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Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
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Jan 15, 2017 - 08:54pm PT
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Great, great book by a guy who went looking for trouble and found some:
God's Middle Finger
BAd
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Gorgeous George
Trad climber
Los Angeles, California
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Jan 16, 2017 - 10:53am PT
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MS -
Send your Mom and her friend to Vallarta. It's known for all the snowbirds that flock there in the winter, from the northern states and Canada. High season is from December to April. I hope she likes seafood and salty Margaritas.
In fact, she'll be so happy there, the biggest danger is she won't want to come back.
Drug violence has been really isolated. The reference to a running gun battle on the beach cracks me up, especially being from El Lay. Almost daily occurrence here, don't see anyone jumping up and ranting about how violent the Southern California beaches are.
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berghold
Trad climber
Calistoga, CA
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Jan 16, 2017 - 05:11pm PT
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This ^^ incident happened in April 2015 over 5 hours drive away from Puerto Vallerta. In the first two weeks of 2017 there was ONE homocide (granted one too many) reported in the entire State of Jalisco. Like the above incident it was closer to Guadalajara, no where near P.V. During my recent stay I observed exactly ZERO anti-american sentiment. Any complaints I heard were directed at THEIR president for raising the cost of fuel and causing unrest.
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ß Î Ø T Ç H
Boulder climber
ne'er–do–well
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Jan 16, 2017 - 11:03pm PT
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looting ... some watered down beer and dollar store type trash is all you gonna "loot" - How bad could it be?
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trailridge127
Trad climber
Loveland, CO
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Jan 24, 2017 - 08:03pm PT
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Great, great book by a guy who went looking for trouble and found some:
God's Middle Finger
Thank you for the book recommendation. I just finished it. It was a great read with interesting history and adventure.
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Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
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Jan 25, 2017 - 06:52am PT
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Cool, Trail, glad you liked it. I've read most of his other stuff, too. Well worth the read.
BAd
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frank wyman
Mountain climber
montana
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 25, 2017 - 07:46am PT
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Just returned from 2 weeks in Zihuatanejo, had a wonderful time.Yes there was a heavy police and army presance mostly guarding gas stations and banks. Only a couple of shootings.Nothing happened where I was except drinking beer and watching turtles lay their eggs. Laid back place suitable for old folks like me.Beach was great and food fantastic,exchange rate very favorable for American dollar.One cool thing we did was go to the "Parthenon" a abandoned drug lords palace modeled after Greek mansions, tons of statues and paintings, very errie as it was raided by the feds,bullet holes in walls.30 foot gates and tiger cages for his foes. (google Parthenon,Mexico for pictures) Guy with machine gun guarding gate,gave him 100 pesos and he let us in. Check it out if your ever there. Never felt threatened,Just don't try and take their picture.....Frank
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snakefoot
climber
Nor Cal
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Jan 25, 2017 - 08:22am PT
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BAd and trailridge, just reading that now and what a great find! thanks BAd for the rec!
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Jan 25, 2017 - 12:05pm PT
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Don't get caught on the wrong side of the wall. Hell, by the time dickwad get's done with his agenda we're likely to be as much just another third world country.
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Mark Sensenbach
climber
CA
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Feb 22, 2017 - 07:18pm PT
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Amy and I recently got back from 7 days in Troncones on the Pacific Mainland area of Mexico and just want to report that people and experience was fine. Good time!
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Fossil climber
Trad climber
Atlin, B. C.
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Feb 22, 2017 - 07:46pm PT
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A few years ago we took a tiny motor home and went down to beach camp south of Loreto in Baja. I suspect that the beach is no longer free, and perhaps some of the locals no longer come around with food, but we had wonderful times and aside from the border towns never felt uneasy, although we did a few times in the States on the way down. Anyway, I had to eulogize the times thus:
Song of the Snowbird
There’s a playa called Ligui just south of Loreto.
It’s a fabulous spot, but not easy to get to.
The highways are narrow and most don’t have shoulders,
And are littered with shrines, burned-out autos and boulders.
They’re patrolled by acquisitive Mexican policia
Who invent every possible reason to fleece ya.
And at times you must rush past some glorious vista
To search for a rest stop, ‘cause you’ve got turista.
But once you’re established amongst Ligui’s dunes
You can relish the seascapes, the stars and full moons,
To seaward the beautiful Isla Danzante,
Behind you the mighty Sierra Gigante -
The frutas Jose brings and Gloria’s burritos,
The campfires, friends, and of course the Hornitos.
And even Canadians have nothing but praises
For Tecate, Modelo and other cervezas.
If by Baja midnight we’re slightly borracho,
We weave carefully back to our camps mas despacio -
The night may be sweet but it sure would distract us
To tread on a serpent or fall on a cactus.
We delight in the clams and the fish from the ocean,
Are amused by the dogs who proclaim their devotion .
The frigate birds hovering over the sea
Agree with the gulls - there’s no place like Ligui.
If the ocean gets rough or the wind starts to blow
We have only to contemplate forty below.
No one in his senses would trade this fine life
For snowfall, lake fog and sectarian strife.
The only real thing that I think we did wrong
Was not doing this sooner - what took us so long?
* For Spanish, see glossary below.
Glossary
playa (plah’ .yah) = beach. In Baja, playas are populated mostly by gulls, pelicans, and gringos from BC.
Ligui (lih’ guee) = a beach near a tiny village of that name on the Sea of Cortez.
policia (po lee’ see ya) = The cops. The fuzz. Range from highly professional and extremely helpful to disreputable, treacherous and greedy, but usually carrying hand cannons, so it is unwise to be vocally judgemental.
turista (too rees’ tah) = Montezuma’s Revenge. Gastroenteritis. The runs.It visits you regardless of precautions.
frutas (froo’ tahs) = fruits. A fine fellow named Jose brings a weekly truckload of fine produce to Ligui from Ciudad Constitucion, and gives free Spanish lessons as you purchase. Too much frutas = turista.
Hornitos (hor nee’ toes) = An exceedingly smooth, flavorful brand of tequila, avidly sought after on every shopping trip.
WM
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Mark Sensenbach
climber
CA
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Feb 22, 2017 - 09:36pm PT
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"You can relish the seascapes, the stars and full moons"
Nice. Old west but worth the adventure. :)
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