Stop bashing México

  • Our Northern neighbors tend to think of México as a cave of thieves or something. It is true that we are fighting a drug trafficking problem that goes beyond some people understanding. That goes both ways. Some of the blame of that thought is that there are a lot of poor mexicans trying to get to the States to get a better life. Not all mexicans are poor or uneducated though. Mexico is the eleventh economy by GDP and by Purchase Parity. Its economy is three times larger than Sweden for Instance and even larger than Norway, Sweden and Denmark combined. The problem is there are a power Elite that rules the Country along with empowered groups. All these comes for reading something like this:


    "
    Worst Dive Trip:
    Only one and this would be literally the only way I can have a bad spearfishing trip. It was when many years I was invited on one of my first spearfishing trip to Baja California that consisted of 4 vehicles and about 10 divers. On the way down one of the trucks lost control on those narrow Mexican roads and the truck ended up flipping over and off the road. Dealing with that was not fun and something I wish not to remember. I lost a friend on that trip in the accident they had.
    "



    That is an excerpt from Riffe´s page and the author is Richard Balta. Who previously states that his top choice for spearfishing is the Sea or Cortéz. Shit man, reading something like " Those narrow mexican roads"( and there is a meta textual meaning on it, an implicit cliché) Really riles me up, like implying that Mexico is a dangerous and undeveloped Country in a bad way. It is to some extent, its wild and that is exactly its best asset. You wont find here polluted shit and steroids and that comes with a price: Unpaved roads. Shitty driving skills and incautious driving is dangerous everywhere, that has nothing to do with narrow roads. High testosterone rates and octane count is the formula for disaster.


    Maybe I´m a bit hyper sensitive ont his subject. Believe me, There are some mexicans like me that don´t care too much to cross the borderline. I hadn´t visit the USA since 1988. Still don´t wanna go there again. No hard feelings but simple logic. I have nothing to do there, just say hello to my Amercan friends and that is easier achievable by mailing them or saying hello in an International Forum like this. Do not spread the false Myth about Mexico if you don´t know exactly what you´re talking about. Regards.

    I'm a Speardiver, not a freediver

  • well said antonio!


    here in cancun happened something funny
    some years ago on the US they started to post things on universitys schools and on the tv saying not to go to cancun that it was dangerous amd that was just bu*^%.


    cancun was as beautiful as always even more! tourism went down a little bit.


    on these days cancun is on 200% hotel ocupancy!! crazy .
    talking to people on the street etc i havent meet someone coming on vacations and saying cancun was unsafe ot bad its the other way they were inlove with cancun. mexican people are very friendly (waiters, bar tenders etc)
    i think those comments are envy because those guys dont leave here jejej


    richard balta if you say shit about mexico.. WELL DONT GO!!
    i wonder why a lot of spearos would die to go to puerto vallarta, baja and cancun just to mention some places.


    alex

  • I went to Puerto Vallarta in 2011. Ate some great meals in Chimo and had my friends there take great care of me for lots of diving and fishing.


    I heard all the hype, and did not believe it.


    I'm sure there are areas in Mexico I would not want to travel in. Same goes for USA (e.g. Oakland, Detroit, Chicago, etc.)


    I look forward to returning for more fun soon. Traveling with cooler of frozen fish was simple on return home as well. Bought my friend a Vac sealer so I could use it. I hope he doesn't break it before I get back.


    Mexico Diving A+++

  • I agree with your sentiments in general, but I have to call you guys out on being a little oversensitive in this particular example.


    You have to read it in context; it's an interview where he is asked about a bad dive trips. Of all the times he's been to baja, he only has had one. The roads in baja do tend to be narrow, and there are lots of sketchy ones. Be honest with yourself. The wildness of that part of Mexico, and yes, I have been there myself, is part of what makes it attractive. I think you are reading into it way to much.


    Anyways, just my 2 cents on that particular example you used...

  • Gerald you´re right, we are a bit over sensitive on this, It seems like a general statement about a bad trip. Once I had a long dicussion with Jay Riffe son in law (Will) about "how dangerous and nasty Mexico was" .. On Spearbored. That´s why I have animosity towards comments from them.


    I have several amercian friends and those are the coolest people. There are lots of americans living here in Baja even former mexico bashers (Do you remember Freedro from Spearbored? ) HE lives here on Madero Street. He´s a cool guy who ened up realizing the truth.


