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RE: 167 bodies found in Mexico
I don't know much about the veracity of the claims made about violence to tourists in Mexico. I do believe that it is minimal. I have traveled widely in Mexico and have been hassled a bit by Mexican policia, but have only paid one bribe so far as I didn't have time to wait out the cop who wanted to be paid.
I do know that about a million folks per year (used to be many more) cross the bridge at Nuevo Progreso to go into Mexico for shopping, dining, and wandering in the streets and shops. Many go there for dentists and pharmacies, as well. I do know from eight years of providing a website (used mostly by dentists) and going there about every three days that there have been no gringos (Anglos from US and Canada) or border Texans injured, robbed, or killed there in those eight years.
Yet the press continues to warn against the "danger" involved in crossing into Mexico and many of our Winter Texans follow that advice, which has negatively impacted the business community there. Traffic was down 42% last year compared to 2008. No violence, no cars broken into or 'keyed', no purses snatched and no muggings. Probably safer there than on this side of the border.
drtee
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drtee
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03/14/12 08:52pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Algondonas Dental Work...?
Moisheh sez, "One reason for the low prices is competition. There are way too many dentists for the size of the population. Thus high prices. The quality of care from many of the Mexican dentists is as good as in the USA."
To which I say. Amen!
Look at this site, where there are a bit over 200 dentists working just across the border south of Weslaco, TX. http://www.shop-progreso.com
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drtee
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03/04/12 05:32pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: want to rv in Mexico. is it safe?
Want to start a conversation? Ask folks about safety in Mexico. Lots of opinions and trivia will be forthcoming. It's kind of like asking a group of folks sitting around a bar their opinions on the quality and authenticity of the food being served in Mexico.
That's the fun of this forum. I read it daily and have been to most of Mexico over the years. I cross the border into Nuevo Progreso about 100 times a year as I serve my clients on the website www.shop-progreso.com. There are many people who think I'm nuts to even cross the border, but I've never felt threatened there. No data to indicate its any more (or less) dangerous than this side of the border.
Enjoy yourself and don't wonder whether its "real" or not. It's reality. Lots of safe places and some not so safe. Ask the locals. They have their opinions, too. Live life. It's the only one you're going to have.
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drtee
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02/19/12 03:48am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: sigh, how many more times
Not too far into Mexico, but lots of our brethren from Canada and points north in the US come down to the border and have to wonder if they should go across to any of the border towns in Mexico. Here's a link to a story about Nuevo Progreso in Tamalipus.
http://www.kiiitv.com/story/16775220/border-town-safety-for-touriest
Check it out!
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drtee
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02/12/12 06:44pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Paying tickets at OXXO?
Great idea Keelhauler! I have only paid one bribe in Mexico over a period of 33 years and I just didn't have the time to wait the guy out. Most of the stops are for one thing...a bribe. I love the statement and will have a copy the next time I'm stopped.
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drtee
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02/02/12 05:36pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Are Mexican prescription drugs safe?
I guess the comment I made above about counterfeit was a bit misleading. I guess I should have said that the "generics" offered are certainly questionable in many cases. Lots of stuff comes in from India and SE Asia. Drugs purchased in sealed packages carrying the brands of major drug companies are unlikely to be counterfeit.
I had a guy try to sell me 100 mg Viagra for $4.00 a tablet the other day. Ain't no way these are the real thing, as they are made and sold in the US at about $14.00 a tablet. I wasn't really in the market, but since I have white beard I guess he thought I was looking for them. Any time the clerk is pushing a drug it's likely to be of questionable content.
Pharmacists are a very rare commodity in most Mexican drugstores. That's a major factor in pricing. Pharmacists generally make $40K and above in US and that adds to the overhead considerably.
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drtee
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01/29/12 02:00am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Algondonas Dental Work...?
Most likely the lack of documentation required to avoid the malpractice suits that dentists face in the US. Much less office staff required, reducing overhead. Dental labs are plentiful and Mexican technicians work MUCH cheaper than you would find in the US.
I operate the website www.shop-progreso.com, which contains primarily ads for dentists in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico and am basing my observations on the situation here. There are about 200 dentists and 2 lawyers in the town. BTW, many of the dentists will fill out dental insurance forms and readily accept payments form US dental insurance companies.
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drtee
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01/29/12 01:50am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Devil's Backbone - Baluarte Bridge
I think you would find that Mexican cement is certainly of fine quality. The concrete is a result of the mix components and the mixers. Mexico is a major producer of cement. Quality is in the hands of the builder.
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drtee
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01/27/12 04:14pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: WHEREN AND HOW MANY..
My 2 cents worth. I don't know about crossing in motorhomes or in caravans of RVs, but I can tell you the pedestrian traffic has dropped off by about 42% in Nuevo Progreso....a border town between McAllen and Brownsville. This is a town that has not had a single Gringo (Canadian or American) injured in any act of violence in the past eight years. Traffic was 1.3 million pedestrians Southbound in 2005 and 678K in 2011. Folks seem to listen more to scary stories on News and the State Department warnings.
I'm sure the tour bus business is also down by major percentage as I worked with a promoter for one such company and she had NO tours into Mexico and used to be exclusively South of the Border.
