Category Archives: Safety

Noticias 5/22/2013

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Rich

La Migra - The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the so-called Gang-of-Eight’s immigration reform bill 13-5, which includes a path to citizenship. After surviving a flurry of amendments intended to water the bill down, the bill now goes to the Senate floor where Republican Senators face the choice of angering their base or further alienating Hispanic voters. An immigration bill is also expected to be introduced to the House of Representatives in June.

Negocios – Nestle has opened a 130 million dollar expansion of its instant coffee factory in Toluca, boosting its capacity by 30 percent.  The new factory includes a biomass boiler that will allow the plant to produce 60 percent of its electricity needs by burning used coffee grounds. Buried at the end of that link is some disturbing news about falling productivity and a fungus from Central America threatening Mexico’s coffee production.Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã��Ã�¯Ã��Ã�¿Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¢Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¯Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¿Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã��Ã�¯Ã��Ã�¿Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¦ Read the rest

Posted in Beverages, Environment, Michoacan, Misc, Narcos, Safety | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Trip in Full

Posted on April 21, 2013 by churpa

So we made it. 6,500 miles in an ’87 Dodge van. We camped off-road in Chihuahua. We got lost at night on the back roads of Oaxaca. We drove through states, such as Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, that are known as hot spots in the narco wars. According to one study, we drove through three of the top twenty most violent cities in the world (by murder rate):  Acapulco, Torreon, and Culiacan.

                                                                                                                           photo by Gina Dilello

We rode the subways in Mexico City and walked the streets at night. The downside: getting groped once on the subway. The upside: getting plate after plate of free snacks at a cool bar that was hidden behind a tattoo shop and featured an amazing selection of Mexican microbrews.����¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½����¯�¿�½������¢����¯�¿�½������¯����¯�¿�½������¿����¯�¿�½������½����¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½����¯�¿�½������¦ Read the rest

Posted in Adventures, Best Of Mexico, Camping, Driving, Home, Narcos, Road Trip, Safety, Viva Mexico! | Tagged , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Road Notes–Nayarit/Sinaloa

Posted on April 17, 2013 by churpa

The libre from Tepic to Mazatlan is unusually good.

Driving through Culiacan was as awful as I remembered. Next time we will bite the bullet and take the cuota bypass.

For some reason the “libre” from Culiacan to Los Mochis charges occasional 20 peso tolls.


After our night at the Bel Mar in Mazatlan, we hit the road, hoping to make it to Alamos in time to camp for the night. However, the sun started to drop over Los Mochis. Feeling optimistic, we drove out to the coast to look for a beach camp spot. Playa el Marivi, near Topolobampo, proved uninviting. The area is pretty enough in a stark way, but by the time we arrived, the cluster of seafood restaurants was deserted and a cold wind was blowing in off the sallow gulf.����¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½����¯�¿�½������¢����¯�¿�½������¯����¯�¿�½������¿����¯�¿�½������½����¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½����¯�¿�½������¦ Read the rest

Posted in Cost of Traveling, Driving, Hotels-Hostels, Lodging, Nayarit, Pacific Coast, Road Trip, Safety, Toll Roads, Toll Roads | Tagged | 2 Comments

Road Notes: Puerto Angel to Melaque

Posted on April 12, 2013 by churpa

If you happen to stop in at Playa Banco de Oro, stop in at Restaurante Hermanos Galinda. The proprieter, Carmen, is super nice and makes a mean fried huachinango. Plus you can camp at her restaurant. Miss Lousiane hangs out at Restaurante Hermanos Galinda

Fish for breakfast!                                                     photo by Gina Dilello

Restaurante Hermanos Galinda                                               photo by Gina Dilello

A massive renovation of Highway 200 seems to be underway. Entire sections are being created, and some are already drivable.

We were pleased to note that free camping beaches can still be found on this route.

We got pulled over by crooked cops in Acapulco for a (supposed) seatbelt violation and they ran the usual number on us: threatened to keep Rich’s license, told us we’d have to go to the cop station to pay our fine, told us the fine would be 1200 pesos because (supposedly) neither Rich nor Gina were wearing their seat belts and had (supposedly) only put them on when we got pulled over.Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã��Ã�¯Ã��Ã�¿Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¢Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¯Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¿Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã��Ã�¯Ã��Ã�¿Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¦ Read the rest

Posted in Adventures, Best Of Mexico, Camping, Cost of Traveling, Favorites, Itineraries, Michoacan, Oaxaca & Chiapas, Pacific Coast, Restaurants, Road Food, Safety, Violence | 5 Comments

Crossing the Sierras

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Michael Huckaby

Spitting and Sputtering Our Way Across the Dusty Sierra Madre

Carl Lumholtz’s description of crossing the Sierra Madre Occidental in 1890 leaves one quaking with fear of the unknown. Not much has changed in 120 years, but the opportunity to try to retrace his route left us shaking with anticipation. Near the beginning of his journey in Sonora, he describes leaving Granados for Bacadehuachi, and Nacori Chico. This extant route is for four-legged foot traffic and vaqueros only. We checked it out when we made this trip in 2002, while looking for another Lumholtz landmark Cara Pintada, which is just outside Granados. At that time, the road was paved only as far as the new intersection at the top of the spectacular climb outside Huasabas and northward to Nacimiento La Caracol, a verdant spring in a fold of parched sedimentary cliffs north of Bavispe.Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã��Ã�¯Ã��Ã�¿Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¢Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¯Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¿Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã��Ã�¯Ã��Ã�¿Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¦ Read the rest

