BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?

Subject: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Raptor
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 03:14 PM

I'm going to Cabo san lucas for ten days

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 03:21 PM

Yes. Don't go. Don't know about Cabo San Lucas, compared to the rest, and the northern border states in particular, but I would think twice about any part of Mexico right now. I would fear the malcontents might have a hard time telling English speakers apart, Canadian or U.S.ian.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: pdq
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 03:35 PM

Cabo should not be a real problem.

Fly in, stay at a respected tourist hotel and visit the tourist spots.

It is not a good time to strike out accross country on your own. Drug wars going on.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: gnu
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 03:38 PM

Yeah, buy your extras at the pool, man. Stay safe.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 03:45 PM

One friend of mine flies down to Cabo twice a year for a week or ten days. Another friend just left the Baja, and is now in San Diego on his way home to Juneau.

This friend drove with another male friend through little towns and small highways. They had no trouble and were struck by the friendliness of the people.

They may have just been lucky- as well as using good judgment. We are well aware of the current violence and volatility of the border towns.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: gnu
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 03:52 PM

Well, if yer gonna go 'siding, go in the morning while the nare-do-wells are asleep.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: michaelr
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 03:57 PM

Don't drink the water.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 04:03 PM

NEVER ask them to show their badges! ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: gnu
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 04:05 PM

They got badgers in Mehico?

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Amos
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 04:08 PM

Enjoy yourself. Stick to bottled water. Be wary of public vegetables (probably not a problem if you're staying a resort). You should have no problem down in Cabo--I do not believe it is on any of the corridors of the turf wars and even so they have dropped out of the news pretty much.

A

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: open mike
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 04:35 PM

take diahrrhea medicine....
and be careful of the water...
even ice made from local
water could cause infection..

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: gnu
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 04:40 PM

Ice? Why would anyone use ice for anything other than topical application?

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: open mike
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 05:04 PM

travel guides here http://www.lonelyplanet.com
http://www.peoplesguide.com/1pages/info/book/1reviews/4dri-rv-nat.html

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Amos
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 05:47 PM

Cooling mixed drinks comes to mind.... but Open Mike is right--ice from bad water is bad ice.


A

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Alice
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 05:52 PM

Cabo is distant from most of the drug war going on, but it would be safest to fly in, not drive.

I made the mistake once of not telling a waiter to leave the ice out of my coke, drank it anyway, and was incredibly sick for the next 24 hrs because of it. It was in a very clean restaurant near San Patricio.

No ice in drinks! No tap water, just bottled water!

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: gnu
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 05:59 PM

Amos... "Cooling mixed drinks comes to mind..."

Oh my. I'll bet you stir your rum and coke with other than your middle finger. DISGUSTING! Where has proper etakwette and good manners gone?

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Lox
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 06:14 PM

Have fun.

Drink Beer!

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 06:27 PM

Don't worry unless you are going to the border towns.
In Acapulco, stay out of lower income areas, but all else OK; let the hotel or other people where you stay guide you to restaurants.

Cabo has good hotels and a couple of interesting small towns (eat a tamale for me, from one of the vendors in the town centers).
The drive down Baja California has many sights worth seeing, often a short drive off the main road; check a guide book.

Unless your car is a jalopy, rent a car on the Mexican side; gas is often low octane only, and your insurance on your own car may not properly cover you in Mexico.

Be careful of bottled water or other bottled drinks if it has been been in ice that has melted, more chance of bacteria than most of the water in major centers. If refrigerated it is OK.
I drink Dos Ecces myself.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 06:51 PM

Negra Modelo for me.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 07:54 PM

I like Negra modelo too, but higher in calories (they tell me). A good dark beer.
As I get older, I stick with Dos Ecces.

I once had a Mexican bartender grin at me and tell me Negra modelo was for sick people and old ladies.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 07:55 PM

Raptor-

"The water is delicious; it will keep you on the run!"

Give us a full report when you return. I'm sure your visit will be appreciated by the hotel and the local merchants.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Alice
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 08:35 PM

You mean the beer brand DOS EQUIS, (in English, two X's) correct?

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Louie Roy
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 10:59 PM

Keep your powder dry

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: open mike
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 11:03 PM

hey since i am a sick old lady today...negra modelo works just fine..
cures what ails ya, and makes eveyone look younger!

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Clontarf83
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 11:03 PM

Yes---advice? some thoughts

Be prepared to meet friendly people with a great sense of humour.

Stay away from timeshare presentations, no matter what they offer you

Don't fall for 2 for 1 drink offers---usually devoid of alcohol

Don't get to within 20 metres of a mariachi band--your hearing may be impacted

Ask taxi drivers how much before getting in.

Enjoy a fascinating, wonderful country with much to see

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Raptor
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 07:40 AM

I'm hoping for new birds for my list.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: maeve
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 07:55 AM

Here are a sampling of websites containing bird watching information for Mexico. Have a wonderful time, Raptor.

http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/birdmexico.htm

http://www.birdinginmexico.com/

http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com/mexico.htm

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 08:08 AM

Be prepared to haggle hard! The resort we were at was fabulous but out in the town (Playa del Carmen) they will try to extract as much money from you as they can! Very friendly people but the salesmen are very pushy.

Cheers and enjoy it:-)

DeG

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Raptor
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 11:19 PM

Thanks for the helpfull links.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: DougR
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 01:15 AM

I think pdq is probably correct. Cabo should be okay. I wouldn't suggest Juarez or most border cities however.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: kendall
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 09:17 AM

Stay off the moors.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Amos
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 11:50 AM

I think you'll have a great time. Don't worry about it, but keep your eyes open. Mexico is a land of paradoxes and has none of the complex protective laws which we are sheltered by here--litigious lawsuits and hand-holding juries, for example. You break your leg, it's your leg, and you have to own it.

A

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 12:39 PM

We do not visit the USA any more as we do not like some of the arrogant, thieving, bigotted gits you come accross.

Give me Latin America any time - lovely people.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Raptor
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 03:31 PM

Bonzo I love the USA and the wonderfull people in it. You do know that we're talking about another country though right?

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 09:17 AM

What a funny thing to say, Bonzo. There are "some arrogant, thieving, bigotted gits" in Salford but I chose to continue living there. There are some in the Lake District, some in France, even some here on Mudcat - But I still visit them all. Sounds like you may have had a bad experience and tarred all Americans with the same brush. Which is very unfair (and quite bigtted if I may say so!) IMO :-(

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Raptor
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 05:53 PM

3 more sleeps

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Eiseley
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 06:04 PM

Try to speak Spanish.

Subject: RE: BS: I'm going to Mexico any advice?
From: Deckman
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 07:35 PM

MUY CUIDADO!