Rosamunde
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 1-2-2011
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Snowbirds?
Happy New Year Nomads,
Please can someone tell me why there are so few Americans coming down to Baja Sur?
We have been traveling here every winter from Europe for eleven years because of the wonderful weather. Our trees are laden with fruit and I plant and
very quickly have vegetables and herbs ready to harvest in this mild climate.
I find it hard to believe that the druggie and paedophile murders are putting you all off. We read that there have been 30,000 murders over a four
year period in this huge country of which the overwhelming majority were drug realted but check the figures- there are 17,000+ murders EVERY year in
the USA.
Please do the math.
No Armas, no Drogas, no problemas!!
Rosamunde
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Bajatripper
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3152
Registered: 3-20-2010
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I did the math. Here's what it worked out to:
US population: 300 million plus. Mexican population: 100 million plus.
Your figures:
murders in US/year: 17,000
murders in Mex/year: 7,500 (do the math)
When accounting for differences for population sizes, it works out to about :
US: around 5,600 murders per 100 million inhabitants
Mexico: around 7,500 per 100 million inhabitants
Factor in the drug-related border violence that gets so much publicity in the US, and one can begin to understand the natural reluctance of some to
coming down here (I live in Mexico full time).
The above was just to humor you. I think the most likely factor in the downturn of US visitors to Mexico has less to do with the violence being
experienced along the border and much more to do with the ongoing economic crisis. People simply don't have the money to spare at the moment.
I, for one, enjoy the less-crowded beaches and better prices that a lack of Americans brings. However, I do feel badly for the Mexicans who depended
on tourism for their subsistence.
PS
You probably won't make many friends on this board by insinuating that Americans (as opposed to you as a European) are a bunch of cowards with your
very first post. One might reasonably conclude that the people who live nearest a place just might know more about the situation than someone living
further away.
Welcome to the Nomads.
[Edited on 1-2-2011 by Bajatripper]
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Rosamunde
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 1-2-2011
Member Is Offline
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Hey there
Sorry if you felt that my remarks were aimed at offending you. Not so. I just feel that everywhere, Europe and America, Mexico is getting such bad
press over the drug related massacres. Come on... The baddies are killing the baddies...aren't they?
I was upset that there were so few Gringos about to enjoy the great weather and the good food served in our local restaurants. My husband and I ate at
Equipales, on New Years Eve. A delicious meal, a quarter of the price we would expect to pay at home. The place was decorated beautifully, the service
was great.... But it wasn't even half full.
I certainly feel that America is fortunate, in very many ways, to have Mexico as it's neighbor. I also think that like me, a lot of people who enjoy
reading this forum, may feel some hesitation in joining in the forum, and they may even be hesitant about coming here. We, who are here, need to
spread the news that there are lovely generous people in Mexico. How we travel here and how we live, may give others the courage to drive through the
border areas and experience the magic of Baja too.
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skipowell
Nomad
Posts: 156
Registered: 11-9-2009
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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Well put Rosamunde!
Glad you are willing to put the extra effort into going to Mexico
We feel the same as you but we only live 20 minutes from the border and have a really hard time getting friends to come down!
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Bajatripper
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3152
Registered: 3-20-2010
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Rosamunde
Hey there
Sorry if you felt that my remarks were aimed at offending you. Not so. I just feel that everywhere, Europe and America, Mexico is getting such bad
press over the drug related massacres. Come on... The baddies are killing the baddies...aren't they?
I was upset that there were so few Gringos about to enjoy the great weather and the good food served in our local restaurants. My husband and I ate at
Equipales, on New Years Eve. A delicious meal, a quarter of the price we would expect to pay at home. The place was decorated beautifully, the service
was great.... But it wasn't even half full.
I certainly feel that America is fortunate, in very many ways, to have Mexico as it's neighbor. I also think that like me, a lot of people who enjoy
reading this forum, may feel some hesitation in joining in the forum, and they may even be hesitant about coming here. We, who are here, need to
spread the news that there are lovely generous people in Mexico. How we travel here and how we live, may give others the courage to drive through the
border areas and experience the magic of Baja too. |
No offense taken. Since I live in Mexico, I didn't think your remarks were aimed at me. I was only trying to give you a heads up on how some can react
to "newbies" to the board (I wouldn't consider you a newbie to Baja, given your 11 years experience) preaching to them.
And you are absolutely correct when you state that the majority of the killings that draw so much attention are problem resolutions between rival drug
gangs.
