RE: Save it

I have heard of and seen such things happening in Mexico.

I live in SoCal and we frequent Tijuana. I have never felt completely unsafe, but I always consider where I am: It is a dog eat dog place. Desperation brings out a certain side of people. I was held for about 20 minutes (admittedly it was for drinking in the street) while my friends argued in Spanish for an officer to let me go. This was on the bridge crossing back into U.S. in broad daylight. We had to pay the officer $50. Again, I admit I was in the wrong. That was my first and last slip up in Mexico: a bargain basement price on an education according to other stories I've heard.

A high school friend of mine was held in a TJ jail for a week while his parents were told to wire $1000. Only each time they wired money, they were told the transaction did not go through. Their bank account showed it was going through for a total of $3000.

The last time I was there (Dec. 29) I saw 30 soldiers in riot gear hanging out in the street. This was on a Saturday at about 9:00AM. I remember as we had just eaten breakfast. Oh yeah, did I mention I stay the night in seedy TJ hotels? I am surprised I haven't gotten scabies yet as my other travel companions all have.

So I understand the risks associated with Mexico. However, I hear that Mexico City is considerably more safe as (and this is the biggest factor in my mind) it is not a border town. Also, I think it matters that the economy of D.F. is much better and less reliant on small-time corruption (like shaking down American kids). Mexico gets a bad rap and it's largely due to the border towns.

At any rate, I would really rather go to Buenos Ares. My girlfriend is Mexican and she wants to visit D.F. as she has never been. But Buenos Ares sounds so much more attractive to this white, blond haired, blue eyed second generation French-Canadian, Anglo-American.