Chaos in Mexico

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by 3thirty

Besides terrible spelling what am I even looking at?

Mental illness.

[calgarygeologist]

The cartel issue is always volatile and violence can erupt quickly. We were supposed to go to Mazatlan a few years ago for the Christmas break but the weather was awful on our departure day and there was all sorts of flight delays and cancellations. Our flight was cancelled which was serendipitous because there was some sort of Sinaloa cartel violence that flared up the next day. We are headed to Cabo next month and hopefully things are good in a few weeks although Cabo has always felt much safer than other resort cities.

[DownInFlames]

They hit the Costco. You animals!


https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comm...stco_in_pv_mx/




On a serious note, my parents are in Oaxaca, which is pretty safe, so I'm not worried. I haven't heard back from them today, not because they're in danger, but because they're boomers who can't figure out Whatsapp.

[Firebot]

Guadalajara is effectively run by the cartel (they live there) but keep the violence a minimum where they live and unless you are directly linked or a target, they leave you alone at least there. It's otherwise relatively safe and absolutely a beautiful city.

This is most definitely unprecedented as retaliation (especially where it is occurring and has spread to) and on a vastly different scale then the Puerto Vallarta incident a few years ago which drew international attention. Hospitals and emergency services are being attacked with cartel blockades all around the city (videos of a hospital being evacuated for example). Zapopan (city next to Guadalajara and the well off live here) is being targeted as well.

Shelter in place is really the only option for foreigners. Do as locals tell you, if locals are hiding and clearing out food stores, this is not the time to wonder if you should get to the airport (paths to the airport are being targeted or blocked). This may pass, or may escalate further, but the safest thing for tourists is to stay low.

[FlamesAddiction]

When I was young and dumb, I backpacked around Oaxaca, then spent some relaxation time in a small coastal town called La Crucecita. I was pretty ignorant at the time, but looking back at some of the things I noticed, it was probably more dangerous than I realized at the time. One time in particular, I was on a bus that came upon a road block. An armed man without insignias came onto the bus and walked down the isle checking each seat, then after some time they let us through. The bus driver didn't seem like he was expecting it and everybody on the bus seemed nervous. I don't know for sure if it was a cartel thing or what, but I suspect it was that or some random local paramilitary thing. Someone suggested they were looking for people smuggling wildlife, but these guys looked pretty rough so I don't know if I buy it.

I did meet a really nice American expat when I got to the coast . He saw me walking by myself and told me that it wasn't wise then offered to drive me around. It was really kind and I took him up on it a couple of times.

[bob-loblaw]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

They hit the Costco. You animals!


https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comm...stco_in_pv_mx/




On a serious note, my parents are in Oaxaca, which is pretty safe, so I'm not worried. I haven't heard back from them today, not because they're in danger, but because they're boomers who can't figure out Whatsapp.

Some are saying the US was involved in the raid so I imagine anything that is American could be a target. We have been to Nuevo Vallarta about five times and have always felt safe.

[browna]

From all I have read most or all of the smoke just blockades by setting vehicles on fire, as the retaliatory measure by some members of the cartel vs the police/government by disrupting traffic etc.

Doesn’t appear to be any clashes between police and these people in the streets in PV or looting etc.

Nightime could get sketchy I guess but right now this just seems like a pointed protest by the cartel towards the government rather then bloodshed and war on the streets.

I can possibly assume that this cartel will have a new leader and the other cartels that run and protect the cash cow that are the tourist areas won’t have too much time for disrupting tourism outside of these protests, but that is being optimistic.

[Shazam]

Ay carumba!

[Locke]

Its almost as though being a Cartel Kingpin is an occupation that could potentially be somewhat hazardous to one's health.

[Puppet Guy]

But is Tijuana okay?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Puppet Guy

But is Tijuana okay?

Like anybody would even notice if Tijuana was on fire.

"Is that fire a problem?"

"Naw man...its just Tuesday in Tijuana!"

Is it like a Cartel thing?

"No man! Its Tuesday!!"

[mikephoen]

I'd still rather be in a Mexican city controlled by the cartels than in a ####hole like Miami.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

I'd still rather be in a Mexican city controlled by the cartels than in a ####hole like Miami.

LMAO.....Jesus Christ...no, you wouldn't.

That's the second time in this thread this has been uttered. Have any of you ever been to Miami? Unless you're wandering around slummier areas at night, there's literally nothing to worry about. Haven't seen a car on fire there anywhere as long as I've been here. Even if there are armed gangs, they certainly don't have the power over the city.

I know that all things American are "terrible" these days to anyone outside of the States, but this sort of rhetoric makes you look silly. Miami is cool, gorgeous, and quite metropolitan.

[fotze2]

Nope yer all evil, my tribe has told me so.

[Fuzz]

Miami gave my wife food poisoning(Cheesecake Factory!), and Mexico did not, so I gotta give this one to Mexico...

[scotty2hotty]

I haven't read any of this news closely ... but is it something that gives the US a convenient reason to send in troops in order to 'protect US citizens'?

[Doctorfever]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

I haven't read any of this news closely ... but is it something that gives the US a convenient reason to send in troops in order to 'protect US citizens'?

It sounds like US and Mexico are cooperating on these efforts. I don’t think that cooperation would include US soldiers with boots on the ground in Mexico.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I know that all things American are "terrible" these days to anyone outside of the States, but this sort of rhetoric makes you look silly.

It's a small but vocal minority who view the States exactly as they see on the news.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Miami gave my wife food poisoning(Cheesecake Factory!), and Mexico did not, so I gotta give this one to Mexico...

Miami is actually pretty nice, Orlando can die in a fire.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Miami is actually pretty nice, Orlando can die in a fire.

I'm open to the possibility it's probably a better experience when you don't have to hold your wife's hair as she pukes into the hedges waiting for the airport shuttle.