Hahahaha you never know what kind stupid questions your going to see on good ol texags

Op, describe your acceptable level of safe.

DVM97 said:

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Where all the hate for Mexico comes from is beyond me? It has a huge issue with drug cartels, which wouldn't be an issue were it not for the steep demand for drugs in the US…we can't point the finger South and snub our noses without admitting we are part of the problem.
DVM

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The history of corruption, far left governments, Anti-Christian governments and a rigid caste system are not problems stemming from the U.S.

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And the rub is that they no longer control things in the somewhat civilized manner they did for decades. Now coked up, meth addicted teenagers have weapons and impunity and that make terrible decisions as they are dumber than hell and addled by drugs.

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Appreciate the response.

This is the scary part right here. What a sad state of affairs.






Thanks for everyone's responses. Going to pass on it this summer. I think we decided to go to Cloudcroft.

Resurrecting an old thread.

I have spent the week in the Rio Grande Valley. I have never been to the Brownsville-McAllen area before this week. My Mexico experience was Nuevo Laredo, Cozuel, and Cancun. This week I flew into Harlingen.

FIrst, its hot. I mean damn hot. Second, this is not a valley. Third, its ****ing hot.

Anyway being a former teacher I decided I was going to conduct my own social studies experiment. I have met about 25 fellow employees all over the area in the last few days with one more tomorrow. ANd I have asked them all the same question- 'Is it safe for me, a gringo with limited Spanish, to cross the border.' And 'Do you cross' The responses have been interesting.

Everyone in Brownsville said yes I would be fine during the day as long as I didn't venture off and had a purpose. But they said that there was no reason to do so as a tourist. Which I understood to be true. But if I just felt like going over to Matamoros on foot and walk around the immediate area I would be fine. ALL of the younger people, including the smoking hot seniorita waitress at the Taqueria, said that they go over all of the time. Day and night. Friends, parties, all of it.

In the greater McAllen area, they all said no. They don't go and I would be stupid to do it. I asked one today, a 30 year old, why the differences in advice, he said 'the way we were raised' Of course I needed more, and he said that they are just 'more conservative(less risk adverse) over here.' Interesting.

And they all made an exception for Nuevo Progresso. That if I wanted to do it that was the place.

Seems encouraging to me that the younger kids who are at that party age are doing it freely in Brownsville/Matamoros. They did say things like 'we are just careful and know people.' But I am pretty sure that is still a step in the right direction. THe border is probably ruined for us, but maybe that generation can try to normalize things again.

Anyway Ive been thinking about this thread and had to give my random thoughts. I fly out tomorrow but should be back next month. When it cools off I am going to spend a morning in Nuevo Progresso. But I am not interested in any more than that.


Edit to add one thing- NONE of them would talk about the dangers in any specifics. At all. None. I only asked a couple of people and they would look away from me. I didn't ask after that. Clearly that was a no no.

I grew up in McAllen and we used to go to Reynosa almost every weekend in high school. Late 90's early 2000's.
The only risk back then was the cops shaking you down for $20.
I wouldn't go now.

I would have no issue with going to Nuevo Progreso.
My only advice would be to go during the day, stay on the main street and limit that to about 3 blocks in.

Progreso is a small town that caters to the american day trippers coming over for restaurants, shopping, pharmacy, dentist.
Reynosa does not.

Not sure why people wouldn't talk about the dangers. Just google reynosa and the word crime.
I have a friend who has been kidnapped and ransomed in Mexico and another who was killed by a grenade in a club in Monterrey. Everyone that grew up down there has at least one horror story about Mexico.

It's sad that an entire generation or two never got to experience those nice neighborhoods across where you could meet an upstanding girlfriend for an hour or two, and enjoy some great street tacos before coming home.

I'm dropping my wife off at the airport in the morning as she's headed to Veracruz to see her family for only the second time since we met 14 years ago. She wants me and our two daughters (3 and 11 now, both half hispanic, but the older one looks white and people in the area are mostly short and dark, so we'll stand out like sore thumbs) to go next year.

Anyone have any experience with Veracruz city, we'd probably stay in the city for the most part and avoid rural areas. Is this a relatively safe area for Gringos to travel versus the border towns? I've been to Cancun, Cozumel, and Matamoros (driven and walked across), but it's been almost 20 years since I've set foot in Mexico. I do have a lot of international travel experience in other parts of the world, but rarely 3rd world.

Great post. I'll offer my opinions on the subject.

