Is anyone second guessing?

[mstevens]

I got back from the island yesterday, to be greeted by a nor'easter. The hospital is hopping with injuries from roads that are slicker than greased owl snot. I was more worried about my personal safety driving to work this morning than I was all last week.

We didn't think twice about wandering around San Miguel's back streets at night with my elderly parents even though my dad wore a man-purse around his neck to advertise where his money was to the nonexistent muggers.

No place is completely safe, but there are many places in my local area where I'm more concerned about personal safety than in Cozumel - and I live in rural New Hampshire, which is not exactly a hotbed of crime.

Now, if you're talking about Cancun then that's a different matter. Me no likey Cancun.

 

[sealskin98]

Guess I'll not do anymore solo trips to Piedras Negras or Nuevo Laredo for awhile, even though Moderno's in P.N. is a good restaurant.

my neighbor just got back this weekend from Progresso Mexico (border town) he had a great time no problems at all....

Ann, I'm sure you are talking about Nuevo Progreso by Weslaco and not the Progreso by Meridia in Q. Roo, right? I got a good pair of sandals in Nuevo Progreso for a decent price a couple of years ago.

Coz. should be O.K., as long as you don't go to Cancun or somewhere and get stupid with what you're doing. Although getting stupid in Cancun can cause problems no matter the political climate. :shocked2:

 

[parrotheaddiver]

Ann, I'm sure you are talking about Nuevo Progreso by Weslaco and not the Progreso by Meridia in Q. Roo, right? I got a good pair of sandals in Nuevo Progreso for a decent price a couple of years ago.
:

Mike you are correct...he said he had a great meal at Garcia's just hearing about it made me hungry and wanting to go...we are going to SPI in May....I just may slide on down there and have lunch....

 

[sharky60]

never

 

[Sue Sue]

there trips to Coz based on government warning that now include more than border towns

Simply put, No.

 

[stortecky]

I think with the sharp decline in the mexican economy you are giong to see crime go up everywhere. Mainly small stuff like theft and muggings, the same thing happen in the United states. I felt very safe in Cozumel and have no worries about the drug cartels you are seeing on TV.

 

[scubawife]

It is not that I don't believe you, but could you please provide a link. I'd like to read the details myself.

Thanks,

PH

You can follow Por Esto, Diario de Quintana Roo and Noticaribe online. Not saying that any of these are exactly the NY Times, but they do report all the drug happenings and related criminal activity, complete with gruesome photos when given the opportunity.

There was a drug guy shot in his vehicle right outside his home a few months back. There's also been some sizable quantities of drugs that came ashore and were intercepted by the military in the last year. The military guys with their sniffing dogs are on the ferry piers in Playa and Cozumel for a good reason.

There were also 4 or 5 police assassinated in Playa, drug killings down around Tulum, and a guy was shot in Akumal when he interrupted a burglary and car theft at his villa. There's been an increase in military check points on 307 through the Riviera Maya since last summer. They're looking for drugs, weapons and kidnap victims.

The Cuban refugee trafficking businesses also increased.

Not sure if this is true or not but a few people have told me that a big part of why most of the banks won't exchange USD for pesos anymore in Playa and Cozumel is because this is one of the ways the drug gangs were laundering their money.

All that said, I fell unquestionably safer walking around Cozumel then many of the streets in the neighborhood I lived in and parts of the city I worked in in NYC. Stay out of places you don't belong, don't go looking for drugs, don't flash around a lot of cash, jewelry, expensive electronics, etc., and you shouldn't have any problems.

So far I haven't read or heard of an innocent tourist getting caught up in anything in this area of Mexico. Tourism is this regions top businesses. If tourists don't feel safe they won't come. In Quintana Roo it seems that the military and police and doing what they can to keep the drug cartels and all that comes with them from escalating. It doesn't bother me to see more guys with big guns walking around or doing check stops. I would be more worried if they weren't doing it.

 

[Christi]

And FYI to those of you who think this is some NEW development.

In the late 80's, over 20 years ago...I was a Sophomore at the University of Texas. Some of you may remember this big news story....it was even on Dateline and 48 Hours. A friend of mine, in our Spring Break Travel group was abducted and savagely murdered our last night of Spring break in South Padre Island. We had gone across the border to Matamoros as all kids on Spring break in South Padre do. He disappeared...he was abducted. It wasn't until months later that we learned the truth...that he was the victim of a satanic sacrificial killing that was believed to be drug cartel related.

The point to my story is that these things have been going on for YEARS so I don't understand the sudden dramatization! Although this tragedy did happen in a Mexican border town, they happen EVERYWHERE! Has anyone watched the Los Angeles news lately...or Chicago, Dallas,Houston, St. Louis, etc.

I'll add that even though I was a secondary victim to this brutal crime...I still moved my entire life to Mexico. Cozumel IS NOT a Mexican border town nor is it Cancun or Mexico City or Tabasco.

Based on some's logic here, I shouldn't travel anywhere in the US since murders happen....it's all in the same country right?

Off my soapbox

 

[scubawife]

Based on some's logic here, I shouldn't travel anywhere in the US since murders happen....it's all in the same country right?

Off my soapbox

Yup, the US is on the travel alert/warnings list of several countries. Some of our cities are even given a "high alert" warning.

Just don't leave your common sense and good judgment at home and all should be fine.

Hmmm, maybe the AI's are behind the increase in the Mexico drug violence stories on our news. Would sure boost their businesses if tourists are made to be afraid to venture to local restaurants and shops.

(Christi, that's a rough situation to deal with as a college student. Since I've been in NYC I've had friends or coworkers get stabbed, mugged and murdered. You're right. It can and does happen everywhere.)

 

[sealskin98]

Yeah, I guess we'd better cross these states off the travel list:

Georgia
Idaho
Texas
Massachusetts
Ohio
Michigan

States urged to improve probation, parole programs -- chicagotribune.com



I also heard on a newscast that mexican drug cartel's members had been arrested as far north as Alaska and South Dakota...I ain't goin'.