Mexico

[blue61]

American mate.

Tequila though...

Them pesky yanks ffs. Albondigas though.

 

[fatshark]

Yeah from what's in the media Mexico seems to be frighteningly dangerous right now. Parts of it are clearly not much better than a full-on war zone, but it's typical media BS to make out like the whole country is a no-go area.

Mexico was absolutely ace 5 years ago, was there for 6 days and wished I could stay for a month. Would love to do a decent backpack of the country, amazing history, lovely people, insane food, fascinating wildlife and scenery. Would steer clear of the border areas though. Their tourism industry must have taken a massive knock and if one sticks to the right areas I reckon there's a great holiday to be had there on the cheap.

Of course I'm not a yank or pom, you chaps do seem to attract unwanted attention with the possibility of a dollar/pound-based ransom.

 

[ArtetaMoney]

Mexico was boss when I went to Cancun for Spring Break with my mates staying at a swingers hotel.

 

[Dymak]

It's not the first time something like this has happened in Mexico. The Tlatelo'lco ambush and massacre in 1968 was horrific and somewhat similar to what looks to have happened with these students:

 

[Billy Dean]

Yeah from what's in the media Mexico seems to be frighteningly dangerous right now. Parts of it are clearly not much better than a full-on war zone, but it's typical media BS to make out like the whole country is a no-go area.

Mexico was absolutely ace 5 years ago, was there for 6 days and wished I could stay for a month. Would love to do a decent backpack of the country, amazing history, lovely people, insane food, fascinating wildlife and scenery. Would steer clear of the border areas though. Their tourism industry must have taken a massive knock and if one sticks to the right areas I reckon there's a great holiday to be had there on the cheap.

Of course I'm not a yank or pom, you chaps do seem to attract unwanted attention with the possibility of a dollar/pound-based ransom.

My 60 year-old Dad spent 5 weeks there a couple of months ago around Mexico City and said it was fine. From what I've heard it's only certain areas that are affected by the narco stuff. Would've thought quite a lot of people still head down to Yucatan too.

 

[SerenityNigh]

My 60 year-old Dad spent 5 weeks there a couple of months ago around Mexico City and said it was fine. From what I've heard it's only certain areas that are affected by the narco stuff. Would've thought quite a lot of people still head down to Yucatan too.

Only certain areas = 80% - 90% of Mexico; Mexico City (in the nice parts) and the major resorts may be the only safe places

Power is spread between the Cartels, local police, federal government/police, and military, and they're not always working together.

The discovery of so many hidden graves after the disappearance of the students was not unexpected for many here. Hiding the dead — those killed in gun battles between rival gangs, or innocents killed after being kidnapped, or women killed after their use as sexual slaves ends — all of that is par for the course. An estimated 26,000 people have been reported missing since 2006, when the Mexican government launched its frontal assault against drug cartels and their cohorts.

"This is the story of Guerrero," said Ponce, the police officer, alluding to the grave sites, "but also of Chihuahua, Sonora … " he added, ticking off the names of Mexican states that have been seized in the grips of drug gangs and corrupt officials

http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-mexico-day-of-the-dead-20141101-story.html

 

[Billy Dean]

Only certain areas = 80% - 90% of Mexico; Mexico City (in the nice parts) and the major resorts may be the only safe places

Power is spread between the Cartels, local police, federal government/police, and military, and they're not always working together.



http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-mexico-day-of-the-dead-20141101-story.html

80-90%? Really? I would've thought that unlikely.

 

[SerenityNigh]

80-90%? Really? I would've thought that unlikely.

Hyperbole, but probably reasonably close. It's a very dangerous place in some areas--a place where local governments or cartels (or both, working together) can orchestrate mass "disappearances" without recourse. Unless you're aligned with the group in power in your region (assuming they stay in power), there's no safety.

 

[Fresh Prince of Belle Val]

Mexico was boss when I went to Cancun for Spring Break with my mates staying at a swingers hotel.

Tell me more

 

[Elong]

Planning a stop over for a week or so over there in another year or two, beautiful if you stay in the right places.

 

[ArtetaMoney]

Tell me more

Loads of swings, bit boring really

 

[witchdoc187]

i'm aiming for yucatan, mexico city and pacific coast then guatemala. I would rather die there than in my office