LIFE IS GOOD IN MEXICO
|
Is Mexico Really Unsafe?
The media tends to sentimentalize crime in Mexico. Statistically, however, Mexico is quite safe. Even mild-mannered nations, such as Switzerland and Sweden, exceed Mexico in murders, according to Nations Master.com. Places one thinks of as idyllic Caribbean retreats have at least double the homicides of Mexico. New Orleans and Washington D.C. are far more dangerous than Mexico City. Unless you are involved in the drug trade, you are safer in most parts of Mexico than in the U.S., when analyzed statistically. Well-known travel expert, Peter Granberg, relayed to Consumer Affairs reporter, Daryl Nelson, the following: "If you look at the map, Mexico is a huge country. Whatever violence is happening, is mostly, Mexican toward other Mexicans. Americans are not being targeted, and let's take a look at where it's happening. It's happening in locations where Americans don't even go ~ in Nuevo Laredo, Ciudad Juarez ~ for instance; and, if you actually look at the real numbers of how many people have been killed in the drug violence (it's staggering), there's no getting around that. Depending on who you believe, between 40,000 to 60,000 people in the last twenty years. Ask yourself, of those, how many were Americans? I can tell you, less than twenty people ~ of those twenty, I think seventeen people were vacationing American drug dealers, because look where they were killed. They were killed in places like Nuevo Laredo and Ciudad Juarez." Our State Department warns of only four 'hot zones' within Mexico. They are: Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango and Tamoulpas. Baja California Sur is considered a very safe location in which to travel. The solution is simple, when moving to, or visiting Mexico, avoid border zones, cartel hot spots and dark abandoned roads; otherwise, you are quite safe. mezcal distilled alcoholic beverage
|
This is the Baja Peninsula.
When You Take Your Car to Mexico
There is no Temporary Import Permit within the entire Baja peninsula. Your vehicle will need to be licensed at some point. When you register your vehicle it must be at the border of Baja, which will be Tijuana. Mexican registration is $1,500.00 U.S.D. Many Americans have found a way around this. You can obtain Mexican auto insurance issued by an authorized Mexican insurance company. If you rent a vehicle in Mexico, your U.S. insurance doesn't cover you. An additional policy must be obtained from the rental agency. Liability insurance is all that's required. Don't eat the fish.
One of the great perks in Mexico is going to a fisherman landing area and buying fresh fish. The fish is wonderful and usually less than ten dollars. However, one should be careful during the summer, when the temperatures are high. Many of the boats have poor icing facilities, if any. Your fish may not have been kept as cool as necessary. We had some guests at our villa who became ill from shrimp they purchased off a truck in town. I went fishing and caught some great tuna and Dorado. The fisherman cleaned our fish and we even ate some fresh, raw tuna on the shore. What a great experience. Temperatures were mild and the fishing was great. 
|
