And another thing about gringos and Baja and culture and courtesy…..
Over the last 50 years while traveling and living in Baja California I learned about the fact that most Mexicans are not into nudity. I learned when
and where it was Okay to show some skin --- almost never and almost nowhere.
Can’t expect everyone to know what I have learned by just coming here, keeping my eyes open and staying alive to do it over and over again.
Having said that it bothered me then and it bothers me now to see gringos without shirts in public places far from the beach – stores, churches,
schools, museums, etc.
Since it’s not my country I don’t have the standing to do much about my feelings when I see a surfer dude without a shirt wobbling around a little
tienda looking for something that has alcohol in it.
So far I have fought the good fight of trying not to change anything in my new country but sometimes it has been a challenge. My mind has looped hours
of film footage in make believe scenes where I set the shirtless straight without starting Mexican World War III.
Some examples:
1. I’m able to get the guy outside where I can explain his error and hope he’ll go to the car, put on a shirt, thank me while the counter girl is
smiling at me through the dirty window like I was San Jorge.
2. I’m not able to move the guy along, he wants to know why he’s being molested then I watch as I kick his a$$ but break about $400 dollars worth of
stuff in store.
3. Same as number 2 but he’s not as drunk as he looked and he kicks my a$$, the store people throw me out in the street.
4. We are both in better shape then we thought and we break $600 dollars worth of stuff and share the same hospital room and later I’m in Celda 1,
he’s in Celda 3 and he gets out 3 days ahead of me.
5. The fine, the store damage, the hospital and doctors costs, the mordida cause me to send for $4,100 dollars and I wind up sleeping in my car for 2
days waiting for the Western Union people to do me right.
The ultimate embarrassment of the whole episode plays out with more scenes of cavalier drama as I try to explain to the police, the store people, the
doctors and finally the judge that I was trying to be a good guest, an ambassador, spreading cultural goodwill and instruction throughout the land.
I won’t bother you with the one about the surfer girl. It’s long but it’s a hoot.
P.S. Since I don't want to offend my pal Woody and other surfers, kindly, as you will, please substitute the words librarian, Rotarian, proctologist,
contrarian, vegan, pirate or male nurse for the word "surfer".
Oh you are SO right! I get the same feelings you do - I REALLY want to say something to them. Just like women running around without bras on - I have
never (ug, that word again) seen a Mexican woman without a bra on.
I actually did say something once to a guy - he told me to mind my own business. Oh well. The thing is, is that now when I am up in the US I tend to
find myself offended by all the nudeness (for the lack of a better word).
Sometimes I wonder if it has something to do with self respect.
I don't think its a matter of having a problem with nudity, i think its more of a genetic thing, you know, we Mexicans genetically tend to be more
gordos and are not as comfortable showing our fat guts
Oh, that was funny - I had to laugh! I DO see lots of Mexican's with tummies hanging out - male and female and I think the same thing - should be a
law against that - and it's mostly the fat ones who do it.
I have to agree that it rankles just a little to see the guy, and yes he usually is a surfer or a good ol' boy, doing the tourist walk shirtless in
San Jose del. It just seems sensible to look around and see what the people are wearing and to try to blend in just a little, out of respect for the
local culture if nothing else.
I've even gone to wearing a collared shirt to town most of the time, but I draw the line at long pants on a hot day.
We were in a nice restaurant a few weeks ago and in came a bunch of guys, a few of whom wore nacky tank tops that looked like something to wipe oil
off my hands. Thoughtless.
Originally posted by JESSE
we Mexicans genetically tend to be more gordos and are not as comfortable showing our fat guts
Don't try to corner the Market on fat guts. Not to stray too
far, another thing that makes me cringe are Gringo's walking
the streets of San Felipe, beer in hand, or to see gringos
climbing out of their dune buggys, beer in hand.
Show respect for the Host Country and their mores,
I do fall into the category of Old Guy 70's Surfer and
20# over
I drive around shirtless and pretty much spend the summer that way. However I do slip on a shirt if others are around. Trying to be polite and also
I'm fat and conscience of it. Those that don't take that small consideration into mind really don't care and I'm pretty sure they are inconsiderate in
many more ways than going shirtless in public. I see very few people shirtless in public around here. Some of the workers around here are wearing
hoodies and swear they're cooler. I ain't buying it.
Bahia Concepcion where life starts...given a chance!
We once were camped out on Conception Bay over Easter week (1976) with a lot of Gringo groups around us, and a big group of Mexicanos beside us in one
camp. There were at least 5 couples sunbathing & swimming nude (all gringos) along the beach both north and south of us. Several of the Mexicano
men walked down the beach with mechetes in hand, and spoke to each group of nudes, group by group, but we could not hear what they said. Very soon
there was no more nudity. Problem solved, and the Mexicano's continued to be very friendly to our group of non-nudies, so don't think there was any
generic hostility towards gringos that we could discern.
Our take-------the nude-males were disgusting, but the co-eds definitely enhanced the beauty of the place , and the Mexicano's (the men) reluctantly and sheepishly agreed!!! The Mexicano women scowled at our comments,
and the kids laughed----hard. No big deal that we could tell.
But having said all this, I agree that the Mexicano's generally are much more modest, and seldom expose much skin----and think of those that do as
rude.
I have seen nudity on the beaches of Baja CA many, many times, but almost always in secluded beachy places where there were no locals present. Me, I
did my skinny-dipping and sun-showers in Baja at night just before bed---------and it feels sooooooo great!!!!
Going nude is nothing compared to those guy bicyclist in their spandex. I am practicing my projectile vomiting to spew at them. Can't they just wear
regular clothes? Nobody and I mean nobody want to see your spandex a$$.
Thank you Osprey for posting this. I am amazed by the people who come down here year after year, but never learn the customs and culture of what goes
on. It is considered impolite to go shirtless (for males) (( an exception is always made for someone of the fairer sex)). But it is perfectly
acceptable to roll your shirt over your stomach to cool off. We have a guy who has serious tatoos all over his body and if he could only understand
what the Mexicans are saying about him, he might show a little consideration and cover up some of his "fine art work". Course he as well as all of
his friends might question some of the nicknames that they have such as "Ate the whole damn tortilla", "Wolfman", "Osama Bin Ladin", "Gaviota," and "
Panza Burrito".
At least it provides entertainment to the locals and gives them something to talk about.
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, and the Mexicano's (the men) reluctantly and sheepishly agreed!!! The Mexicano women scowled at our comments,
and the kids laughed----hard. No big deal that we could tell. 
