in the AM when heading south - between 4-5:00 AM

I can beat the trucks out of Ensenada...

Bajahowodd - 1-16-2009 at 06:17 PM

Ensenada is pretty quiet. Mostly because the the only tourists are coming off the cruise ships during the day. Local business groups need to do some advertising. I know the worldwide economy is in the dumper. But what better than to launch an advertising campaign that dwells on the safety of Ensenada and the 14-1 peso??

BajaGringo - 1-16-2009 at 06:31 PM

You have a point - few outside of Mexico are even aware of the current exchange. Of course that is largely due to their own economic situation being in the dumpster...

Woooosh - 1-16-2009 at 06:36 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Ensenada is pretty quiet. Mostly because the the only tourists are coming off the cruise ships during the day. Local business groups need to do some advertising. I know the worldwide economy is in the dumper. But what better than to launch an advertising campaign that dwells on the safety of Ensenada and the 14-1 peso??


I'll bet more than half of them don't even eat a meal off the ship. I'll also bet there are a thousand panhandlers and trinket salesmen/women/children waiting at the pier to scare the ones that are getting off back onboard. I'll bet no one is going to be generous and offer a crusie ship passenger 14 pesos to the dollar, or even 13.

Which reminds me- Is the La Fonda restauranr near La Mission STILL giving 10:1?

It does seem stange that onvthe two days a week there is car traffic on the main drag through Rosarito- every school, church, football team and rehab group has their cups out at every stop light and stop sign. It makes traffic worse, makes people feel guilty if they don't give to them all and doesn't encourage return visits IMHO.

I did see city people passing out tourist information one day at the first stop sign in town- and that was nice and smart actually. The cup clanging evry hundred yares... not so much.

BajaGringo - 1-16-2009 at 06:40 PM

As tourism is down, business overall is down and that usually trickles down to donations as well. I am sure these organizations are feeling the pinch...

You ever been on a cruise?

Dave - 1-16-2009 at 07:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
I'll bet more than half of them don't even eat a meal off the ship.


The food is excellent and you can eat all you want. How do you compete with that?

I wouldn't get off the boat.

Bajahowodd - 1-16-2009 at 08:08 PM

Having been on a number of cruises, there is the nagging feeling about getting one's money's worth by scarfing up as much of the ship's food as possible. Was actually on a Mexican Riviera cruise many years ago where the ship never served a single Mexican item. But how can a passenger on a cruise be in Rome and not have some Italian food? Ditto Athens and a real greek salad or souvlaki. Just a couple of examples. There's a relatively new cruise line in Europe named Easy Cruise. It has a new perspective. You pay by the night for the cabin. Everything else is charged as you buy it. They are very successful in the Mediterranean, as the ship basically hits a diffferent port everyday. So, rather than be stuck with breakfast in the dining room, and being charged for it, you can have your omlette in Santorini. Don't know if this will catch on. But this sort of approach can certainly help merchants in ports of call.