El Paso/Juarez tourist (rent, insurance, crime)

[Grunn]

I'll be passing through and have always wanted to visit El Paso/Juarez.

Assuming I visit Juarez during the day and on foot am I likely to encounter any problems given the violent reputation it has?

As for El Paso I have no concerns regarding safety as it's in civilised Texas (also I'll have my CCW with me )

[lipbalm]

Originally Posted by Grunn

I'll be passing through and have always wanted to visit El Paso/Juarez.

Assuming I visit Juarez during the day and on foot am I likely to encounter any problems given the violent reputation it has?

As for El Paso I have no concerns regarding safety as it's in civilised Texas (also I'll have my CCW with me )

I grew up in Juarez (mid 70's to late 80's) and even I don't go down there anymore even though I have some family there still. If you do go don't forget to leave your weapon back in EP otherwise if you get caught with it by Mexican customs your are in deep S**T.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Originally Posted by Grunn

I'll be passing through and have always wanted to visit El Paso/Juarez.

Assuming I visit Juarez during the day and on foot am I likely to encounter any problems given the violent reputation it has?

As for El Paso I have no concerns regarding safety as it's in civilised Texas (also I'll have my CCW with me )

Juarez welcomes tourists with open arms (S&W, Glock, AK47, etc.)! From the charm of Diez y Seis de Septiembre, to the whimsy of the Colonias, explore fantastic old Mexico, land of color, smells of the open sewers. Let your imagination run free where ordinary life is just a fairy tale and dreams of survival abound!

For the thrill seeker, enter a journey into the scary, and deadly world of the Drug Lords. As you roam the streets, you are in for a thrill of a lifetime full of incomrehensible dangers and unimaginable excitement!

For the family, celebrate a daily evening of magic with a breathtaking fireworks spectacular. Bursts of small, yet powerful rays of light from gun barrles will be sure to dazzle you as you are immersed in a sea of audio effects in stereo! All the brilliant sparks will dance between you as the show sways from one side of the street to the others. Weather permitting, some fireworks are mobile!

Celebrate the end of your stay with the festive dancers and patrons of the Seven and Seven Bar! Dancing with the locals, enjoying the sounds of tuba players and cute dancers bulging out of their clothes, a memorable night awaits you! (Disclaimer: Don't accept drinks from strangers)

Now for some last minute tips to make your experience more enjoyable....

Make sure you wear your fanny pack for convenience, and don't forget to bring your camera; it's perfectly fine to hang the camera around your neck as you peruse the neighborhoods.

It is hot, but also dusty, so go ahead and wear bermuda shorts, and wear sandles with socks, to keep the dust away from inbetween your toes. You can find the huge sombreros at most shops around the city to keep the sun at bay for yourself, and two other people who walk in your shadow.

Bring some face masks with you, you never know when you will come across a decaying body by the road these days. Don't rent a car, with an average of 248 murders a month, the streets are often busy with police, ambulance, and hearsts.

Also bring a translation dictionary so you can make sense of those banners placed a the feet of the dead. They are usually political in nature, authored by the cartels. Just a silly warning message usually.

Who said hangings ended this century? Silly people. There are many must see spots in and around Juarez where people have been left hanging, but you may have to ask the locals, I'm not sure tribute plaques have been placed, though you might find mini shrines in their place.

If you want to make a few bucks to defray the cost of the trip, you might bring a sack to pickup shell casings, there is an abundance of brass littering the streets, it's a bonanza and I don't know why, but not even the locals are hip to this hidden recyclable treasure!

Before embarking on this memorable trip, do some housekeeping at home. Make sure you have ample life insurance (you never know when your time may come), and also make a will and testament, just for that extra piece of mind.

Enjoy Juarez!

[Grunn]

Nice one HTBU!

I'm not an obvious fanny pack wearing tourista and I can speak Spanish so a complete victim I am certainly not.........however I was wondering how advisable a trip across the border was.

Sounds iffy so I may give it a miss and obviously I'd be leaving my legally held firearm back in the good ole US of A.

I was only planning a quick trip into to town for a bite to eat and to say I'd been in Me-hi-co.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Just go in the day time, stay within sight of other shoppers, and don't stray, and don't go too far from the border, and security and you should do just fine.

[Enmity]

It's obvious you're looking for adventure. Go ahead.

[Grunn]

Adventure yes, .45 calibre decorative holes in my body, no.

[XChucoresident]

I go to Juarez by myself and I have NT encountered any problems yet but I am aware of the danger there as my Mother there in ELP always tells me...just go in the daytime..and yes. stick to the main streets..but like everyone tells me...go at your own risk

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Grunn

I'll be passing through and have always wanted to visit El Paso/Juarez.

Assuming I visit Juarez during the day and on foot am I likely to encounter any problems given the violent reputation it has?

As for El Paso I have no concerns regarding safety as it's in civilised Texas (also I'll have my CCW with me )

You won't need your CCW in El Paso, you should have one in Juarez but they won't let you.

No one is going to advise someone to go over to Juarez. Probably you could go and wander all over the place and be just fine - most of the killings involve people who are connected some way with crime -- although people who know Juare very well say that innocent people are being kidnapped and held for ransom.

[Enmity]

To be honest, CCW wouldn't even matter in Juarez. The criminals go around in groups and carry automatic assault rifles. A pistol wouldn't matter against that.

With that said, a lot of people of course live there and most aren't going to be hurt by the violence since it is generally not political (yet). Like other say, if you do go, don't go at night, avoid isolated stretches like towards east Juarez, and preferably stay near the bridges. People ARE targeted for theft in remote roads. Generally speaking, if you see the Mexican soldiers riding around, that's not an isolated area.

Still, there's really not much to see in Juarez unless you want to see the 3rd world for the first time, and the current environment is not appealing, but it's your call.