<p>
</p>
<p>This has already spilled over the border, which is why the U.S. citizens in the border states have a certain attitude at this point in time. But, this is political forum stuff, so it would have to be moved over there for anyone to really comment on it, other than to say it is very unfortunate that things have gotten to this point. :(</p>
<p>Poetgrl, I think you mean Colombia, not Columbia (Post #15)</p>
<p>Post #9, by katliamom:</p>
<p>"My heart just breaks for Mexico. It’s such a beautiful, interesting country, and completely at war with itself. Of course, having US for a neighbor doesn’t help – most of the drugs are made to be sold in the US – almost all of the guns used in this civil war come from the US. But hey, who needs realistic drug and gun policies, and I don’t mean them… "</p>
<p>I am both Mexican and American, and I totally agree with your post. However, what really is destroying Mexico is the corruption that has plagued it for centuries… or forever. It has made Mexico the ideal breeding ground for drug trafficking and many other criminal activities, including kidnapping for ransom. It was the kidnapping that made me leave Mexico almost 4 years ago.</p>
<p>I have many friends in Mexico, and I sent some of them a link to this page. I want to show them what Americans think of travelling to Mexico nowadays. What is the Mexican economy going to be like when there is no more international tourism to Mexico? It’s a frightening thought for us.</p>
<p>i worked for many years in mexico as a chemical engineer, mainly in small towns located in the states of tamaulipas and veracruz. these were peaceful and rather charming places, but if you drove south you ran into towns with sandbagged machine guns at the entry and exit roads. i was told this was to keep things under control, meaning there was a certain concern on the part of the federales that citizens of the rural areas might become so disenchanted with their lot in life that the seeds of yet another revolution could sprout. i have since come to subscribe to the theory that the us is allowing the flow of “undocumented” folks to continue here, in order to give some hope to the more aggressive individuals in latin america. we provide a kind of safety valve, in order to prevent an even more corrupt system from developing to the south. the devil you know…etc as for vacationing there, well i don’t know what else to say except watch yourself. and carefully. since my years there i note that ciudad victoria, the capital of tamaulipas, has become a kind of headquarters for the zetas.</p>
<p>On our trip to Quintana Roo years ago we passed a town whose name I cannot recall. It wasn’t a particularly big place (certainly not Merida) but the tour guide said that all Mexican towns of a designated size [population] are required by law to have a military fort situated nearby. At the time I thought he meant that the base was there for economic development purposes (employing locals) but after reading Toodleooo’s post #23 about sand-bagged roads and “control,” I wonder.</p>
<p>Yes, Williamsdad, I meant colombia.</p>
<p>I just was looking at my company’s website and there is a travel advisory for Mexico including the tourist areas saying it is high risk because of the drug violence.</p>
<p>with all due respect to your worldliness, i must say the nice folks who read these parent discussions probably need to learn a bit more about what it’s really like south of our border - once you get past the beaches, margaritas / cervezas, langostas - and smiling peasants. most certainly before you let your college kid go there for spring break. i remember not long ago when the areas mentioned in the link below were sleepy little towns whose main danger involved “tourista”.
[E-Notes:</a> Los Zetas: the Ruthless Army Spawned by a Mexican Drug Cartel - FPRI](<a href=“http://www.fpri.org/enotes/200805.grayson.loszetas.html]E-Notes:”>http://www.fpri.org/enotes/200805.grayson.loszetas.html)</p>
<p>Toodleooo, no need for sarcasm. Many of us here are fairly well informed on the situation in Mexico and are very alarmed by it. Hence the discussion.</p>
<p>what sarcastic? maybe you know how it really is there, and maybe you don’t. so to others who more likely don’t: be careful if you’re going; don’t underestimate the danger.</p>
<p>you mean this wasn’t sarcastic? because it sure sounded like it. but maybe it’s just plain old patronizing.</p>
<p>“with all due respect to your worldliness, i must say the nice folks who read these parent discussions probably need to learn a bit more…”</p>
<p>We visited Riviera Maya last December and stayed at a large resort. The resort was beautiful and we felt completely safe. We did go on one excursion with a group called Altournative and saw a checkpoint with armed guards, but in a sense, that precaution made us feel safer. At no point did we feel at risk and we enjoyed every minute of this beautiful country and its warm friendly people.</p>
<p>mate el mensaje, no el mensajero.</p>
<p>To each his own but I know my family won’t be returning anytime soon.</p>
<p>I am involved with two universities, one that has recently stopped all the study abroad programs in Mexico, and another that has had to suspend its programs with Tec de Monterrey.</p>
<p>The Department of State has issued a warning to American travelers. Also, the U.S. Consulate in some cities in Mexico have instructed Americans to have their minor dependents transported out of the country. Folks, it’s not Somalia but there is no doubt that there are increased and significant risks of personal safety in Mexico today. Obviously, private resorts are insular onclaves, but those that are providing additional armed guards these days are doing so for a reason. Remember, 28,000 people have died!!! Others have been robbed or kidnapped!</p>
<p>My wife and I visited Mexico City in 2002 to attend the wedding of our friends sister. The home we stayed at was located inside a gated community outside of the city and protected by a full-time armed guard. We were warned repeatedly to be careful since, as American tourists, we would be a target for thieves. Our hosts did feel comfortable with allowing us taking organized tours to Teotihuacan and Taxco, but they helped us to book tours through connections at a reputable major hotel. I loved seeing the museums and the country and I especially loved the food, but I have to admit that I didnt really relax for the entire 10 days we were there. I worry for our friends family since they are wealthy by Mexican standards, even though they would probably only be on the upper end of the middle-class spectrum in the United States.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>We have quite a few Mexican clients…at least, I’m pretty sure we do. They want their identities guarded at all costs, so we double password protect their files and only a few people can get into them. They don’t want anyone to have any idea they have assets or wealth because they fear kidnapping. (What a contrast with the US, where so many flaunt wealth that they don’t really have!)</p>
<p>Of course, if you’re looking for an authentic Mexican experience, you can always check out Arizona. From the Washington Times:
To all the people who think there are still safe havens for tourists, remember [Insight:</a> The Death of Innocents: The Luxor Massacre](<a href=“Error! - Archaeology Magazine Archive”>Insight: The Death of Innocents: The Luxor Massacre - Archaeology Magazine Archive) . It is only a matter of time before you see something like this happen in Mexico.</p>
<p>Katliamom, it may be PC to blame the US for the world’s woes, apparently including Mexico’s, but what exactly is your proposed solution? We could seal the US/Mexico border in a month if we really wanted to. That would significantly reduce the attraction of the drug trade because there would, by your statement, be nobody to buy the drugs. If we did, would Mexico suddenly become civilized? What’s your exit strategy for Mexico?</p>
<p>I do not pretend to have the expertise to solve this problem. I suspect neither do you.
I merely said that Mexico’s drug traffic mostly feeds the US market and the guns used in this traffic come from the US. The US is the primary client and the primary source of the weapons that make this process so difficult to erradicate. These are well known facts not entirely unrelated to this discussion.</p>
<p>We spent five wonderful days in Oaxaca last month, visiting my dad who has lived there for twelve years. Civil society feels very intact and we walked all over town and always felt safe. We took a day trip to Monte Alban ruins and another trip to Teotitlan del Valle to shop for rugs and textiles. Oaxaca has amazing cathedrals and we saw a free concert on a historical organ in the Basilica del Virgen de Soledad. The large indoor markets are amazing, too.</p>