Regarding Matamoros and Reynosa and why it is unsafe to cross into either town. Matamoros is the HQ for the Gulf Cartel. As such, it will see activity that many other border Mexican cities might not, exceptions being Juarez, Tijuana and Laredo (to a lesser degree). So, the cartel runs that city. Ask yourself: would you willingly cross into a cartel city? As far as Reynosa is concerned, it is, or was, a contested Plaza between the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas. I assume you are familiar with the Zetas so I won't go into an exposition regarding them but just know that they are extremely violent. Reynosa is less "stable" than Matamoros, largely due to it being contested, so outbursts of violence are more random.

As far as Nuevo Progresso is concerned, it is not a Plaza like the larger border towns or cities and as such, it does not see the same level of cartel activity that others do. It is very small and continues to cater to the American tourist crowd. I go to NP regularly and have never felt unsafe there. Now, that doesn't mean you visit with your guard down. Head is still on a swivel when I'm there because I'm aware that random violence can occur just about anywhere in Mexico. Its a fun little town that still gives the old school experience of a Mexican border town.

That's my take on it. As far as the employees you polled for their opinions on it, I would guess that the ones who still go to Matamoros are first or second gen Texans and still have family there. Similar to Reynosa, but the McAllen crowd understands that Reynosa is more unstable than Matamoros. That might explain their "more conservative" comments, which is maybe another way of saying more cautious.

It's a dang shame what this has become. I have fond memories of crossing with my parents and shopping, dining, etc... I looked forward to going there. Of course, that was the 70's. When I lived in Corpus in the mid 90's I would cross at Reynosa and eat at La Mansion del Prado. You couldn't pay me to do that now...and that's sad. I hope it turns for the better someday. It used to be a great time with awesome food and people.

Progresso is fun and safe.

I grew up in Zapata, we would cross Falcon dam and go into Guerrero for haircuts and shopping and drive to Ciudad Mier to have street tacos, my dad used to by Joya soft drinks in wooden crates and you returned the empty bottles to get new ones. We would cross Roma to go into Miguel Aleman often and have this fabulous little red taco that were just ground beef, shredded cabbage and a red sauce, I would give anything to have one again. We would also drive to Laredo often to shop and cross into Nuevo Lareedo. To this day I regret not buying of the many ornate chess sets that were everywhere. It was awesome, so many memories and so much good food....having said that there is no way I would cross.

MarylandAG said:

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I grew up in Zapata, we would cross Falcon dam and go into Guerrero for haircuts and shopping and drive to Ciudad Mier to have street tacos, my dad used to by Joya soft drinks in wooden crates and you returned the empty bottles to get new ones. We would cross Roma to go into Miguel Aleman often and have this fabulous little red taco that were just ground beef, shredded cabbage and a red sauce, I would give anything to have one again. We would also drive to Laredo often to shop and cross into Nuevo Lareedo. To this day I regret not buying of the many ornate chess sets that were everywhere. It was awesome, so many memories and so much good food....having said that there is no way I would cross.

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Need to find out about you. My family is all from San Ygnacio and Zapata. We are headed down next week for me to work cattle and her to attend class reunion. She was a county Fair Queen 1979.
I've heard people mention it and think I've heard gunfire in Nuevo Laredo from the HEB parking lot on 83 south. It isn't what it was in the 70's and 80's.

Went to hell, like Austin.

My dad very recently passed away at 92. He was a teacher for ZISD for a very long time and taught in San Ygnacio. I went to elementary school there in the 70's snd 80's. I know SYT as we called it very well!!!!

I did alot of fishing on Falcon Lake growing up!!!!!. Going to say that Hawks Landing is the best fried chicken I have ever had and we never leave Zapata without having a chicken fried steak usually at El Paraiso

I should clarify. Wife's family all from there, mine from Mirando City. She's a Ramirez.

When I am in the area I still cross frequently without any issues. I don't get the "won't talk about stuff" part of your post, most everyone in the RGV is gossipy and salacious and loves a little drama.

Folks in Browntown have always frequented Matamoros more than folks from up the Valley, one of the simple reasons is that it is easy to just walk across either the new bridge or old bridge and you are right in the heart of Matamoros and easy to get picked up by friends and family. The rest of the RGV bridges, save for Progreso, involve more driving and walking. Folks in the McAllen area view Reynosa as the city of the damned and it really isn't.

One of the biggest reasons that folks don't "visit" the Mexican border towns anymore is the hassle of getting to and from, the wait times have been horrible for years. Through the early mid 10's the wait times were still manageable and not everyone wants to, nor qualifies, for the SENTRY, stuff.

The bridges are busier than ever, although traffic has dropped a lot since the Mexicans have started searching every car that exits Mexico, back 3 or 4 months ago wait times averaged 3 hours to get back across. In December I had to take my daughter to twice weekly PT sessions in Reynosa and getting back across was a big biscuit eating beetch.

