El Mencho killed, Mexico on Fire...

Saw video of a bunch of vehicles burning in the Puerto Vallarta Costco parking lot, we've been to that Costco a few times on vacations down there strange to see it on TV with that happening. Lots of buses and other vehicles set on fire too around the City. 

Edit- wow just read your link and it says the Costco building was burned down too (what I watched was from earlier today). 

We're thinking of Playa del Carmen area late April. Wife has a friend down there now who can see PV smoke from her room right now. Scary shit. This might be one time I'd like to see DT carry through on his words and send military there and get those shits taken care of for good. Although - pretty hard to eradicate cockroaches. 

Just got off the phone with some family, in various parts of Mexico. For the most part the headlines “violence breaking out in Mexico” is very misleading. All they’re doing is taking cars and setting them on fire to send a message. Same thing in Cancun and playa del Carmen. 

My wife and I go to our 2nd home there in Cancun 3x a year, and we’re still going next month. 


One thing is for sure, everyone is surprised the Mexican Government actually did something for once. Took the piece of crap out of existence. He was the head of the CJNG. They were starting to rise into power after Chapo (Sinaloa Cartel)  was caught. And trust me, CJNJ is 10x worse…

I’m glad they did something, hopefully this alleviates some things going forward. 

One thing about Cancun and other tourists areas of the country is that they heavily rely on the tourism industry for the economic benefit of the area. That’s why when you drive around and see armed guards on trucks. They want their presence to be known. The last thing they will let happen is any type of mass violence break out in those areas. Even the current mayor of Cancun (who currently is friends with my uncle) is VERY tourist oriented. Unfortunately this goes to an extreme sometimes where the government really only cares about the foreigners who migrate down to the country and leave out other states who need help/attention. 

I have always thought Mexico is unsafe. I'm guessing I've been wrong?

How do the local treat tourists down there?

For sure there must be "stay away" areas, just like any country has.

Reading ya posts above, its sounds like a pretty cool place.

Yes you are wrong. Mexico is amazing, same as any country. Some spots are sketchy but most of the country is amazing.  Absolutely amazing  

Mexico can definitely be unsafe. But like anything it just depends. Unfortunately the narrative that gets passed around is right when you step in the border you’ll get kidnapped and tortured by the cartel. Of course, there are certain states (mostly on the northern side) that are pretty dangerous. But there are some really good places too. It’s like how over here in the US there’s horrible areas and good areas. I’ve been fortunate enough growing up to have been to 10 states and dozens of cities around the country of Mexico and it is absolutely beautiful with modern, flourishing cities. Also been in the bad parts too, definitely don’t want to go back (another story for another time)

But to answer your question, if you’re going to cities like Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel, Guadalajara, Mexico City, San Cristobal, and some others, you will find thousands of Canadians and Americans living there. For the most part in those areas the tourists are respected and treated well. 

Boom, how goes ZA these days? 

My fam got back from visiting Zimbabwe and Johannesburg a couple months ago for some weeks. Amazing experience. But also said people were warning them about the crime in Johan, is it as bad as they say?

Thanks bud, we are as good as can be. 

Johannesburg has become a shit hole over the years and for the most part is unsafe. I have not been there since 2018 and will avoid it at all costs.

Next time I'll be there is for the MXGP with a group of mates but we are savvy and know where not to go. I feel sorry for tourists on their own. Always a good idea to have a reliable local as a guide.

I hope your family visited the Nelspruit area, Mac Mac Falls, God's Window, Graskop....really stunning out there. About 4 hrs north of Joburg.

Hey Boom - I've been 'toying' with going to the 'Sef Efrican' MXGP, but, when I go to the MXGP site, there is just a blank space with regards to Tickets and related accommodation info, that most events have listings for, so it makes me bloody wary of  it.

Though, the Chinese GP is the same.

Monies pretty tight for me this year, but, I'm good at sneaking funds into my 'magic drawer', when I've a goal. It's a bit over 4 months away, so it might be achievable.

You reckon it's really going to happen? 

Mind you, I just checked - flights to SA cost a bloody motza - over $2400 AUD, as compared to around $700 AUD for China in September - I think Shanghai is getting the nod. Cripes, it's a cheaper flight than getting to Darwin - and, Darwin's out for me this year, as I've something I can't get out of ( as in, I'd lose my balls if I wasn't around, and, I still value them)  on the 18th of September. 

Mexico is just Benidorm for Canadians.

My ex wife and her husband are there - near Puerto Vallarta (they live there half they year) and my son has flights booked to go visit them next month. Hopefully this resolves quickly. If it's still dangerous hopefully he has the sense to stay home. 

