I read this article in one of my AARP newsetters…okay so now you know my age group.  The newsletter didn’t say that I couldn’t reprint the article so I am. I could send you dozens of articles written about the safety of travelling in Mexico but this one was short and to the point. 

Is Mexico Safe for Travel?
By Peter Greenberg, AARP

Q: I always used to travel to Mexico for cheap prescriptions and dental work, but now I’m worried about the escalating violence. My daughter wants to go to an all-inclusive somewhere in Mexico. Do you think it’s safe to “make a run for the border”?  I removed the name of the person who submitted this question. I’d also like to add that in order to purchase antibiotics in Mexico you now need a prescription from a Mexican  doctor….actually easy to get.

A: I always say, don’t let fear get in the way of your life. I travel to Mexico several times a year, and this coincided with reports of violence and during the H1N1 scare. But the fact is tourism to Mexico is up 20 percent this year, and that includes 5 million Americans! Great article on the increase in Mexico tourism.

Let’s look at the facts: There is increasing violence in Mexico, primarily fueled by drug cartels. However, the danger is usually limited to border cities such as Tijuana, Nuevo Laredo and Ciudad Juarez. Anecdotally, I have heard that tourists still feel quite safe in Nuevo Progreso, but in most border cities you can expect to see Mexican soldiers patrolling the streets.

However, take a look at a map, and you’ll see how far the resort towns are from the border. (Cabo is 1026 miles from the border and only accessible by driving that distance on a 2 lane road or by air or boat.  Is this location really conducive to operating a drug cartel)?   The all-inclusive resorts that your daughter is looking into will be in places such as theRiviera Maya, Los Cabos, Puerta Vallarta and a host of other destinations. Although Acapulco has seen an increase in crime, resorts are fully aware of the negative perception of Mexico as of late, and are doing their part to tighten security and make guests feel safe.  That doesn’t mean you should leave your common sense at the door. More than a drug-fueled attack, tourists are more likely to get snagged by pickpockets and thieves, so be on alert. Never carry valuables such as jewelry and watches. Carry small sums of money and leave your passport in the hotel safe. Visit cities during daylight and always travel in pairs or groups, not alone.

If you want to be extra cautious, sign up for the Smart Travel Enrollment Program (STEP) through the State Department. This is a free service provided by the government that will provide travelers with the latest information on safety and security in Mexico. The State Department will also be able to assist registered travelers if an emergency occurs.

Bottom line,Mexico continues to be a cost-friendly destination for American travelers, and there are great experiences to be had down there. Be smart, don’t be governed by fear, and you’ll have a good time

A good guideline: If you wouldn’t do it at home then don’t do it in Mexico!  Would you walk streets that are off the beaten path late at night…would you walk down the street drinking a beer…No?  Then don’t do it in Mexico.

 

Need to get around Cabo? Hey it’s a lot better now.  Years ago many of the streets were not named, or if they were, the name signs were not placed at the corners.    Okay, so it’s not perfect yet but most of the streets have names and if you get lucky there will be a directional arrow at the corner.  Not always though, so if you are driving, look to see which way MOST of the cars are parked.  This is not foolproof but it is a good indication. 

We now have crosswalks…well in a lot of places.  North of the border pedestrians have the right of way and a driver can be ticketed for not allowing a pedestrian to cross the street.  Same here in Cabo but not everyone adheres to this courtesy right of way.  I think one of the reasons, and it is the same reason some drivers do not stop at stop signs, is the fear of getting rear ended.  When I first got here I had my handyman with me and he was appalled that I was stopping at all the stop signs.  His remark was:  Are you nuts…we are going to get rear ended.  So much for that story.  Enjoy walking the streets of Cabo.  They are safe but the same safety rules apply here as in the U.S. and Canada.  Do not walk the back streets late at night and stick to populated areas.  Ask yourself…would I walk these same back streets in Detroit (apologies to Detroit)?