Posted in Adventures, Camping, Chihuahua, Copper Canyon, Driving, Historical, Northern Mexico, Photography, Safety, Travel Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Q&A with Carl and Lorena

Posted on December 28, 2012 by churpa

To mark the publication of the 40th anniversary edition of The People’s Guide to Mexico,  the good folks over at Moon Travel Guides just posted a fun Q & A with Carl and Lorena.

 Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã��Ã�¯Ã��Ã�¿Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¢Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¯Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¿Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã��Ã�¯Ã��Ã�¿Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¦ Read the rest

Posted in Adventures, Historical, Nostalgia, Safety, Viva Mexico!, Where Are We Now? | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Question from a Reader: Are Spanish Homestays Safe and How do I Meet People in Vallarta?

Posted on November 13, 2012 by churpa

Hello,

I am a 43 year old female from Canada and I am thinking of going to Puerto Vallarta to study Spanish for 6 weeks with Spanish Abroad.

I would be going by myself and living with a family while studying.  Is this safe?

Also, I know there are Canadians and Americans that are retired and living in PVR, is there a network on how to meet some of these people and make some contacts?

Thank you.

Katia :-)

Hi Katia,

Thanks so much for writing! Short answer: yes, it’s safe. Or as safe as anything in this mundo de locura. I have never personally used the Spanish Abroad program, but as I’m sure you already know it is very well rated.Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã��Ã�¯Ã��Ã�¿Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¢Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¯Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¿Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã��Ã�¯Ã��Ã�¿Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¦ Read the rest

Posted in FAQ, Home, Live & Retire: FAQs, Puerto Vallarta, Safety, Studying Spanish, Women | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Atlantic Claims Mexico is Rooting for U.S. Pot Legalization

Posted on November 6, 2012 by churpa

An article in The Atlantic reports that “a respected Mexican think tank” (IMCO) has determined that if Oregon, Washington and Colorado vote to legalize marijuana, it could significantly damage cartel revenue. The author writes:

“The updated research suggests that cartels earn $6 billion each year from marijuana sales in the United States. If Washington, the state most likely to pass its ballot measure, does so, IMCO reports it will cut the cartels’ income by $1.37 billion, or about 23% of their revenue (though some cartels will be hit harder than others). Legalization in Oregon and Colorado would result in similar declines.”

An interesting thought, though the title of The Atlantic article is a bit misleading: “Why Mexico is Rooting for U.S.Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã��Ã�¯Ã��Ã�¿Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¢Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¯Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¿Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã��Ã�¯Ã��Ã�¿Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¦ Read the rest

Posted in Narcos, Violence | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Policia and Driving Laws Update

Posted on October 20, 2012 by el codo

The PFP Federal High Patrolmen are pretty straight-laced these days. If you get stopped and ticketed, you can go online and see how much your ticket is going to cost. I keep in mind the highway patrol has “instant on” radar and they know how to use it.

http://pfptpiiweb01.ssp.gob.mx/LinCap/LineaCap.jsp

Seat belt use is now mandatory on every federal highway in México. Federal Highway patrolmen are frequently stationed just after a cuota toll booth, so buckle up or get nailed. The federal cops are now extremely strict about this law, and they look at every motorist. Fines can run to the equivalent of sixty US dollars or more! Cities and towns frequently have seat belt laws that are strictly enforced and fines there are expensive too.Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã��Ã�¯Ã��Ã�¿Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¢Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¯Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¿Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã��Ã�¯Ã��Ã�¿Ã��Ã�½Ã���Ã�¯Ã�¿Ã�½Ã���Ã��Ã�¦ Read the rest

Posted in Alerts & Warnings, Driving, Home, Logistic, Safety | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Trans-Americas Journey Sets the Record Straight

Posted on September 9, 2012 by churpa

Jeff alerted me to this excellent post: Top 10 Reasons to Go to Mexico (a retrospective), which was originally posted at Trans-Americas Journey. We can’t help but like a blog that makes the following point:

“For the record: after 18 months of independent overland travel driving nearly 25,000 miles through 29 of the country’s 31 states we can report, first hand, that we have never seen or sensed any threat or danger of any kind at any point anywhere in Mexico. Period.”

But it’s well worth checking out for detailed and amusing breakdowns of some of Mexico’s most fantastic and lesser known gems. Andale!

 

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/travelblogs/1005/122689/Top+10+Reasons+to+Go+to+Mexico+(a+retrospective)?destId=361490#ixzz25u928h00����¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½����¯�¿�½������¢����¯�¿�½������¯����¯�¿�½������¿����¯�¿�½������½����¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½����¯�¿�½������¦ Read the rest
Posted in Adventures, Best Of Mexico, Blogs, Safety, Travel Writing, Violence | Tagged , | Leave a comment