Is Mexico Safe?

[SchizzMan]

Originally Posted by mikemike

you pulling my leg or doing the perrito cartel?

Haciendo patas de perro.

[Sporting Wood]

Originally Posted by tricepilot

This is this morning after leaving Matehuala. It's about 9:30 am as this was shot.

Got home later this afternoon

This is that twisty stretch on the Grand Funk Railroad, Mx57D, as you are coming to Saltillo where it meets up with Mx40D headed to Monterrey.

I've never seen so much truck traffic on the highway headed north. México's economy is rising. Fast.

When I get home from trips, I get busy with other things and lose the immediate sense of certain things. Hopefully some of the GoPro footage will help me capture and keep the vibe as close to what I felt.

Economics are indeed fantastico in Me-hico nowadays

That stretch of 57 right there iirc, is where the us embassy suburban was ambushed at a 'fake' embassy checkpoint and one dea agent killed, another wounded a few years ago.

And if I may add a recommendation iffin its the twisties you're after, make a left in San Luis Potosi towards Rio Verde, to Valles. Then right down 85 south and make a way over towards San Juan del Rio, back north on 120 towards Jalpan and Xilitia.... Extra credit if you divert off 85 towards 37 or 105.... Tons of incredibly twistyness, some of the best in the world around there. Jealous! I have friends and places to stay all around that area, haven't been on it on 2 wheels since 2007. :'(

[gplassm]

My wife and I went to Puerto Vallarta way back in 1987(?). I kind of liked it. She hated it. I guess that she had some other vision of Mexico in her mind. A tropical paradise, it isn't. The place was pretty dirty, overall, and we did not feel very safe, even back then, so we tried to stay where the other tourists were. There were police with M-16's pretty much everywhere, and we always had this feeling that things could turn to shit at any time. The nightclub scene was pretty amazing, but I remember that we always seemed to be out of sync with everything. For the most part, people woke up at 3 or 4 in the afternoon, and partied until sunrise. We would go out to dinner at 6 or 7 PM, and the place would be deserted. The crowd would come in at 11 or 12. We were told by the Hotel staff to stay off of the beach at night, or we might never come back. We listened. Stuff was inexpensive, in general, but seeing how the general population lived was kind of disturbing.
Right around that time, Cancun was the place to go, not PV, but we got a deal and off we went.
I am certain that my wife would never go back. Not even if it was free. Even though this thread is mostly assuring us that the place is safe, with my luck, I would find the bad guys. It's just not worth the risk.
Costa Rica?...Maybe, but gringo's disappear there as well.

[tricepilot]

Originally Posted by Sporting Wood

And if I may add a recommendation iffin its the twisties you're after, make a left in San Luis Potosi towards Rio Verde, to Valles. Then right down 85 south and make a way over towards San Juan del Rio, back north on 120 towards Jalpan and Xilitia.... Extra credit if you divert off 85 towards 37 or 105.... Tons of incredibly twistyness, some of the best in the world around there. Jealous! I have friends and places to stay all around that area, haven't been on it on 2 wheels since 2007. :'(

Ah, buena sugerencia, but if I may ask you to hold your chaps, more video coming of Mil Cumbres and other delights.

Sorry though, I've ridden those roads you mention but didn't have the GoPro with me. You'll have to take my word for it.

[tricepilot]

Originally Posted by Sporting Wood

That stretch of 57 right there iirc, is where the us embassy suburban was ambushed at a 'fake' embassy checkpoint and one dea agent killed, another wounded a few years ago.

Ah, no.

That incident happened near the town of Santa Maria Del Rio, south of San Luis Potosi

[tricepilot]

Originally Posted by gplassm

My wife and I went to Puerto Vallarta way back in 1987(?).

We were told by the Hotel staff to stay off of the beach at night, or we might never come back.

