Why would anyone go to Mexico?

[Minuteman2012]

I don't need to go to Mexico.

Mexico moved here.

Aight, for real.

 

[lucius]

Agree, sorry to see your are banned...

Ever been?

I love Mexico and am, in fact, expatriating there very soon (assuming all the stars align).

 

[LiveFree79]

Well as some who got married in Mexico last summer with the recent events over the last year I have to be honest I'm torn. Part of me wants to have nothing to do with Mexico but the people are truly a very warm, welcoming and good people. The country has some of the most beautiful places in the world. I got married in Cabo at an all inclusive resort. It was amazing and my wife and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding and experience. I've also vacationed in Puerta Vallarta. Again a very pleasant experience. I don't know......it's just sad to see what's happening in Mexico. There was a time when Mexico was on the right track and if you dig deep enough you will see that the bankers were responsible for crashing their currency and putting them on a path to economic despotism. I blame my country the USA as much as I do Mexicans for the drug violence.

 

[MelissaWV]

"Mexico" is a rather large country. Some of you are being really, really silly. I've worked with a lot of international offices, though, and they are equally silly so don't feel bad. A lot of them fear coming to the US because they've seen a story or two on gang violence, or drive-by shootings, or how there are evil drug dealers willing to kill you if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time, or how rude people are, or how New Yorkers would rather watch you get beat up (and film it for YouTube, of course) than lend a hand... the stories are cliche and trite and often localized incidents. I have had, no lie, someone from the Netherlands ask if they were going to be okay going to an office in Chicago during hurricane season. They didn't want to get caught in a storm. The amount of "wrong" in that question is amazing to behold.

Mexico has good areas and bad areas. Areas that see a lot of tourism and retirees are going to be built up and modernized. It's all the better to attract that outside money, and of course the actual Mexicans living/working in those areas do well catering to the outsiders. There is more money for beautification and there is less obvious violence and crime. There are pickpockets, sure, and there is still corruption... but it's not what you hear about Juarez.

Juarez is a shithole. You get the distinct impression, approaching Juarez/El Paso from either side, that you might not survive the crossing. It is pretty much the height of every nasty rumor you've heard about Mexico. If you can avoid crossing here, it's a wise thing, so long as you have reputable people helping you cross elsewhere. Juarez, though, is where a lot of the reputable crossings happen, so you wind up there and you notice it's bad. Really just nasty.

Why would anyone go to Mexico? To go to the non-bad areas, or to retire for fairly cheap. The college kids go because there is plentiful (but really nasty) liquor and beer flowing, and the nice hotels are pretty cheap. The beaches can be beautiful, the activities (assuming you want to do anything but drink and screw?) are plentiful. Of course, every year someone dies, but that doesn't discourage anyone. A good portion of them are Darwin Award candidates who would not have lived much longer at home.

 

[Minuteman2012]

My former roommate was a dual citizen and his families has a ranches in Juarez and El Paso, this last year, he did not make his usual trip back to Juarez because of the violence there.

 

[specialK]

Juarez is a shithole. You get the distinct impression, approaching Juarez/El Paso from either side, that you might not survive the crossing. It is pretty much the height of every nasty rumor you've heard about Mexico. If you can avoid crossing here, it's a wise thing, so long as you have reputable people helping you cross elsewhere.

Excellent advice. I wish I'd heard this somewhere before I went. I already posted my experience on this board. Some incredibly naiive poster here called it "BS", but it's worth repeating should anyone considering going near there - especially women:

"Driving on the highway 40 miles south of Juarez, we were stopped by the Mexican Narcotic squad, everyone was, but most were simply searched. As we were 2 females travelling alone, they instead hopped into our van, pushed my friend out of the drivers seat, and drove us off into the desert. We were forced to drink beer with them and they would not take us back until we agreed to meet them at a bar later on in Juarez where they would bring us cocaine. Of course, we headed straight for El Paso the moment they let us go."

 

[dannno]

What are you saying, that if 18-20 years olds would drink, they wouldn't go to Cabo for spring break. You must have never gone to college, because access to alcohol for underage kids isn't an issue so much so they have to go to another country.

The reason the 18-20 year old college students, specifically SDSU students, go to Mexico is not to *drink*, per se, since as you pointed out they can drink on/near their campus.. it is so they can *go to clubs* and drink, like in the pictures i posted. Do those girls look 21 to you?

BTW, I went to the top party school in the country, there were dozens of multiple keg parties every weekend all up and down the block.. I'm aware that nearly half of college students under 21 seem to have a fake ID..

Partying in Rosarito or Puerto Nuevo is a bit different than up here in the states, tho, and a bar in the US is a good place to get your fake ID stolen..

 

[dannno]

Here's a damn good reason to go to baja:

 

[Minuteman2012]

But I don't surf...