    Wellcome to Mexico, Always

    I'm a Speardiver, not a freediver

  • This is a great thread, It would be nice for other divers to comment on their Pros and Con of trips to Mexico.


    Fact driven real life trips are best for others to decide.


    Monster, not sure you want to be a tour guide, but traveling to a new area is always best with a local in hand.

  • Monster bravo on this thread!!
    I hate speros or holiday makers who come to the Caribbean where I am from and talk trash. The world is not like America nor should it be, diversity makes life interesting and travel worth traveling. Why would anyone want everywhere to be like where they are from?
    I have traveled a bit in America and some of it was great and some people were awesome, and some places were not, and some people were not so great...People are people and you take the good with the bad wherever you go.

    A bad day at sea is better than a good day in the boatyard
    George Steele

  • In my experience, Bajas roads can be sketchy and narrow. Well, more narrow than I would like. Something about an 18 wheeler passing you 2ft from your drivers door scares the crap out of me every time. It can get white knuckly at times but thats what you get in baja. Its what keeps me going back. Driving that long way praying nothing bad happens and then when you get to your camp its such a relief you tell your buds "we made it! Look how awesome this place is!" It makes it all worth it. I love it. Its not for everyone though. I try to get my brother and some friends to go down and they say no way. Too many cartels, we'll get robbed etc.. Nevermind that Ive gone numerous times and never ran into any of that crap. They say they would rather fly in there. No way man, you gotta DRIVE there to really appreciate it. Its like going back in time. Such a humbling experience. Cant wait to go back...

  • In my experience, Bajas roads can be sketchy and narrow. Well, more narrow than I would like. Something about an 18 wheeler passing you 2ft from your drivers door scares the crap out of me every time. It can get white knuckly at times but thats what you get in baja. Its what keeps me going back. Driving that long way praying nothing bad happens and then when you get to your camp its such a relief you tell your buds "we made it! Look how awesome this place is!" It makes it all worth it. I love it. Its not for everyone though. I try to get my brother and some friends to go down and they say no way. Too many cartels, we'll get robbed etc.. Nevermind that Ive gone numerous times and never ran into any of that crap. They say they would rather fly in there. No way man, you gotta DRIVE there to really appreciate it. Its like going back in time. Such a humbling experience. Cant wait to go back...



    Nice thing, the World is for the bold, the meek would probably inherith the Earth but not the sea! Shoot me a PM whenever you wanna come!

    I'm a Speardiver, not a freediver

  • Let get me started saying that there's good and bad people everywhere. Period.


    I have been in Mexico many times (more than 20). Never for pleasure. And I can say that always felt welcome and safe. I love the food and all the places I have been so far. Even Mexico City been the most populated city in the world has it's charm.


    The problem with standard americans (not everyone! but most..) is that they want to find abroad same things they have in they homeland. I/E: Go to Walgreens and find Tylenol at the 3rd isle...


    Toño: What's the closest airport to your place? I've got some Aeromexico miles available and would love to dive there.


    And how much do you have to pay for a panga (local's price)? I pay your share and we go dive together. ;)

    Marco Melis

    A bad day fishing is ALWAYS better than a good day at work.

  • Brother you just have to say go. You have a home and family here in México


    Muchas gracias mi amigo. I hope you know the same is true for you in south Florida.


    I am hoping to get some travel in after New Years. I have to build up some vacation time at work

    i like to spear fish


  • El Aeropuerto de La Paz (Márquez de León) No te preocupes por pagar nada hermano, sólo llega acá y te quedas en mi casa. Si quieres lo planeamos!! Sería un verdadero honor pescar contigo.
    Un abrazo sincero.

    I'm a Speardiver, not a freediver

  • Linghunt, If you ever come to Baja, I´ll be more than pleased to get you to some cool diving spots.


    *Writes note in Diary* I do appreciate it. I struggle on making time to get to my coast here in N California and only 45 min drive. My buddy takes my boat out all the time without me. I do need to get wet more often. I get too busy making spears and tips for you divers out there.


    I did take a couple days off last week to go slaughter and butcher some lambs. Got a hind quarter ready for smoker in the morning.


    I'll have to make up some new stuff to go down there to test. I can then write it off as a business expense.


    -John

  • Bad roads, crazy drivers, corrupt police, cheap beer, great food, unreal diving.....what are we waitin' fer? Sounds like my kinda place. :D


    I'm in the Philippines right now. Just flew back from Thailand. Life in "civilized" countries? Never mind....haha. Can't wait to get home to Belize though.

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