I love the Mexican people too. And I loved being there back in the late 60s. But I never had a good impression of the police down there. They seemed like paramilitary thugs to me. I wasn't a person who would have attracted their attention back then, being a young, studious, short-haired student, so I didn't have much to worry about.

It's the same deal in Trinidad. The people are lovely. The police are corrupt. And the crime scene is VERY BAD. I do not advise going out much in Trinidad at night and looking like you have money...

This is what happens when you have massive economic equality in a society and terrible poverty alongside conspicuous wealth (for a few) and a really corrupt political system.

I think there are probably some localities in Mexico that are quite pleasant (referring to your friends who stay down there half the year, Ebbie) and if you get to know some of the locals, that's a big help anywhere in avoiding unnecessary trouble.