I’ve included a map of downtown Cabo…please not the direction of the arrows which indicate which are up streets and which are down.  I still get confused because after about 10 years of learning the one-way streets, about 2 years ago the city muckety-mucks decided to switch them all. Verrrry confusing.

The following blog was written by a friend of mine and long time Cabo resident, George Landrum.  He has given me permission to reprint it.  You can also find   Captain George’s  weekly fishing report at http://captgeo.wordpress.com/

About Town by Captgeo.

Cruising through town yesterday I noticed a policeman on a small scooter, all dressed to the nines and looking like a California Highway Patrolman with his knee high leather boots, white shirt with those little things on the shoulders and his white helmet. All of a sudden he zipped off and several blocks later He had a car pulled over and one of the corner policemen was walking over to him. You know who I am talking about?  The corner policemen, the ones who stand at the corners and intersections to mess up the traffic flow. Yep, the ones with no gun, just a nightstick and radio. Well, it appears that they now have their own enforcement division! Before, if one of these corner cops tried to wave you over you would just pretend not to have noticed them, knowing that they were going for a shakedown looking for 50 pesos or so. Now they call the guy on the scooter, and he scoots along until he finds you, then either collects money or gives you a ticket. Since giving you a ticket here involves removing your license plate, and he has no place to store license plates, I think you know where this is going! Anyway, I thought it was cute and have nicknamed the guy C.R.I.S.P. instead if a C.HI.P. That stands for “Cabo Radio Intercept Scooter Police”. Cute, huh?

 

Downtown Cabo

BE ALERT !

Driving in Mexico is definitely a challenge!  People who live in Mexico always ask me how I can stand the traffic in the United States. My standard reply:  what’s not to like?  Most of the time U.S. drivers obey street signs; they don’t stop in the middle of the street to talk to a friend and they don’t park behind you in a lot, lock the car and then walk away.  And very rarely do you see someone make a left turn from the far right lane.  I know that I am generalizing but I’ve driven the California freeways for most of my life and given the vast number of cars that are on those roads each day the accident rate is minimal.  Not so down here.  Until recently in order to get a driver’s license you just needed to go to the police station, fill out a form, bring proof of your blood type, and pay your fee. They even let me shave 5 years off my age once.

I think that this has changed now and I think some kind of test is required.  Not sure because I just renew mine every two years.

Please keep in mind that when I bought my condo in 1994 not a whole lot of people had cars.  And very rarely did you see a woman driving unless they were American or Canadian.  I would rather tangle with a Mexican male driver than a Mexican woman driver any day.  The woman are brutal and way more aggressive.  Again, I am probably stepping on a lot of toes here but I am speaking from experience.

Anyhow, driving is much easier if you know what some of the signs mean and that is what I am going to concentrate on in this blog. Oh, one more thing….I was in Cabo when they installed the first left hand turn signal…no warning…just one day it was there.  What a nightmare and some good entertainment.  Do not expect to get a lot of time… when that green arrow turns off it does so in milliseconds.  Much better in Northern Baja but they really haven’t gotten the hang of it in Baja Sur.

MOST IMPORTANT

   Alto: (STOP). just like our red hexagonal signs at home.

SECOND MOST IMPORTANT ROAD SIGN

No Estacionarse (No Parking) Sorry I absolutely forgot this in the original post. This sign has big E usually inside of a circle with a diagonal slash through it. (photo coming). Estacionar means “to park”. The reason this sign is so important: You will be towed. If you are not in the vicinity, your license plate will be removed and taken to the police station. If you do happen to return before your car has been towed you can usually pay the tow truck driver but either your license plate or your driver’s license will be taken.(The police have to wait by your car until the tow truck arrives). Your plate or license can be retrieved by going to the police station and paying the fine (minimal, unless you were parked in a handicapped zone). Of course this is a royal pain..you will most likely have to wait in line at the police station. Hint: Many times the red paint on the curb has worn off..if the curb looks like it might have been red at one time don’t take a chance.

Curva peligroso (Dangerous curve)

Disminuya su velocidad (Reduce your speed)

Guarde su distancia (Keep your distance) Easy one…Don’t tailgate!

