Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Back in the '80's and '90's I would drive my car in to Mexaco alot through San Diego but not any more. I am scared to death to even go into Mexaco and I wouldn't dream of taking my car. I don't have anyone to pay my ransom so the bandits would probably just kill me.
Well, clearly Mexico's tourism department was overstepping its authority (and knowledge) by proposing that the Green Angels could serve as escorts to those afraid to drive on Mexican highways! Maybe someone should inform them of their gaffe..
I hope that's all it is. I'd hate to think they knowingly offered a service they cannot provide just for PR.
In the past few years I have taken several trips in Mexico by rental car. I take a bus from the Santa Ana transit station here in Orange County (CA) direct to Tijuana Airport. Buses leave about every 30 minutes. I pre-reserve a compact rental car at the Thrifty rental car counter at Tijuana airport. I also pre-buy a Mexico liability insurance policy. The bus from Santa Ana drops me off at the Tijuana Airport and I walk into the Thrifty counter. In about 15-20 minutes I am on my way in a car which of course has Baja California Mexico license plates. A recent model compact car (like Nissan Versa) costs with unlimited kilometers is about $175 per week. Then I am free to drive around in Mexico without attracting much attention, and I don't need to worry about the Mexico vehicle importation paperwork that is required for trips by US registered vehicles beyond the border area or past Baja California and Sonora.
My parents just went to Mexico this weekend. My dad is now an American Citizen but he was born and raised in Mexico. My mom isn't but they blend in well since they do look Mexican and are in their late 60s so I don't think they will bothered and haven't been bothered yet and hope they are not.
Driving an American licensed plate car will only be effected if a person goes south of the Immigration/Customs point. Above that northwards you could be just a local Mexican in a American licensed car or a tourist.
Case in point.
Paying my electric bill in Rosarito saw a VW bug with Calif sticker from 1994 that was driven by a older Mexican citizen. There are many Calif plated cars here with expired Calif stickers. I see them while sitting at a traffic light. I look at the drivers to see if they appear to be Americans or Mexicans. After 14 yrs here do see a variety of late model cars with American plates and with most people not a big deal... comes with living in the territory. 14,000 Americans living in the Rosarito area alone.
Wow, you guys are scared to drive your own cars in Mexico because they will rob you. I feel bad for you guys. The Americans up here near Canada can drive anywhere they want and everyone is nice and helpful to them.
Where have I been that I haven't heard anything about an epidemic of Americans getting kidnapped in Mexico? Oh wait, maybe it's because there isn't one. It's been said so many times - unless you are in the drug trade, trying to buy drugs or are hanging out in an unsavory area at 4 am, you will be quite safe in Mexico. I (a single woman) lived there for 7 months, drove my US plated car all over and never had a hint of trouble. This entire thread is fear mongering at it's worst. Yes, a few Americans have been caught in the drug war crossfire but the number is very small. Get a grip.
I consider Mexico to be a pretty safe country, and I usually drive my own car there, but I'm not sure that would now be such a good idea. American plates would be like a big red flag. So I came up with this idea:
Mexico could issue a set of temporary Mexican plates on US cars, for use only during the validity of the car import papers. That way, the cars of Americans would not be so conspicuous to Mexicans who might want to kidnap or rob Americans. Regular plates, indistinguishable from regular Mexican drivers.
In fact, that's what Guatemala used to do, presumably for different reasons. The first time I drove into Guatemala, the border inspectors put a Guatemala plate over my American plate, and took it off again when I left the country.
It would make me feel a lot safer driving in Mexico, especially near the borders. Incidentally, I recently got an email from a friend who says the Green Angel road patrol is are now offering to escort any American travelers from the US border as far as Mazatlan.
No, they are North Americans, which is a geographic region not a country. Although some societies do not teach the distinction between North and South America, it still refers to a region not a country. But hey, if any Mexican wants to identify himself as an American, he has only himself to blame when his audience confuses his nationality.
Mexico is actually calledEstados Unidos Mexicanos.
If it's ok to refer to people from the United Mexican States as Mexicans, then is it not ok to refer to people from the United States of America as Americans?
Only one country in the world has "America" as part of it's official name.
So referring to people from the United States of America as "Americans" is more accurate and precise than referring to them as from the United States.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