Progreso just kinda bores me as it is about 20-25% more expensive than other parts of Mex, filled with wrinkled veterans of Spring Break 74' that are reliving their care free days and besides Arturo's and a few spots for "Lonches" the food isn't that good. It reminds of Mexican carnivals of my youth with old gringos getting drunk on watered down booze while getting a fungus inducing pedicure.

As I have maintained, Mexico is plenty safe to visit and travel in. Until it isn't. The huge difference from today to years ago is that if you have an issue of any kind your chances of coming out it either unscathed or just shaken up are much, much lower.

aggieforester05 said:

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Anyone have any experience with Veracruz city, we'd probably stay in the city for the most part and avoid rural areas. Is this a relatively safe area for Gringos to travel versus the border towns?

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That is my favorite city in Mex. When I was young, strong, and had hair I would spend quite a bit of time there. The food is great, there is so much history there, there are few museums that are really cool and to me it was like the tropical untainted Mexico of my youth. There is some really good fishing, UTR, near Veracruz as well.

The whole Costa Esmeralda deal has always appealed to me. I Shanghai'ed my very pregnant wife and we spent our shotgun honeymoon roaming around the Veracruz area for about 8 or 9 days. Took her to El Tajin, Cempoala, and a few other places. Got to visit the Isla de Sacrificios. Got up way in the mountains where the orchids and vanilla grow.

You should be plenty safe in Veracruz. So much to see around there and it is not overrun with tourists. The food in Veracruz, both the state and city, is spectacular. You are lucky to have a wifa from Veracruz, my is a coconut and didn't appreciate it quite as much as I did, save for the one Spa place we stayed at for a few days.

RGV AG said:

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Progreso just kinda bores me as it is about 20-25% more expensive than other parts of Mex, filled with wrinkled veterans of Spring Break 74' that are reliving their care free days and besides Arturo's and a few spots for "Lonches" the food isn't that good. It reminds of Mexican carnivals of my youth with old gringos getting drunk on watered down booze while getting a fungus inducing pedicure.

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You sure can paint a picture, son.

Good post and appreciate everyone's feedback.

I think the part about not talking about was just those two people. I saw some responses and asked again today at two different locations and they openly talked about the cartels. For some reason I got a feeling earlier in the week that it was a taboo subject but I think I was wrong.

I did find one guy today in McAllen that regularly crosses into Reynosa. And of course he was younger. But the other thee or four I asked today said that they haven't been in years.

I also heard a lot about the trouble getting back across. I think that is also just as big of an issue as anything else for the locals.

I think you're right about what they meant by conservative

RGV AG said:

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When I am in the area I still cross frequently without any issues. I don't get the "won't talk about stuff" part of your post, most everyone in the RGV is gossipy and salacious and loves a little drama.

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Everybody loves some good CHISME!!!! Puro pinche chisme!!!!

I went fishing at Sugar Lake a few years ago and crossed at Roma. It was sketchy as all hell and I would not go back. This is coming from a guy who spent many a very good night in Acuna and elsewhere on the border. With that said, you are likely OK crossing in daylight hours in Acuna, Piedras Negras or Nuevo Laredo. I said LIKELY.

Back in 1997, when I worked for Brinker, I flew from Dallas to Mexico City, then onto the State of Michoacn. At the time, only avocado pulp could be imported into the United States, and we used it in our guacamole recipe. I can't say I was ever concerned for my safety, but I was told the owner of the processing facility, who was also the mayor, had survived an assassination attempt. The area was beautiful, and I made a commitment to myself to return. Obviously, that won't happen given it is now under a Level 3 travel advisory.

Been to Puerto Vallarta for my honeymoon many years ago. Back then, no issues. Would not go there today.

3 1/2 years ago, I traveled to San Carlos, Mexico (30 miles from Del Rio), to attend a family wedding. I was scared ****less, but was told it would be ok. I went, and had a blast. Traveled thru Acura, and kept going to our destination.

One year ago, my wife and I travelled to Monterrey and spent a week at a children's home we support. Again, scared to death, but our fears were groundless. We even spent a day in the slums of Monterrey delivering food to the families whose boys were at the home.

My point, I think Mexico is hit or miss and some serious due diligence is essential prior to traveling there.

ToddyHill said:

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Back in 1997, when I worked for Brinker, I flew from Dallas to Mexico City, then onto the State of Michoacn. At the time, only avocado pulp could be imported into the United States, and we used it in our guacamole recipe. I can't say I was ever concerned for my safety, but I was told the owner of the processing facility, who was also the mayor, had survived an assassination attempt. The area was beautiful, and I made a commitment to myself to return. Obviously, that won't happen given it is now under a Level 3 travel advisory.