I was at a resort in Puerto Vallarta a few years back and was talking to a young man that was a local. He told me that about 30% of the population of Mexico work for the cartel. I was lounging at the pool and he said that more than likely, several people in the pool probably worked for the cartel. 

As crazy as this seems I think the media is picking it up much more in the US because of the actions that took place in PV, a more touristy area. No the Costco did not burn down, no the church of Our Lady of Guadalupe did not burn down, lots of AI pictures and old footage is being pushed around on social media as well as fake narco threats to tourists that are all posted in English. This has happened many times before like Culiacanazo with Ovidio, during Chapo's capture, and during Mayo's kidnapping. Blockades, cars on fire, and a war against the govt. The damage and fighting is already done in PV and has moved back into the mountains and ranchos where tourists don't go. You'll be safe in tourist zones and I wouldn't cancel your vacations, in fact right now is the time to book since it'll be a lot cheaper with all the negative media attention. This time it's just more visible for the world to see. CJNG has always operated in PV but you just never saw the consequences.

Señor de Los Gallos is gone but nothing will change with CJNG. This is just going to cause splintering of existing cells and new alliances. There's plenty of people ready to take over, El Sapo, El Jardinero, El chorro, El Pelon, only time will tell. Or will they be absorbed and align with Los chapitos or MF?

What happened when Chapo was captured? Nothing. Ivan and Alfredo took over and they lit Culican on fire and aligned with CJNG and fought with Mayitos. What happened when Mayo was captured? Nothing. Mayito Flaco took over and the war continued intensely between Chapitos and MF. Culiacan became a literal war zone unlike PV which was just burning vehicles. All of this is a complex situation and as grey as grey can get and the US media has absolutely ZERO idea of what's going on and just tries to drum up fear for tourists. Is the cartel violence real. YES! Is it a complex situation? YES. Are tourists targeted? NO. Are you going to vacation where the cartel violence is high? Probably not because you couldn't even pronounce the names of the towns correctly where the violence is which means you probably aren't headed there.

If you want to book a cheap vacation now is probably the time do it. I've already been looking at prices myself! Your biggest worry going to Mexico aren't any of the cartels, it's the police. They rob locals and tourists every single day with their mordidas.

No, 30% of the population is roughly 39 million. I can promise you not everyone in Mexico is associated with cartels let alone 30% of the population. Common sense would tell you that number is absurd. I have family and friends in Mexico and I travel there extensively and I can promise you that number is false. A quick search shows only approximately 175,000 to 450,000 people are associated with any cartel. That's 0.133587786% to 0.34351145% of the population.

Perfect explanation honestly 

Are you sure about the Costco one? 

Yes. The Costco did not burn down. Cars in the parking lot burned. As of today there is zero damage to the store. A bunch of oxxo stores burned down though. 

My brother is about 20 minutes south of Cancun for another couple of weeks.  He usually spends about 6 weeks down there every winter.  He said that he hasn't seen or heard of anything crazy in that area of the country, but as was said earlier the local government would do just about anything they could to protect the tourism trade there.  

He did say that the Canadians that he normally golfs with are a bit saltier than normal this year for some reason.......!

Grew up riding and racing in Mexico, I have never had a bad experience. What I have had is hospitality, graciousness, excitement and love from the Mexican people that I have rarely encountered anywhere else. Mexico is a wonderful place full of hard working, God fearing people. I am going this weekend to help my Dad with a race his club puts on. Although the headlines are sensational, I would hope we have all learned better than to listen to the media. As they say Vaya con Dios Amigos! 

I like your numbers better than his. I have no idea what the population of Mexico is. I just took the guys word for it since he was a local. Thanks for telling me the truth. 

Sounds like a very, very thin line separating the cartels from the current administration down there.

And she basically took action based on our intel, because she knew that, you know you, was about to.

Ala Venezuela. 

I would say that he was probably basing this off his experience in PV, where there is a large cartel presence and he was most likely pretty accurate. But yes way off in the general population of Mexico. 

Nice! What parts? I know when I go to Guadalajara they have a pretty well known track over there “8 horas”. Felix Lopez would tell me about it…

What’s your experience like racing down there?

Mostly on the Baja peninsula, I have not raced down there since I moved to Montana but it was always such a good time. Racing the SCORE series was a lot of fun, the people from all over Baja come to watch. It’s basically a national holiday haha. Also smaller races in the Tecate region that were mostly single track and those were always awesome. I was blessed to be able to spend a lot of time down there, and like I said the people are what I remember most. 

I hear ya…& I get it…

But, the best fix, ultimately, would be to help them fix their own nation.

I know, I know, I know…

I’m a dreamer. 🤣