BajaNomad - Safety? Noise?

Safety? Noise?

walterbyrd - 3-1-2013 at 03:51 PM

I have been hearing some horror stories about kidnappings.

Although less horrible, I have also heard that the area can be very noisy. I especially hate boom cars, but they seem to be everywhere.

David K - 3-1-2013 at 03:52 PM

What area???

willardguy - 3-1-2013 at 03:53 PM

you cant hear the cars over the barking dogs! kidnapping is routine.

DENNIS - 3-1-2013 at 03:59 PM

I really appreciate a nice quiet kid napping. Yep...I do.

DENNIS - 3-1-2013 at 04:01 PM

Walter?? Wake up Walter. You're having a bad dream. Everything will be alright.

bajaguy - 3-1-2013 at 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by walterbyrd
I have been hearing some horror stories about kidnappings.

Although less horrible, I have also heard that the area can be very noisy. I especially hate boom cars, but they seem to be everywhere.

Not to be sarcastic, but I don't think you are kidnap worthy....although ymmv

Loud noise??????.......depends on where you are and when.

mtgoat666 - 3-1-2013 at 04:14 PM

Quote:

after you have been kidnapped a few times, you'll find the experience less stressful, perhaps even enjoyable.

as you age and loose hearing, the noise becomes quite tolerable. do you like accordian music? eventually you will!

[Edited on 3-1-2013 by mtgoat666]

David K - 3-1-2013 at 04:26 PM

Baja, kidnap me... PLEASE!

watizname - 3-1-2013 at 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Walter?? Wake up Walter. You're having a bad dream. Everything will be alright.

Welcome to the boards Walter :lol:

güero - 3-1-2013 at 04:59 PM

walterbyrd, I think you worry too much.

DENNIS - 3-1-2013 at 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by güero
walterbyrd, I think you worry too much.

Well...I think Walter is doing something too much.....that's for sure. :lol:

Islandbuilder - 3-1-2013 at 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

Now that right there, is FUNNY! :lol:

bajamedic - 3-1-2013 at 06:10 PM

Walterbyrd, I just returned from San Felipe last week, I felt more safe and welcome south the border than I did in several places in California, just my opinion. JH

redhilltown - 3-2-2013 at 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
What area???

DK makes a good point here as to many posts on this board: Please put more information into the SUBJECT HEADING!!!!!!! Not everyone has all night to scroll thru the postings...better information right up front will yield better results (and I especially mean this as an animal lover when people put lost dog postings...say when and where!!!).

Safety

tehag - 3-2-2013 at 07:00 AM

In Baja I've never seen a severed head left out in the street past noon, and the really heavy gunfire is mostly way after dark.

I've lived in a lot of places, none less dangerous than Baja.

dtbushpilot - 3-2-2013 at 07:14 AM

It's been over 2 weeks since I've seen a body hanging from a bridge, I think the drug war is over...

walterbyrd - 3-2-2013 at 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy

Quote:

Not to be sarcastic, but I don't think you are kidnap worthy....although ymmv

Loud noise??????.......depends on where you are and when.

I think you may be right. I have heard that kidnappers prefer college students who have wealthy parents. Nobody is going to pay big money for me, I just hope the kidnappers know that.

walterbyrd - 3-2-2013 at 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
What area???

North west, to north central Baja.

I don't know exactly. I am thinking of moving to Baja, but right now I am in very early stages of research.

I have heard news stories of hotels, and resorts, in the Baja losing money because tourists are afraid of kidnappers.

Sandlefoot - 3-2-2013 at 06:15 PM

We live in La Paz and I have been up and down this penninsula for 14 years, I have never heard of a problem on the penninsula! I have family that has lived here for 23 years and they have never felt the least bit threatened! It might be more about how you proceive yourself. Do you see your self as a victim? Or as someone that can see trouble coming and avoid it? There is the same kind of property problems down here as there is anywhere in the states, but it seems to be less here than there. Scams are not nation specific, they happen all over!!