Si toma no maneje (If you drink, don’t drive) Cabo now has breathalyzer machines. Take heed! More on these in a later blog.

Conserva su derecha (keep to your right)

Utilice su cinturón de seguridad (Use your seat belt) Buckle up…

Cruce de peatones (pedestrian crossing) Pedestrians also have the right of way in Mexico but chances of getting a ticket for not allowing a pedestrian to cross are remote

No rebase con raya continua (No passing with solid line) More often than not you will just see a sign that has two cars side by side inside of a circle with a diagonal line through it.

Cruce de escolares (school crossing)

Una via (one way), Again usually you will see a sign with an encircled arrow with a line through it. Do not turn in that direction…there won’t be any words… just the arrow with a diagonal line. Actually I got pulled over for inadvertently turning the wrong way. They took my license and I went to the police station the following week and paid my fine ($299 pesos ($25USD) and got my license back.

Topes  Aah yes, the tope..the ones that really crack me up are the ones that are just painted on the road to fool you into slowing down. My passenger counted the topes on the ride up to San Diego one trip and we only counted the concrete humps. I believe there were 84…very annoying. Please: Do not count on a warning…sometimes you get one, sometimes you don’t. Sometimes they are painted yellow and sometimes they aren’t.

Also a tope: if it looks like a tope and does the job of a tope is it a tope? Yes but it is also called a Reductor de VelocidadSometimes just a diamond shaped sign with a pic of a car going over a bump

Vibradores: The obnoxious cousin of the tope. These are those half circle yellow bumps in the road…you know the ones..the bone jarring bumps that are so very annoying. Sometimes they are small and low but in Cabo I have seen them as high as 6 inches. Not fun!

Poblado proximo: (you are approaching a town) There will be several topes or rows of vibradores; there is never just one tope…if there is one there will be another in about 20 meters.

Desviación (detour) this is where I am always glad to see someone in front of me. These detours are usually confusing!

Retorno (return)…great, you get a chance to make a u-turn. This does not happen often and usually when you miss your turn-off you will have to drive miles before you can turn and go back the way you came.

No deje piedras sobre el pavimento (don’t put or leave rocks on the road) Many years ago (and still) road workers did not have flares and used rocks or lit kerosene rags to warn drivers of construction areas. (Didn’t we used to call those molotov cocktails?

Maneje con precaución(drive carefully)

Zona de descanso (rest area) Always a welcome site and usually just a wider spot on the road. Be careful it’s also usually about 4 inches lower than the road. Usually no baños here.

Puesto de control militar (military checkpoint) The checkpoints that tickle me are the fake wooden soldiers that you sometimes see before you reach the actual checkpoint.You will encounter 6 or 7 checkpoints on the drive from San Diego to Cabo. Driving south they usually wave you through and ask where you came from. Driving north be prepared to stop and have your car searched.

 

All in all STAY ALERT. Signal even if no one else does. Don’t try to figure out why so many drivers drive with their hazard lights flashing. The best I can come up with is that they intend on driving slow and want to let you know. On the open highway between Cabo and San Diego driver’s will usually turn these on to warn of Policia and cattle. You will be fine…just be cautious and aware.

 

 

 

Need to Reach Out and Call Home?

First let me say that I am a Vonage person…I love my Vonage! My home phone is Vonage.  Did I tell you how much I love it!

With Vonage your computer can be in Anyplace… USA… Europe, Mexico, and as long as your vonage modem  is connected to your internet modem you, or anyone,  can still make and receive calls.  Or call forward your incoming calls to your cell phone while you are travelling.

I also own a Magic Jack and this is what I use most when travelling.  In order to use Vonage you have to have a modem and high speed internet.  Since most of the hotels and Internet Cafes offer wireless my Vonage will not work.  Aha…Magic Jack to the rescue.  If you vacation in Cabo (or for that matter, anywhere) you are most likely familiar with hotel phone costs and unless you have some super-duper plan, your cell phone provider makes a bundle off your need to stay connected.

