[Texascavers] RE: Mexico #18 of 20
Sheryl Rieck said: Below is a link to a listing of the 20 most dangerous places. George was wondering if you think it is more dangerous in Mexico now than it was 20 years ago. We haven't been to Mexico in a while, but we were surprised to see it on this list. I don't think the majority of Mexico is dangerous at all. There are, and have always been, places you would want to avoid in Mexico City and other big urban areas, and along the borders both north and south, but otherwise I find it very safe. I've been going to Mexico almost avery year for the last 40 years, and I have never felt in danger. I even went during the years when the U. S. government issued travel advisories and was warning of danger south of the border. But they were mainly concerned with big cities and tourist areas. Cavers in the hinterlands have never been much threatened with the exception of a couple of incidents in Chiapas during the Zapatista rebellion. The most common problem one is likely to encounter is a mild police shakedown, and even those have lessened markedly in recent years. I'll be heading south in about 3 weeks. Mark Minton
[Texascavers] RE: Mexico #18 of 20
I just drove back from Xilitla, SLP, last night, after spending a week in Aquismon and Bustamante with 7 other Texas cavers. Our biggest worry was where to find open places to eat after getting back late from mapping caves each night. It's a very safe place if you use common sense and don't make yourself into a target. In fact, with the lack of deer, the highways are in some ways safer than our own. -- Jim Crash Kennedy, still very tired
Re: [Texascavers] RE: Mexico #18 of 20
That 16 hour drive tires me to. Get that sleep. What caves did you see, I'd like to here? Mark G From: Jim Kennedy jkenn...@batcon.org To: texascavers@texascavers.com Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 2:04:47 PM Subject: [Texascavers] RE: Mexico #18 of 20 I just drove back from Xilitla, SLP, last night, after spending a week in Aquismon and Bustamante with 7 other Texas cavers. Our biggest worry was where to find open places to eat after getting back late from mapping caves each night. It's a very safe place if you use common sense and don't make yourself into a target. In fact, with the lack of deer, the highways are in some ways safer than our own. -- Jim Crash Kennedy, still very tired
[Texascavers] RE: Mexico #18 of 20
Just returned from another delightful week in Mexico, where the only trouble seems to be how much of a good time to have. I have always felt safe, hitchhiking (years ago) as a single woman, taking buses or driving, visiting friends in cities or caving in remote areas. I have also always felt safe going thru military/armed checkpoints. Mexicans like most other people I've encountered around the world have generally been likeable and responsive to polite interaction. There does seem to be an increase in for ransom kidnappings of extremely wealthy Mexicans, at least according to the stories of my Mexican friends. I think the casual american would be quite safe from this. The only unpleasantness I ever experience is crossing back into the United States. Nancy
[Texascavers] RE: Mexico #18 of 20
Thomas Stich said: Maria insists that even Chiapas is quite safe for tourists these days. The caver incidents were just during the uprising, right? Correct. It probably wasn't the wisest thing to go to Chiapas at that time, especially into the hinterlands. For the same reason, we decided to cancel a trip to Oaxaca last year when there was unrest there due to the teachers' strike in Oaxaca City. Common sense must always prevail. Mark Minton
