Anybody been to Palomas, Mexico (NM/Chihuahua border town near Columbus/Deming) recently? (Albuquerque: 2013, health insurance)
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Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Has anybody been to Puerto Palomas, Mexico lately? Is it safe and far enough away to not be affected to much by the violence in Juarez? Anything of interest there? I've heard about the Pink Store.
Second, is it worth the trip to go down there to visit Farmacia Express? This would not be for dope, but legitemate medications. Are there substantial savings? Any confusion on brands and dosage amounts available? Just wondering if its worth the trip for somebody without health insurance to stock up a 3 month supply of meds from there.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Reputation: 14334
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big time bro
Google Palomas, MX and crime and you'll get your answer. I wouldn't go though just to be on the safe side.
yeah see, it's such a small town that Google doesn't really give a whole lot of info. At least in this site you can get testimonials from personal experiences. It goes without saying to stay out of Juarez right now, but was wondering what Palomas was like and if being a "border town" tarnishes its image worse than it really is.
Palomas is normally a quiet town but I know a couple years ago that they had around 40 murders and only a population of like 7000 people, their mayor was murdered also, but I haven't heard anything about Palomas since. Maybe the crime moved on elsewhere.
A year or so ago there was a report of an American found killed in Palomas, but I never heard of any problems before or after that incident (not to say there weren't any). There is considerable border traffic between Deming/Columbus and Puerto Palomas, so the vast majority of cross-border visits happen without incident. You can park at the border and walk across to Palomas.
The New Mexico Border Authority describes the crossing here: Columbus
I haven't been there (I have been to Juárez, Nogales, Agua Prieta, Tijuana) but I wouldn't be hesitant about it, just exercise the normal precautions. You might also read the State Department travel warnings (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5440.html - broken link) for Chihuahua State.
Has anybody been to Puerto Palomas, Mexico lately?
It has been over five years. I have some long time friends on both sides of the border.
Quote:
Originally Posted by caphillsea77
Is it safe and far enough away to not be affected to much by the violence in Juarez?
There are a few problems. I would go with a proper escort. But here is a quick sample:
Quote:
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Palomas Men Accused in 26 Murders
By Journal Staff on Wed, Dec 9, 2009
Suspected hit men for Sinaloa drug cartel arrested before dawn Tuesday.
The Mexican army arrested two suspected hit men for the Sinaloa drug cartel who are implicated in at least 26 murders in northwestern Chihuahua state, military officials told the El Paso Times.
21-year-old reportedly ‘crusing’ in town whose mayor was killed this month.
A 21-year-old Deming woman was airlifted to El Paso’s University Medical Center early Tuesday after being shot in an apparent drive-by shooting in Palomas, Mexico, the Deming Headlight reported.
LAS CRUCES — Churchgoers attending Sunday morning Mass in Palomas, Mexico, discovered three severed heads in the town's main plaza, law enforcement officials said.
Eddie Espinoza, mayor of the town of Columbus, where many residents have family ties in Palomas just south of the border, said the horrific display by the perpetrators marked an intensification of the drug-related violence that had quieted somewhat in the area in recent months.
Just south of the arid stretch of land at the New Mexico border, in Palomas, Mexico, the economic crisis of several years continues to deepen. "There isn't any work!" is what they say there, and it's almost literally true.
The horrible violence of the drug war has decimated the dentist, oculist and pharmacist businesses and the tourist business in Palomas. There are about 4,000 Palomas residents now as compared with maybe 12,000 a few years ago.
Read more: ABQJOURNAL OPINION/GUEST_COLUMNS: Crackdown Hurting Palomas ABQjournal.com: Albuquerque Journal login page
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Four Burned Bodies Found Near Palomas
By Journal Staff on Mon, Mar 24, 2008
Death toll continues to climb at border town whose top cop has asked U.S. for asylum.
Mexican authorities are trying to identify four burned bodies discovered Friday at a ranch near the Mexican border city of Palomas, the El Paso Times reported.
Anything of interest there? I've heard about the Pink Store.
The Plaza and the Pink Store is about it. You could see and do more in Las Cruces, Albuquerque, etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by caphillsea77
Second, is it worth the trip to go down there to visit Farmacia Express? This would not be for dope, but legitemate medications. Are there substantial savings? Any confusion on brands and dosage amounts available? Just wondering if its worth the trip for somebody without health insurance to stock up a 3 month supply of meds from there
It is not worth it for me. It's about 10 hours of driving round trip from Albuquerque. Legitimate medications? Well, you might encounter some real legal issues. There are specific legalities and requirements to buy certain medications in Mexico and then bring them back to the US.
One of the most depressing areas I've ever been to, both on the American and Mexican sides. I ran an international 5k there in 2006 before Calderon was elected over Obrador.
This is one of those far flung areas where border commerce happened as a means of convenience, and two towns subsequently were formed to facilitate it. Accordingly, short of the Pancho Villa State Park memorial, which has about a 15 minute shelf life affixed to it, there's nothing of any real substance or value to see.
Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
10,676 posts, read 23,059,981 times
Reputation: 14334
Wow! I think my questions have been answered and asserted with clarity and with the info provided and I will certainly stear clear of the boder towns, Palomas included. Upon googling the town I skirted upon a few of these violent episodes, but digging deeper and hearing all of your responses Palomas certainly sounds depressing and just best to avoid all together. What a shame. Thanks for all your feedback everyone.
Wow! I think my questions have been answered and asserted with clarity and with the info provided and I will certainly stear clear of the boder towns, Palomas included. Upon googling the town I skirted upon a few of these violent episodes, but digging deeper and hearing all of your responses Palomas certainly sounds depressing and just best to avoid all together. What a shame. Thanks for all your feedback everyone.
Interestingly, however, I find the idea of moving around on Rt 9, between El Paso and the Bootheel, to be a theraputic exercise. Where there's little or no population, and you are moving 70 mph through the most barren terrain and landscape, it's very interesting to observe in my opinion, anyways. If your intent is outdoors, and natural landscapes (ex. Florida Mountains) it's a wonderful area to drive through, certainly a superior alternative to I-10.
Any Current (2012-13) information about Palomas,Chi, MX I would Appreciate . User reviews / info on Dentists besides Fierro, stores /commerce besides "Pink". Personal experiences R/T Hotels, taxis,police,personal safety concerns, communicating with town folks ,spending a few days there /a week .
Any thing else pertinent to the place,to look for and to look out for. No sensational years -old newspaper clippings ,please .
Say ,does Palomas have a phone book (YPg) ,or a newspaper ?
Thanks to all -if any
T
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Palomas-Current info