That's because it was..........................The Night of the Iguana

[TRAVELGUY]

Eight months ago I returned to USA from living in Costa Rica for two years. Two hours ago I returned from a nine day ride thru the Copper Canyon area of Mexico. This was my 8th trip into Mexico. Have ridden north to south and east to west in that country as I have in Costa Rica. Have never felt any more danger than I normally feel in the USA which I have traveled south to north and east to west. During the past eight years I have spent about five of them someplace in Central America. I do a lot of the "night life" in those countries and spend a lot of time with local people. I'm not sure how to find problems/trouble in these countries but I haven't been able to.

The Hondurus police played with me a little one day but nothing that I haven't seen happen in USA. All other times I have been treated with professional conduct and helpfulness even letting me out of some serious speeding issues without even asking for a propina.

I just cannot say enough good about the Central American people except possibly some rudeness in Belize.

Just my experience and two cents!

TravelGuy

Originally Posted by gplassm

My wife and I went to Puerto Vallarta way back in 1987(?). I kind of liked it. She hated it. I guess that she had some other vision of Mexico in her mind. A tropical paradise, it isn't. The place was pretty dirty, overall, and we did not feel very safe, even back then, so we tried to stay where the other tourists were. There were police with M-16's pretty much everywhere, and we always had this feeling that things could turn to shit at any time. The nightclub scene was pretty amazing, but I remember that we always seemed to be out of sync with everything. For the most part, people woke up at 3 or 4 in the afternoon, and partied until sunrise. We would go out to dinner at 6 or 7 PM, and the place would be deserted. The crowd would come in at 11 or 12. We were told by the Hotel staff to stay off of the beach at night, or we might never come back. We listened. Stuff was inexpensive, in general, but seeing how the general population lived was kind of disturbing.
Right around that time, Cancun was the place to go, not PV, but we got a deal and off we went.
I am certain that my wife would never go back. Not even if it was free. Even though this thread is mostly assuring us that the place is safe, with my luck, I would find the bad guys. It's just not worth the risk.
Costa Rica?...Maybe, but gringo's disappear there as well.

[acejones]

Its interesting how perceptions and attitudes work. I'll be heading to Puerto Vallarta Monday. It'll be the seventh or eighth time we've be there in as many years. We've always been treated well, dined well, and always had a great visit. We'll be there for two weeks this time. FWIW, I don't do late night bars or roam the streets late at night. I've been going to Mexico frequently since I was three years old ( now 65). Is Mexico safe ? It has been for me and I've been all over the country, by plane, car, and motorcycle.

Viva, Mexico !

[Sporting Wood]

Originally Posted by tricepilot

Ah, no.

That incident happened near the town of Santa Maria Del Rio, south of San Luis Potosi

Eh, ya drone down 57 enough it all starts to look the same. My bust, that looked like it in the video...or maybe I have my incidents mixed up. I remember 'something' occurring in that little mountain pass stretch but I'm old and my brain is fastly becoming avena.


Be sure to stop at the hovels in the desert where the indians sell dried rattlesnakes...and as 57 goes south Inthink the roadside stands are selling fresas con crema this time of year.. Cheers

[SchizzMan]

Enjoying Mole Poblano at La Cabaña taqueria in the Central Historic district of Zacatecas, Mx.


And, yes, I still feel safe here.


Just watch were you park it.

[eakins]

I lived just north of PV for almost a year.
The area now is nothing like you describe.
Sounds like you and your wife do well with staycations.

Originally Posted by gplassm

My wife and I went to Puerto Vallarta way back in 1987(?). I kind of liked it. She hated it. I guess that she had some other vision of Mexico in her mind. A tropical paradise, it isn't. The place was pretty dirty, overall, and we did not feel very safe, even back then, so we tried to stay where the other tourists were. There were police with M-16's pretty much everywhere, and we always had this feeling that things could turn to shit at any time. The nightclub scene was pretty amazing, but I remember that we always seemed to be out of sync with everything. For the most part, people woke up at 3 or 4 in the afternoon, and partied until sunrise. We would go out to dinner at 6 or 7 PM, and the place would be deserted. The crowd would come in at 11 or 12. We were told by the Hotel staff to stay off of the beach at night, or we might never come back. We listened. Stuff was inexpensive, in general, but seeing how the general population lived was kind of disturbing.
Right around that time, Cancun was the place to go, not PV, but we got a deal and off we went.
I am certain that my wife would never go back. Not even if it was free. Even though this thread is mostly assuring us that the place is safe, with my luck, I would find the bad guys. It's just not worth the risk.
Costa Rica?...Maybe, but gringo's disappear there as well.

