iclarke
Newbie
Posts: 19
Registered: 12-5-2006
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culture, economics, and language in Baja?
I am going to be traveling Baja for two weeks from early to mid march 07'. I tried looking around for books on customes and culture in Baja, politics,
et el, to get an idea of what to expect when trying to communicate with any locals of Baja. From reading some posts I got the idea that, economically,
there seems to be a division of dirt poor and wealthy "gringos". Being a "gringo" who knows spanish as well as a toddler, what should I look out for
to stay out of harms way? Are major cities safe? What should I read up on before traveling out west this March?
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
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Mood: undecided
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"Harms Way" is a relative sort of thing. Depends upon your lifestyle etc. Safe? From what? Go south and have a good time. Don't get tangled up in the
negative aspects.
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iclarke
Newbie
Posts: 19
Registered: 12-5-2006
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knowing nothing of the area makes me feel kind of anxious thinking about how to travel safely, so I can enjoy the trip. Maybe I am getting my self to
worked up about nothing.
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DanO
Super Nomad
Posts: 1923
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: Not far from the Pacific
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The Baja Handbook is a decent resource. Others here will have additional ideas. As for the descriptions on this board of economic division, my sense
of things is that while most of the wealth is held by a very small number of individuals (not unlike in the U.S.) and a substantial portion of the
population lives below the poverty line, there is also a burgeoning Mexican middle class in the urban areas. Your average North American tourist is
generally more well off than the folks you'll run into in the rural parts of Baja, but that's no reason by itself for concern. The best way to
protect yourself is to use common sense, don't flaunt your possessions or wealth, and treat the locals with care and respect. In other words, act
like you're in someone else's country, not your backyard, and you're good. Major cities are, despite all the recent news reports safer than most
major U.S. cities (with the possible exception of certain sections of Tijuana these days), but I wouldn't spend a lot of time in them -- you can hang
out at Costco and Burger King back home.
\"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.\" -- Frank Zappa
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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Check th Baja Bookstore for cool books.
Get the AAA map of Baja. Plan your gas and overnight stops.
If you're camping, get Church's book "Camping Mexico's Baja" 2006
Don't stop in Tijuana.
Don't leave site of your car/belongings in Ensenada.
From San Quinton south, just use common sense.
Don't drive at night.
Camp in sight of others.
La Paz is pretty safe city. Get off the main streets during the day and find some more mexicana.
Carry an ATM card and use pesos for gas and most things.
You will find most locals to be very friendly when treated with respect.
.
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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I think the best approach is to have a sense of humor and don't be a show off with money, dress simple and nice and don't get drunk and wander off
alone or with *new friends*.
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
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I really like The Peoples Guide to Mexico. It has lots of good cultural information and lots of practical advice. It is also very funny at times. I
have just purchased There's a Word for it in Mexico, recommended by another Nomad, and it is very good on cultural issues.
Another book I have greatly enjoyed is Octavio Paz, A Distant Neighbor.
The Lonely Planet guides are useful and list good low price options for places to stay, eat etc.
One of my all time favorite books is Aztec. Great look at pre-Columbian Mexico and a gripping story.
This site is the best I have found for learning about the realities of what is happening now. There is a really great community here.
I have had the privilege of traveling over most of the Republic. There are many México’s. Each Mexico has it’s unique qualities, character, charm and
fascination.
DanO and Diver have given you some excellent advice.
Remember that Mexico is a Catholic country and most of the people on some level follow the tenants of the Church or at least maintain its values.
Don’t waste your time on being afraid. Be aware, don’t walk around afraid. Move slowly and take the time to interact with people. Learn as much
Spanish as you can. People will help you and many will be very happy to have an opportunity to practice their English.
I have found Mexico to be very safe and the people extraordinarily kind and helpful.
I have some more advice. Do not hang around the drug scene. It is everywhere and it is very dangerous. The guy who sells you the joint, line, rock
etc. may turn you in. Mexican Jails are very BAD. One must buy even the most essential things in Mexican Jails. You will never want to spend any time
in one.
Pay the mordida, bribe, if it is reasonable. It can and usually is negotiable to a point. The mordida has been around for a very long time and your
resistance to it will not change it.
Don’t try to change anything. Keep an open mind. Don’t expect that the person you had a great time with yesterday will actually return as he said he
would. It isn’t personal. You might be interested in the thread Cultural differences ain’t they Fun on this site.
Don’t go on drinking binges with people you do not know. In fact I don’t think it is a good idea to get drunk to the point of being out of control in
any foreign country. I don’t even recommend it in the USofA. Mexicans can go on Barachos sp? for days at a time. You will not enjoy this ride.
Be quiet, modest and respectful. Be kind and take your time. These are qualities much appreciated in a Mexico that is used to seeing NorteAmericanos
getting drunk, loud and obnoxious.
Enjoy. You will have the adventure of your life in Mexico.
Iflyfish
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13048
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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All of the above is great info...something we do here which has been a big help to baja newbies is a good orientation. We do it for the cruisers
coming down as well as campers and they really benefit from it. If you'd like to come and visit for a few days we can show you the ropes, introduce
you to mexican folks and chat about the culture as you experience it. It works better than books and after people have been here a bit, they feel
ready to travel on their own. There are a few tricks to enjoying baja to the max and we'd be happy to share some of them with you.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3508
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
All of the above is great info...something we do here which has been a big help to baja newbies is a good orientation. We do it for the cruisers
coming down as well as campers and they really benefit from it. If you'd like to come and visit for a few days we can show you the ropes, introduce
you to mexican folks and chat about the culture as you experience it. It works better than books and after people have been here a bit, they feel
ready to travel on their own. There are a few tricks to enjoying baja to the max and we'd be happy to share some of them with you.
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Wow. What a great idea! Iclarke, take Shari up on this invite. You'll learn things that aren't in the books.
I would add: go to your nearest Barnes and Noble, or Borders, check out the Baja book section, spend hours reading everything on travel there, buy
some books for reference, and you're home free.
What a great adventure.
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Iflyfish
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3747
Registered: 10-17-2006
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You have struck paydirt amigo.
You would learn more in that one place in two weeks than you would in a month of bleary eyed, tense travel.
Take Shari up on that offer. You will not regret it and it is DOABLE.
Ilfyfish
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toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
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Mood: Skeptical
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Some great advice given here by Nomads. See Shari. That visit will give you experiential confidence. Then your confidence will build each day and you
will be able to relax into your adventure.
A word of caution: Don' t get over-confident! This rule should apply anywhere in the world. You must take the usual precautions.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3508
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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| Quote: | Originally posted by lencho
Here in La Paz, for example, I'm often aware of burning hemp, but in the last 10 years I've only been approached once by anybody trying to sell me
anything...--Larry |
Don't be lulled into a false sense of security.
Only buy from someone you know. If someone were to approach you on the streets of Cabo or La Paz, just say no. There are stories of stings
happening. Maybe that's an urban myth.
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18398
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Diver
Don't stop in Tijuana.
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Ignore this advice. TJ has great restaurants, a great museum, great art scene, good theater.
Just stay away from the gringo disco scene on avenida revolucion.
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4059
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Diver
Don't stop in Tijuana.
Don't leave site of your car/belongings in Ensenada.
La Paz is pretty safe city. |
Wrong mi amigo on those 3, I think Ian should first stop in Tijuana as a must, visit with me for a day, get an intro to the culture, customs, people
and then I take him to the bus station and hand him comitans advice from the other post to him. I would only ad a visit to the B&B in Bahia
Asuncion and in La Paz visit with comitan.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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