I believe the initial cost for the magic jack is right around $40 and this includes your first year of service.  After that it is $20/year. (January 19,2012 I got notice that the yearly rate was going to be increased)  Just plug the MJ into your computer and hook up a phone and you are good to go.  Hint:  you can hook up the hotel phone to the magic jack and it should work just fine.  Since you are most likely calling phone numbers in the United States or Canada all of your calls are now free…gratis.  And the people you left behind can also call you…no charge.

The only issue I have with Magic Jack is that in order to place and receive calls your computer has to be turned on.  If your computer is turned off your incoming calls will go directly to voicemail. When you turn your computer back on and access your  email messages you will find an announcement from magic jack with your message and you can listen to it through your computer.

UPDATE: Now you can purchase Magic Jack Plus.  I did, and wanted to try it out before recommending it. The results have been great!  With Magic Jack Plus you can, if you have a modem (or your hotel has one), plug a cable into the modem and the adaptor into an electrical outlet and voila!  You can make and recieve calls whether or not your computer is on.  Basically it is the same as Vonage in that respect except it costs a lot less dinero.  I paid $69 for the MJPlus and that included the first year’s service.  My Vonage costs me about $40/month (including taxes).  I have been told that there is an app for MJ that allows you to use it with your cell and calls to the U.S. and Canada are free.  I will research this and add to this post when I actually try it.

Gee, I hope Carlos Slim is not reading this!

Hurricane Preparedness

Hurricane season runs from June 1st until November 30th. While each year experts make very educated predictions concerning the number and severity of storms for each given season, hurricanes can still wreak a massive amount of devastation and chaos on any area despite today’s advanced warning systems.

I have been in Cabo since 1994 and the last hurricane of any significance was in 2001 when Hurricane Juliette slammed us.  Because of the way Cabo is situated with the Pacific on one side, most of the hurricanes veer west over the Pacific towards Hawaii and dissipate.

Hurricanes are a force no one can fully guard against. As mere obstacles in the path of these intense storms, we and our homes and belongings are at its mercy; yet there are steps we can take to prepare ourselves and increase the likelihood that we and our loved ones will weather the storm safely. The most important thing any family can do is to be prepared before a storm is set to arrive. It is never too early to have a full and properly equipped emergency kit.

The two most obvious items to have in your kit are food and water for 3 to 7 days. One gallon per person per day is the basic guideline recommended by experts. The emergency food supply should be non-perishable items along with a manual can opener. The kit should also contain any special food that family members may need, such as baby food or food that allows for any allergies.

Since there is never any way to determine how long an emergency kit will have to last, other items besides food and water must be included.

1. Fully stocked first aid kit with any special medicines/prescriptions.
   
2. Flashlights: batteries and a battery operated radio.  Probably the most intelligent thing I ever did was to purchase some battery operated camping lamps..no particular reason,  when I was in California.  I think it was Target or Kmart and they were cute.  Believe me reading or doing anything by candlelight for more than 10 minutes gets old very fast.
3. Pet supplies: And water for Fido also.
   
4. Important paperwork: house papers, medical records, insurance policies. Keep in plastic baggies. Very Important: Your passport and FM3 orFM2 if you have them.
   
5. Tools: hammer, screwdrivers and good old duct tape.
   
6. Cash: remember, if electricity is lost, you will not be able to get money from ATM machines.
7. Gas: Vehicles should have full gas tanks. Do this early before the lines get too long. Do not wait until the day the hurricane is due to “touch down”. You will be waiting in line forever. You’ll have plenty of warning about approaching hurricanes..fill up early!
   
8. Cell phones should be fully charged.
9.  Ina’s Hint: If you own a home here and are not going to be around during hurricane season consider this:   Before leaving town, go to a lumber store and get some 2×4’s.  Cut them into squares and put one square underneath each leg of your sofa, chairs and anything else you might want to get off the floor.  Somehow water tends to get in under doors and through closed windows.  If you are not sure if your roof leaks then definitely put a sheet of plastic over your furniture.
   