[BobLoblaw]

Originally Posted by tricepilot

That's because it was..........................The Night of the Iguana

that photo makes me hungry and not for herbivorous lizard

[SR]

Originally Posted by gplassm

My wife and I went to Puerto Vallarta way back in 1987(?). I kind of liked it. She hated it. I guess that she had some other vision of Mexico in her mind. A tropical paradise, it isn't. The place was pretty dirty, overall, and we did not feel very safe, even back then, so we tried to stay where the other tourists were. There were police with M-16's pretty much everywhere, and we always had this feeling that things could turn to shit at any time. The nightclub scene was pretty amazing, but I remember that we always seemed to be out of sync with everything. For the most part, people woke up at 3 or 4 in the afternoon, and partied until sunrise. We would go out to dinner at 6 or 7 PM, and the place would be deserted. The crowd would come in at 11 or 12. We were told by theHotel staff to stay off of the beach at night, or we might never come back. We listened. Stuff was inexpensive, in general, but seeing how the general population lived was kind of disturbing.
Right around that time, Cancun was the place to go, not PV, but we got a deal and off we went.
I am certain that my wife would never go back. Not even if it was free. Even though this thread is mostly assuring us that the place is safe, with my luck, I would find the bad guys. It's just not worth the risk.
Costa Rica?...Maybe, but gringo's disappear there as well.

ADVENTURE RIDER

Ad`ven´ture
n.1.
1.That which happens without design; chance; hazard; hap; hence, chance of danger or loss.
Nay, a far less good to man it will be found, if she must, at all adventures, be fastened upon him individually.
- Milton.
2.Risk; danger; peril.
He was in great adventure of his life.
- Berners.
3.The encountering of risks; hazardous and striking enterprise; a bold undertaking, in which hazards are to be encountered, and the issue is staked upon unforeseen events; a daring feat.
He loved excitement and adventure.
- Macaulay.
4.A remarkable occurrence; a striking event; a stirring incident; as, the adventures of one's life.
5.A mercantile or speculative enterprise of hazard; a venture; a shipment by a merchant on his own account.
A bill of adventure
(Com.) a writing setting forth that the goods shipped are at the owner's risk.
v. t.1.To risk, or hazard; jeopard; to venture.
[imp. & p. p. Adventured ( ); p. pr. & vb. n. Adventuring ( ).]
He would not adventure himself into the theater.
- Acts xix. 31.
2.To venture upon; to run the risk of; to dare.
Yet they adventured to go back.
- Bunyan,
Discriminations might be adventured.
- J. Taylor.
v. i.1.To try the chance; to take the risk.
I would adventure for such merchandise.

[tricepilot]

Originally Posted by BobLoblaw

that photo makes me hungry and not for herbivorous lizard

Interesting piece by John Huston about Puerto Vallarta:

LINK

"Now that I'm of a certain age, I'm following a piece of old Irish advice in going to live by the sea: 'It stops old wounds from hurting. It revives the spirit. It quickens the passions of mind and body, yet lends tranquility to the soul.'

[mark883]

Originally Posted by tricepilot

That's because it was..........................The Night of the Iguana

Originally Posted by SR

ADVENTURE RIDER

Ad`ven´ture
...
- J. Taylor.
v. i.1.To try the chance; to take the risk.

I would adventure for such merchandise.

Yes, yes I would. She (the woman) has a bit of the BSC look in her eyes though. Don't know what I'd do with the leeeezard......