Straight answer on Baja safety right now

two weekends ago we survived around colonet/ san q area. during the swine flu epidemic we were in the central desert and survived.

i'd go to yosemite if i was thinking clearly!!!

Please list the bars where you were drugged, I'd like to go there.......dt

We are not targets!

You will pass through Tecate and all points south with no hint of violence. I do so twice annually and just returned last week from Mulege.

Of course, there is always a chance that you could be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but you are playing the odds, and the odds are in your favor against any problems regarding cartel violence.

Getting your information through the media is kind of like looking at bad weather from inside your warm house. It always looks worse from inside the window than it really is. Once you get outside, you say, "Aw, it ain't all that bad".

Just take sensible precautions like you say you always do. Enjoy your trip like you always do. Don't buy into the Culture of Fear.

fdt....did you mean "not even"....or did you really mean "especially if"?

Quote:

Originally posted by toneart You will pass through Tecate and all points south with no hint of violence. I do so twice annually and just returned last week from Mulege. Of course, there is always a chance that you could be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but you are playing the odds, and the odds are in your favor against any problems regarding cartel violence. Getting your information through the media is kind of like looking at bad weather from inside your warm house. It always looks worse from inside the window than it really is. Once you get outside, you say, "Aw, it ain't all that bad". Just take sensible precautions like you say you always do. Enjoy your trip like you always do. Don't buy into the Culture of Fear.

i think "risk" is all relative. when i was younger i did all kinds of risky stuff. now that i know better (and lived to talk about it) all this regular life stuff isn't that risky at all.


P-E-R-S-P-E-C-T-I-V-E

no.

but when you return have some horrific story agreed upon to tell all of your other pals who stayed home, cowering in fear!

Thats like saying, "we went to Las Vegas and the casinos stole our money!"

I have been driving to Baja for over 40 years now and have never had any of the experiences you relate. We're just 2 dull and boring people.

The Diva of Soul

... and no, this is not a hijack, thread car or otherwise

Pop some vintage R&B in your CD player and remember the sage advice from one of the most powerful women in the US, Miss Aretha Franklin: " R E S P E C T "

You know the rest, Mr.

Regards, and Happy Travels, Ms.

If you stay out of bad places, bad things won't happen.

Two Words

Seriously spoken, please do come down to Baja.

Do be aware of your surroundings.
Do pay in pesos.
Do exchange your money at the numerous banks rather than carry large amounts.
Do travel on the buses. They are clean and modern.
Do carry a light jacket while on the bus to keep warm.
Do behave courteously, modestly, respectfully at all times.
Do wear clean socks (sorry, couldn't resist this)

Quote:

Originally posted by Mulegena Seriously spoken, please do come down to Baja. Do be aware of your surroundings. Do pay in pesos. Do exchange your money at the numerous banks rather than carry large amounts. Do travel on the buses. They are clean and modern. Do carry a light jacket while on the bus to keep warm. Do behave courteously, modestly, respectfully at all times. Do wear clean socks (sorry, couldn't resist this)

I don't see using pesos as being a big issue in Baja... specially when I see locals buying items in markets using dollars... Sure, use pesos and your purchase price will be what the marked amount is...

If you have only dollars, don't let that you keep from buying in Mexico... The merchants may get a bit of a 'tip' since their rate of exchange is probably not as low as the banks.

If you don't want to have a problem using dollars instead of pesos don't do it. Yes, you can use dollars but you're better off, sometimes MUCH better off using pesos. I really don't understand why you advocate using dollars in Mexico DK. I think it shows a general lack of respect and arrogance to assume that dollars should be accepted. You are, after all in their country. Getting pesos is easy, show some respect.......

And NEVER EVER wear socks with flip-flops......dt

Quote:

And NEVER EVER wear socks with flip-flops......dt

or with a thong

DIS-HIJACK

(o, ihatemythongwhenitshijacked!)

Well...................

Instead of the bus stop restaurant (#16), go a bit further to TACOS MISION (#36)... inside tables, tacos, burritos, stuffed potatos to die for and PAINTINGS!

If you want even more selection and a true restaurant (at lower prices than Espinoza's) go further to BAJA'S BEST B&B/ Restaurant, on the right (#38)... across from the new TURISTA MOTEL

Here's a map I made in 2006 showing the businesses along Hwy. 1 in El Rosario, with restaurants highlighted...



[Edited on 5-18-2009 by David K]

US News Blitzkrieg

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd Why stop "near Catavina" for a pee break, when you could do what thousands do and pee at the Desert Inn? Why, for the air on the behind effect of course, by this time it needs to breathe!!!

Driving south

Statistically Speaking................

Roll in a beater that isn't going to break down. In my Rubicon, the cops pulled me out of the Jeep south of San Quentin, and the police officer gave me a real wierd vibe about wanting to steal my Jeep. I've had this almost happen in Mexicali too. Mafia and cops goes together real well in Baja, I guess.

Because, I was with TW in Mexicali and with the Baja Grande group in San Quentin, the cops let me go & keep my Jeep. If I were driving alone, I might not have lived to talk about it since I wouldn't go down without a fight.

I know this doesn't go well with the Peace and Fish Tacos vibe here, but this is the real deal. Roll in a $40,000+ playtoy, and I guess you're asking for trouble south of the border. Roll deep or lose your wheels.

Paranoid about visiting Baja? Anywhere in Baja is much better than the inner cities of the good old USA.

just great advice

i thought the post about "chewing food deliberately and with conviction" when in a restaraunt was very helpful,also ive found that eating the hottest foods with grace shows toughness to...ive often dined in mexican restaraunts and simply ordered a plate of their hottest peppers with some warm milk,while wolfing down these those little peppers the sweat would pour from my brow and the warm milk would Dibble from my chin but i could sense the respect i was getting from the others especially the locals....often when i pass thru checkpoints i will keep some marinated peppers close by in my vehicle and will eat them and smear some around my mouth,when i pull up they see and smell the hot peppers and out of fear the guards will almost always let me pass right thru...i have many more great tips and if neccesary i will share them

eetdrt88, That's a good one.

here is a pic of a freind of mine that has truly mastered this skill,see the intense look on his face...would u even consider messin with this guy?

Looks like he's choking on something.

He's just eating batwings... with hotsauce
(poor bats, we need bats)

or he accidentally ripped off part of that whopper moustache
from wiping the drool from his chili-filled mouth.

Well, then, why didn't YOU explain the difference between legal custody and physical custody to Paulina?

Arrowhead,

I guess you know best...

I, we stand corrected...

What was my friend thinking when they didn't seek you out for your legal services?

P<*)))>{