10. Another Hint: Do your best to secure your home and belongings. Use plywood or hurricane shutters on windows, secure boats and outdoor furniture. Lock up everything you possibly can. If you have a pool, throw the patio furniture (NO not the cushions) in the pool…much easier than hauling them into the house or garage.
    
11. Think ahead and take videos or photos of your property before you leave.  This will help later on with any insurance checklist claims for damage.  Click here for Insurance Checklist
12. Food and Water:  I know I’ve said this before but that should let you know
    how important this is. On a bright note, get together with your nieghbors and start eating out of your freezers. You will most likely eat
    like kings trying to consume steaks, shrimp, casseroles etc. before they thaw out.  Someone should have a gas bar b que. I don’t camp and I had a camping stove.

Once you have made all the proper preparedness plans that you can possibly make ahead of time, stay informed. When a hurricane is on the way, stay tuned to your local authorities. Listen to multiple sources, such as radio, television and internet warnings. If the local authorities are telling your area to evacuate, follow their directions. If you can stay in your home, stay in a small interior room. Close all of the other doors and keep shades and curtains closed to minimize any glass dangers. Stay as low as possible.

While it is impossible to guarantee you and your home are 100% safe and sound during a hurricane, taking the time to follow these simple tips can decrease damage, loss, and certainly the headaches that the storm is sure to leave behind.

Things to Remember After a Hurricane Passes

1. Stay out of damaged buildings or homes until they are properly inspected for safety
2. Never attempt to cross flood waters.
3. Stay away from stray or loose animals
4. Stay away from mosquito infested areas, like standing water. These are prime conditions for disease.
5. Be aware of carbon monoxide poisoning dangers from generators, camp stoves, etc..
6. Boil water or drink bottled water. Never drink water that smells bad or has an unusual color.

Hurricanes do have an upside… you get to know your neighbors an little better and most people are a lot nicer during these type of situations. Turn it into a party. There will always be reruns of NCIS.

 

 

The Los Cabos Humane Society is run by an amazing group of volunteers who are truly some of the unsung heroes in Cabo.  I’d like to give you a little history on the “dog problem” not only in Cabo but in many areas of Mexico.  I am well aware that I did not provide a full accounting of everyone who donates their time.  You know who you are….pat yourselves on your backs..you are the unsung heroes!

When I first started visiting Cabo in the 80’s, to say that there was a dog problem would be an understatement.  They were all over…mangy, ragtag animals roaming through town in groups of 5 or more.  You would want to help them but most would not let you get close.  I had a friend who was walking home one day and a pack of dogs chased her home.  Nothing serious, but they did take a few bites out of her ankle and leg. She never walked without a big stick after that.  The Los Cabos Humane Society was formed and I won’t bore you with the details when you can read all about them at their website www.loscaboshumanesociety.com  My good friend, Marci Horton Diaz is responsible for the website and she has done a bang-up job.  In addition to that she fosters dogs until their forever home’s can be found. Aida Trujillo works tirelessly and ensures that everything runs smoothly…not an easy job in Cabo.  Also thanks to the Gringo Gazette, our local rag, for donating space to showcase adoptable animals and announce LCHS fundraisers.  Also many, many thanks to the locals who donate their time and go out to the shelter several times a week to walk the dogs.

Back in the 90’s the LCHS did round-ups and would get between 100-130 sick and starving dogs off the street every third Saturday of the month.  Many were sick and had to be put down… not a good option, but please remember, there was no money and there was no one  and no place to care for them.  The shelter was built and operated on by donations and not equipped to handle much back then. The City does the round-ups now and they might bring in 25 dogs….a big difference from the 90’s. Now vets from as far away as the United States and Tijuana donate their time and skills to nurse these animals back to health.