Been to Puerto Vallarta for my honeymoon many years ago. Back then, no issues. Would not go there today.

3 1/2 years ago, I traveled to San Carlos, Mexico (30 miles from Del Rio), to attend a family wedding. I was scared ****less, but was told it would be ok. I went, and had a blast. Traveled thru Acura, and kept going to our destination.

One year ago, my wife and I travelled to Monterrey and spent a week at a children's home we support. Again, scared to death, but our fears were groundless. We even spent a day in the slums of Monterrey delivering food to the families whose boys were at the home.

My point, I think Mexico is hit or miss and some serious due diligence is essential prior to traveling there.

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I've been down to Morelia and around the area towards Pasquaro 3-4 times in last few years. While I would not do a border town now but anywhere else in Mx I feel like if you stay away from where you probably should not be, you will be fine. Also been to Oaxaca, Merida, Mx Citu, Guadalajara all with my wife. Also fly in to Hermosillo and drive north about three hours to hunt but rethinking that one. It's a spooky trip and I've heard of hunters held up and robbed.

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Also fly in to Hermosillo and drive north about three hours to hunt but rethinking that one. It's a spooky trip and I've heard of hunters held up and robbed.

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When we were in Monterey, we met a 20-something woman from Cincinnati that was working for a local mission. She routinely drove to the U.S. border, alone, at night, to pick up mail. My wife and I were incredulous. She acknowledged she couldn't do that any longer. I admire you did drive those distances in Mexico. But times do change.

Oh, I only drove out from cities to outlying area sightseeing.
Now back in 80's I was selling boats down into Mx. made many runs from Laredo to Monterey, Guadalajara, Acapulco. Would not make the drive like I did through Zacatecas.

Deerdude said:

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I should clarify. Wife's family all from there, mine from Mirando City. She's a Ramirez.

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Nothing to add other than I just ate at La La's in Mirando City this weekend. She's great and the food is amazing.

StillNotAnAggie said:

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Deerdude said:

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I should clarify. Wife's family all from there, mine from Mirando City. She's a Ramirez.

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Nothing to add other than I just ate at La La's in Mirando City this weekend. She's great and the food is amazing.

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Damn you. Best choice in town by far.

Nothing to add other than Ramirez is a hell of a last name....also my last name, haha

Last person I asked was on th flight back. I was B eleventy because I forgot to check in but got lucky with an aisle seat, a four year old girl in the middle, and mom on the window and husband already flew out.

Clearly a fairly wealthy young lady from this side. She told me that she does occasionally cross into Reynosa for different reasons but always hires a driver an is VERY CAREFUL(her emphasis. Not mine). She does not bring her daughter under any circumstances. She told me not to do it which I wasn't anyway.

She said go to Nuevo Progresso. But even there I should be very careful. She clearly fell on the 'conservative' side.


Anyway a fun week down in the Valley(it's not a Valley). I did drive to the Prgresso crossing but it was about to rain and I had a flight. Next month I plan on going over there for lunch and Havana Club rum.

RGV AG said:

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aggieforester05 said:

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Anyone have any experience with Veracruz city, we'd probably stay in the city for the most part and avoid rural areas. Is this a relatively safe area for Gringos to travel versus the border towns?

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That is my favorite city in Mex. When I was young, strong, and had hair I would spend quite a bit of time there. The food is great, there is so much history there, there are few museums that are really cool and to me it was like the tropical untainted Mexico of my youth. There is some really good fishing, UTR, near Veracruz as well.

The whole Costa Esmeralda deal has always appealed to me. I Shanghai'ed my very pregnant wife and we spent our shotgun honeymoon roaming around the Veracruz area for about 8 or 9 days. Took her to El Tajin, Cempoala, and a few other places. Got to visit the Isla de Sacrificios. Got up way in the mountains where the orchids and vanilla grow.

You should be plenty safe in Veracruz. So much to see around there and it is not overrun with tourists. The food in Veracruz, both the state and city, is spectacular. You are lucky to have a wifa from Veracruz, my is a coconut and didn't appreciate it quite as much as I did, save for the one Spa place we stayed at for a few days.

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Thanks, she's there now staying in a VRBO near the beach. She feels like it's pretty safe there and says it's beautiful. It also helps hearing from someone that wasn't born there and your experiences. I think we'll give it a go next year and just be street smart about it. Not crazy about the illegality of defensive weapons.

I always carry a pocket knife everywhere but including in Mx.

Deerdude said:

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I always carry a pocket knife everywhere but including in Mx.

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She carried pepper spray which is supposedly legal in most parts of Mexico. I'll probably carry a pocket knife as well.

Have not been there yet but certainly on my short list.