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drtee
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01/27/12 04:10pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Devil's Backbone - Baluarte Bridge
Wow! Thanks a lot. I saw the pix a couple of months back and this is much more dramatic. I hope to be able to make that crossing. Add one to the bucket list!
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drtee
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01/26/12 11:02am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Are Mexican prescription drugs safe?
MazatlanLee's advice is excellent. There are many products sold in pharmacies along the border that are made in India or China. It's almost impossible for anyone to be truly knowledgeable about the quality of such drugs. Trust your doctor in Mexico. It's unlikely that they will lead you wrong.
Be sure to look at the package for the SSA registry on the package before you buy the first time. Counterfeiting is rampant and pharmacies, especially along the border, are interested in cheap price...not quality or effectiveness.
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drtee
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01/18/12 02:09am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Mexicans and TIP
pulsar's definitions are all correct, but I think the first one is the one you're looking for here.
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drtee
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01/18/12 02:00am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Just Another Manic Monday
The masks might also be there to protect their identity. This is why the soldiers and police wear them when they're involved in any type of activity where they might encounter the drug cartels. They don't want to have revenge carried out of them or their families.
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drtee
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01/18/12 01:58am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Empty Parks
Some of you folks seem to ignore the fact that the US economy is about as bad as it has been in the last 30 years. Many people are getting practically nothing in the way of interest on their savings. The news is generally lousy as far as employment is concerned.
Then, we have to look at the fact that there have been almost 50,000 murders in Mexico since the Calderon administration has been in office. Folks who don't speak Spanish are already uneasy while traveling in Mexico. Throw in all of the bad news and there's really no reason to wonder why the parks are almost empty.
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drtee
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01/16/12 04:06am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Passport question without RV
I operate the website www.shop-progreso.com for many dentists in Nuevo Progreso, Tamp. I cross the border about 100 times a year. I have never seen an obviously US citizen refused re-entry into the US without a passport. I have seen quite a few people who walk across readmitted. If they have BC and Driver's License, they will be hassled, but re-admitted.
Now, if the person doesn't speak good English and doesn't have some sort of documentation, like a Driver's License, or birth certificate they will get a lot of flak, but I've NEVER seen anyone claiming citizenship be rejected.
Bring all the ID you have and having the Passport # would be a great help in getting through with minimal problems.
They really can't deny access to the US for a US citizen!
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drtee
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01/16/12 03:57am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: My Bucket List of Mexico
I'm still missing the state of Baja California del Sur, which is the only Mexican state I haven't visited. I'd like to get down there someday, but want to finish off the US first, where I'm lacking Alaska. We'll do that this coming June-July.
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drtee
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01/03/12 06:55am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Aqua Calilentee
If you're talking about Aguascaliente, which it appears you are, there was only one place with connections for a motorhome or travel trailer. That's at the Hotel Medrano. I spent four months there in 2008, while teaching at Monterrey Tech-Aguascaliente. Only three sites with power at that time. Nice place and very safe, as they have watchman on the gate and high walls around the place. They charged me $16 USD per night with cable TV hookup.
Aguas has been rated the most livable city in Mexico and is the home of several major manufacturing planta with Nissan capable of cranking out 1,200 cars per day! They have just about any kind of shopping you might want and you'll generally find English speakers around the city. They have over 4,000 taxis, so you can park your unit and step out on the street and have a taxi in minutes that will take you wherever you want to go for maybe $5 USD or less. Many drivers have lived in US and speak some English.
It is also the home of the National Fair of Mexico which lasts about 4 weeks each year in May. Huge crowds come then for the bullfights and the livestock shows. They have an area of about ten square blocks devoted exclusively to the fair and a huge bullfight ring, rivaling what you might find in Spain. Lots of good restaurants, a Sam's Club, Wal-Mart and a very upscale shopping mall on the North side of town.
The population of the city is about one million and the whole state has only about 1.25 million. It's one of the smaller states in the country. It's not the Mexico for you folks who favor San Miguel or Baja, but it's a nice town for a weeklong stay. I have not found any news of drug wars there and they have the highest paid police force in the country, averaging about $1250 USD per month! I never saw anyone pulled over to extort a bribe and I was never hassled by any policeman! Funny how paying cops a living wage reduces the amount of corruption.
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drtee
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11/10/11 01:35am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Nogales to Belize via West Coast
I went to MapQuest and asked for driving directions from Prescott, AZ to Chetumal. Here's what I got. Sorry, I could't link the map to this email. Just follow my lead above. It works.
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drtee
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11/01/11 12:15pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: The truth is now being censored
Actually, I believe that pile of cash was found in the home of a Chinese gentleman who was in the business of importing meth materials by the shipload. Don't see many pix like this and when you do you take note.
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drtee
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10/30/11 08:05pm |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: AT KM.21 THIS WHAT I GOT.....
I believe the requirement to disconnect the toad and drive through is to minimize the number of used cars with blown engines that might be towed into Mexico, repaired, and sold there. Anyone who lives on the border and travels the main roads North sees many cars being towed to Mexico by dealers. They fix 'em up, get phony title and sell 'em in Mexico.
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drtee
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08/02/11 07:11am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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