Just come on down and find out yourself!!! If it is not a fit then go to Panama or somewhere you do fit. You gotta get here to figure it out though. Research the people that live here, not the reports from people that have never crossed the border!!!

Happy Trails

tiotomasbcs - 3-2-2013 at 06:38 PM

I have heard stories....... Come on down. Amigo. God, I love Nomads, even Goat . You're Killin me.. or is that the wrong thing to say here?! :lol:

Shat, I was afraid in my old neighborhood! Love Neebies! Welcome Walter. Thick skin? :rolleyes:

You can't do this online, friend. Tio

Islandbuilder - 3-2-2013 at 06:39 PM

Sandlefoot makes a good point, very few of the people that are terrified of the "violence" in Mexico have been there. We have made several driving trips from San Diego as far as Cabo, and never felt uncomfortable of at risk.
The people we've met have been incredibly helpful and kind. And, a little bit anxious.
Imagine that reports of violence in, say Detroit, was used as a justification not to visit California. It's sort of the same thing in Mexico. Some places and circumstances to avoid, but by taking the same precautions you would take driving around in the state you can be as safe as you are going to the store where ever you live now.
Do your homework, like you are, but nothing beats first hand experience. Find out who here lives, or regularly travels in Baja, or the mainland, and seek their counsel. Much better than worrying over poorly written and researched media stories, or urban legends from people who haven't been off the couch for a decade or two.

durrelllrobert - 3-2-2013 at 08:23 PM

I won't comment further on any of the above except to say welcome to baja Nomads which could become your new home away from home.

Whale-ista - 3-3-2013 at 01:13 AM

Thanks for the reminders about the fears vs. reality of life in Baja.

I lived in San Miguel in the 90s, just north of Ensenada. The drug cartel was controlled out of Tijuana, and we had no problems in our area. Then some locals began causing trouble: breaking into our home multiple times, stealing all my SCUBA and camping gear and damaging property. It was a rough several months.

But they began doing other things that must have attracted the attention of the TJ cartel. One night nearly 20 people related to these thieves were herded into a house not far from mine- men, women, teenagers- and people we all assumed to be hired killers shot them all. We guessed they had been sent from the TJ "office."

One woman survived, reportedly because she was covered by dead bodies piled on top of her.

Did I feel scared? No. As the classic line in the Godfather said: "It's business," and I wasn't part of their line of work. They were in the drug/theft business and they over-reached and paid the price.

I continued life as usual, walking with my dog near the home of the survivor (which now had an armed guard out front) and enjoying the fact that the break-ins had ended.

However, once the cartel was broken and leaders arrested in 2005 or so, all hell broke out as others tried to "capture the market." By then I was no longer living in San Miguel, but many of my friends gave up and moved back to the US. I don't blame them.

grizzlyfsh95 - 3-3-2013 at 07:17 AM

[]

But they began doing other things that must have attracted the attention of the TJ cartel. One night nearly 20 people related to these thieves were herded into a house not far from mine- men, women, teenagers- and people we all assumed to be hired killers shot them all. We guessed they had been sent from the TJ "office."

The same thing happened in Creel. There are lots of stories, some true, but overall, I would rather be in Baja than Salinas.

BajaBlanca - 3-3-2013 at 01:25 PM

Well, if you are really rich, you might be targeted. Even in Baja.

Our dentist in TJ had a simple, very simple office for years in order not to attract attention to himself. He has since updated it but although it has state of the art equipment, it is still a pretty simple office.

One of our Mexican friends owns a hospital in TJ. He indeed moved to san diego for a couple years because he was afraid of being kidnapped. He is now back living in TJ.

The eye doctor in TJ where Les went to for his cataract operation , very wealthy American who owns the bldg he does operations out of as well as has probaly 100 employees (EDIFICIO CADET), in TJ WAS kidnapped. Family paid up and he is still around.