Not only that but the LCHS also has an outreach education program and go out to the schools in order teach the kids, at an early age, how to care for their pets.  LCHS also offers many spay/neuter clinics with local and some not so local vets contributing their time

The message below was written by Aida Trujillo, President of the Board of Directors…another unsung hero

Message for 2011.  (SOME FACTS)

Thanks to your generosity in 2010 we performed 3100 surgeries (580 more than was budgeted!), 352 total adoptions, educated over 1500 local school children and made several much needed improvements to the Center.

We are confident that 2011 will prove to be our best year yet: we have a very ambitious goal of sterilizing 6000 animals in the Los Cabos area and we will be setting up a “mobile clinic” in
San Jose neighborhoods working in conjunction with Servicios Publicos (department that cleans the city).
Our operating budget in 2010 was $21,500 USD per month. For 2011 we’ve budgeted 23,200 per month to help us reach this year’s goals.

Dr. Rebeca Serrano, who has helped us at our Spay/Neuter clinics for the last two years, has moved down from Tijuana to be in charge of LCHS’s Spay/Neuter program.  We will continue holding weekly clinics at the Center in Cabo San Lucas and also in San Jose del Cabo.

None of our achievements would be possible without those of you who donate, volunteer and attend our fundraisers. We thank you for your continued support.
Aida Trujillo, President

 

Please be aware:  There is no governmental agency to address the problem of homeless domestic animals living on the streets of Los Cabos.
The Los Cabos Humane Society is operating as the only form of animal protection and control.

The Los Cabos Humane Society is offering the only humane solution in San Lucas and San Jose to reduce the ever-increasing number of unwanted animals that are born to suffer on the streets of our community.

The Los Cabos Humane Society, AC is operating as a legal non-profit civil association in Mexico with donation status and as the Humane Society de Cabo San Lucas, INC – a non-profit U.S.Corporation with tax exempt status under section 501(C)(3).

 

Cinco de Mayo or Where’s the Fiesta?

I know that I will probably hear from some irate people on this take on Cinco de Mayo but just to make sure that I was dispensing the correct information I did a lot of research and basically every article I read said the same thing.  Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence day…that occurs on September 16^th.  For more information: www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo     

Cinco de Mayo is the day that a rag tag bunch of underweaponized Mexican soldiers defeated a well-equipped and large French army of invaders.  This victory was short-lived but it did happen. Although Mexican citizens feel very proud of the meaning of Cinco de Mayo, it is not a national holiday in Mexico, but it is an official holiday in the State of Puebla where the mentioned battle took place.

Cinco de Mayo is actually celebrated more in the States than it is in Mexico… Celebrations of this Mexican historical event are largely a result of promotions in the US by liquor, beer, and bars/taverns/clubs/restaurants since the 1980s.  Tourist destinations…yes, Cabo being one of them, not to be left out has kind of jumped on the bandwagon and it is possible to find a fiesta or two commemorating Cinco de Mayo.  Years ago when I first came to Cabo this was not the case. No fiestas anywhere! 

I found a great article on line that stated:

There are holidays that are more about the party than the history. Call them drinking holidays.  We take a real holiday and strip its significance to a two-for-one drink special. It’s a chance to establish friendships and party down.  St. Patrick’s Day is one.  Oktoberfest is another and let’s not forget Halloween.  Fourth of July is on the brink.  There is history to these days but I bet if you ask a fun lover what that history is you would not get a coherent answer.

Short History of Cinco de Mayo

The French, under Emperor Napoleon III, landed in Mexico in early December 1862, bent on overthrowing the government of President Benito Juarez. They even brought along a Hapsburg prince, Maximilian, and his wife, Carolota, to rule the new Mexican empire.

Napoleon’s army, which hadn’t been defeated in 50 years, marched on Mexico City. On the morning of May 5, 4,000 Mexican troops under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza – many wielding only machetes – defeated the 8,000 well-armed invaders at Puebla, 100 miles east of Mexico City.

The bloody Battle of Puebla is seen as a cultural link between Mexico and the United States, which was affected because the supply of French weapons to the Confederate Army during the U.S. Civil War was cut off. The war ended at Gettysburg 14 months later.

O.K.  Enough history…Go out and party!  Ole!