Kidnappings Of U.S. Citizens On Rise In Mexico

[Baja Bro]

Baja is safe.I ride out of t.j. I have no problems,nor does any one I know.Peo[le how come to visit baja are safe it is the coke heads with the probs, stay away from the mob and you are fine.

[grenho]

Right on, lady!
Several ( a few) cases I know of, are "invitations" by perpetrators, just as uou observed. And the opposite is true - also from experience. The suboncious approach to the behaviour that invites trouble is based on a win/win calculation: "If I get away with this, and take advantage of Mexico/ans even by simply putting them down, I win." If I don't get away with it, then I'll right negative stuff or complain verbaly, so that fewer people go there; hence, I hurt Mexico, and thereby, I win. And others, yet, just look down at Mexico/ans in belives that they are there so that they can cancel effects of their own misery by abusing someone "below" them, hence, it feels better not to be at the bottom of abusive scale.

[Trevman]

Mexico is pretty safe.. I know some people that had some problems here. A friend was actually kidnapped by the police in the city I live in. Extorted for about 20,000 pesos. They caught the guys and kicked them off the force.. but he moved back to Canada for fear he would end up dead. Probably a good move on his part.

Saltillo is actually pretty safe.. The town is essentially run by the Zetas... but they stick to pretty non-violent profit schemes. Anyone selling DVD's or CD's downtown must buy from them. Same goes for most other illegal goods like imported clothing or chinese goods. These guys make all kinds of money doing this stuff.. and they use that to buy bars, restaurants, gas stations.. you name it. Half the politicians here are probably Zetas.

Because it stays non-violent the army doesn't come around much. I think that makes pretty much everyone happy.

Having said all of this... I can guarantee that my stay in Mexico is not going to be long term. Truth is.. this country is pretty screwed up.. and I'm getting a little tired of it. I think 4 or 5 years is going to be about as much as I'm going to be interested in.