I do wonder, however, why anyone would be "upset" by the fact that they weren't surrounded by gringos in Mexico. While I have nothing against my
countrymen and women, I didn't move to Mexico to be surrounded by them. In fact, I seldom interact with gringos in La Paz. I like the solitude that
Baja offers.
I am glad that you enjoy the place so much, it is a beautiful place and we are lucky in so many ways to have it so near.
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bajabass
Super Nomad
Posts: 2016
Registered: 10-4-2006
Location: La Paz,BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Want to fish!!!
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Well put Bajatripper. I have had a rental 50 miles below the border for the last 8 years or so. I came to Mexico, or Baja to be more definite, to
relax, fish, and enjoy a much different pace of life. I too feel sorry for the negative impact that the economy and narco problems have brought to
Baja. That said, I jumped at the first chance to cash out of Orange County and vanish into Baja. As I sit at my computer, 5:30am, drinking my coffee
and listening to the roosters wake up, I know the sun will rise over La Paz, and another day of relaxing adventure will start soon. Odd term, relaxing
adventure, but I feel it sums up the idea I am attemping to convey. "No Bad Days", "No Hurry, No Worry", "Manana Land", all are coined phrases that
say a little about the wonder of life down here. Now I have only been a "full timer" since Christmas Eve, so I am sure the wonders of Baja Sur shall
seem commonplace, oh, say in 20-30 years!!!!
Keep your eyes on the road, and your hands upon the wheel!
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting
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It may be that the Gringos aren't going down because of so many Europeans .
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
Member Is Offline
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Deutschland
| Quote: | Originally posted by Rosamunde
Happy New Year Nomads,
Please can someone tell me why there are so few Americans coming down to Baja Sur?
We have been traveling here every winter from Europe for eleven years because of the wonderful weather. Our trees are laden with fruit and I plant and
very quickly have vegetables and herbs ready to harvest in this mild climate.
I find it hard to believe that the druggie and paedophile murders are putting you all off. We read that there have been 30,000 murders over a four
year period in this huge country of which the overwhelming majority were drug realted but check the figures- there are 17,000+ murders EVERY year in
the USA.
Please do the math.
No Armas, no Drogas, no problemas!!
Rosamunde |
My wife is still citizen of Germany and just loves Baja. She is a Doctor at UC Davis. She would not had found any sort of insinuating notes in your
post. Your post is just fine. Fact is...there are many non Americans that I know here in the States and in San Felipe (Canadians and Australian) that
would not had found your post negative.
We own a house in San Felipe for 8 + years, vacationing to Baja for 10 + years. I myself have been going to Mexico (Mexican Rivera - Belize) since
the early 80's. In all this time...there has been zero issues with our travels. Plan smart - be smart while traveling.
The 9-11 had it's impact ...but ...I didn't see much change in the tourist flow, just more cautionary tourists.
When the drugs wars started....it did scare many. I did see some change in the travels of Americanos. Night life was on the down. Yes....there were
those that stopped going.
Price of the gasoline escalation ($4.20) a few years back didn't help matters.
The market crash of the last few years....in my view,
that was the death bullet. I got business associates no longer in business. Friends that have lost on homes and investments. Job loss is a big shark
out there too. Who can really travel to Baja?
One cannot travel on goodwill. It takes money, and I suspect that the folks still going to Baja for vacation / living has made it through this
Frankenstein's economic monster.
My thinking is that Baja will not get back to normal business as usually.....not for five years. We have stopped investing any further. Have traveled
less.
Now...I just got a email from my wife who is in Germany currently. They are hard hit too, very hard.
[Edited on 1-3-2011 by mcfez]
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
Member Is Offline
Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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My general take on the reasons for the drop in tourism:
1. Bad economy
2. Narco Violence
3. Border Wait
I truly believe that the biggest reason more folks aren't coming down is because so many have less money in their pocket right now. Other popular
tourist destination north of the border are really hurting right now as well which would tend to prove my point.
Three or four years ago there was also the threat of narco violence down here but folks came anyway. Why? They had easy to get, equity lines of credit
and came down and spent a lot of that easy money, many buying homes and a lot of them coming back again the following month.
It was a good time for Baja but like they say, all good things must end one day.
The border wait will always be a problem to some degree and that will just always be an obstacle for some. I truly feel for the business community
down here that lives off tourism but for the rest of us it is kind of nice being able to enjoy Baja to ourselves.
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