BAJA On The Rocks?
The recent reports of violence, kidnappings, executions, rapes, and general drug cartel mayhem in Baja has driven the media into a frenzy of fear fueled warnings against travel to our state's most popular destination. The L.A.Times recently reported a 90% drop in tourism to Tijuana alone. 90%? Cayate!! Are the streets now bare? Have the Gringos left the building? Are droga crazed cartel killers lying in wait to pounce on turistas, rob them of their belongings, steal their Ford F-150s, beat them senseless, and then leave them to rot on some dark Mexican highway?
Mayor Sam wanted to know, and so did I! After supplying me with a very nice GMC Suburban, and a big wad of cash, Mayor Sam sent me south of the border to investigate, infiltrate, and if necessary, instigate!
This is what I discovered:
-The margaritas at El Rey Sol in Ensenada are exquisite!
-If you like locally harvested mussels and local wine (Santo Tomas) then pay a visit to
"La Vendimia", also in Ensenada.
-With the fear factor of Baja crime now embedded in the American public mind, you will find less drunken teen-age yahoos in the streets.
-Unfortunately, no reported crime wave can keep away 5 lonely guys in a pick-up with an otherworldly sub-woofer blaring at bone shattering volume.
-These same 5 guys also have flashing blue rope lights that keep beat to the music, while simultaneously lighting the interior of their truck cab. Chicas dig that!
-I drove the road from Tijuana to Ensenada at night (against all published warnings).
Nothing happened.Nada. There was a nice open road and a beautiful moonlit sea. Otherwise nothing to report.
-This was also the first time in 25 years of traveling to Baja
(3 to 6 times per year) that I didn't go through a military checkpoint.
Perhaps they are too busy assisting the fleeing Americans.
-I spoke with some locals and they all blamed the American media for bringing this on.
-Tourism is measurably lower, but my estimate is more like 30-40%.
Recommendation:
Go To Baja now, while everyone else is scared silly! Prices are lower, service is great, and everyone is very happy to see you! And most of all....just relax!
Posted by Unknown @ 2/18/2008 06:37:00 PM
37 Comments:
WTF?
That's what I said!
Have the Gringos left the building? Are droga crazed cartel killers lying in wait to pounce on turistas, rob them of their belongings, steal their Ford F-150s, beat them senseless, and then leave them to rot on some dark Mexican highway?
You left out kidnapped. Never to return home.
OK it's rivials for the same measly tourist business?
"OK it's rivials for the same measly tourist business?"
Not sure what you are asking.
The locals "blamed the American media" for telling people that there were 50-plus murders in TJ alone since January 1st. Those damned Yankees, they're to blame for everything.
And why did they have to report the muggings and car thefts of people driving south! After all, plenty of people get through.
I remember El Sol from way back, though, and the Cantina. I walked in there once in a khaki outfit and everyone gave me major respect. Turned out they thought I was some kind of Federal until they heard my American Spanish. "Mas tequilla!
Just reporting what I heard, but I do think that Tourists tend to react and sometimes over react to any glitch in
news over a travel destination. I'm not saying it's perfectly safe in Baja, I just don't think it's really any more dangerous that it's ever been. I've never had a problem in 25 years, maybe I'm just lucky.
I was born in Mexico City to American parents. I now live in the States. After several episodes in Tijuana, Rosarito and Ensenada, I would not recommend going south at all. Media or not, I was never involved in drugs but I can tell you I had my share of "false accusations" and it makes me sick that a few dollars got me off the hook ( duh, I was not guilty!). Sorry, I cannot recommend you a safe place to be South of the border. Many of us loved the people south of the border, but not their crime. Baja Californians, stand up to the criminals, maybe I'll change my opinion and come back. I like the tacos on Revolucion!!
Right on Joe B.! Scare tactics and sensationalism.
I have been going south forever and in Mexico and almost anywhere else in the world if you are respectful of the people and culture, and especially if you have a good sense of humor and are not a tight ass you will have fun and enjoy yourself.
If you are a drunk obnoxious frat boy looking for trouble you will get yourself in big big trouble
(can you spell police brutality ),
Use some common sense and realize that there are poor hungry people in Mexico so don't leave your purse or wallet or other belongings on the seat of your car with the window down, I might even be tempted.
Had many great meals at the EL Rey Sol but haven't been there for many years. The french bread (bolillo's) and fine wine and bouillabaisse I still can taste, excellent.
As a youngster one night in the old Hussongs Cantina I talked two guys next to me out of a fight, got them both to buy me a drink, talked the little Indio cop, who had his gun pointed at me, into believing the chingaso's were somewhere else in back, (he ran back there with his big 357 waving around), and got ruined with the muchacha's, music, and electric shocks ($1.00 a jolt), party was going on so strong that nobody would leave the joint so at 4:00 am the front and back doors were opened and the fire dept turned their water hose's on and blew everyone out into the street.
Had some great times in Ensenada, those were the days, now I go to San Felipe with the old folks and watch the Sunrise and play with the dogs on the beach.
"No Bad Days!")
I remember eating at the El Rey Sol. Great food and excellent service - even for those of us wearing jeans and sandals. The wallpaper, which reminds me of a French whorehouse, gives me a headache and hurts my eyes, especially after a few of those margaritas! But like its been said before, no bad days! Hmmm, maybe its time for a run down to Baja ...
This is a great post Joe! Maybe we need a Mayor Sam trip to Baja!
7:54, you've been called a racist and white supremecist who's making that stuff up, by some nut who's been posting below on the Gang/Carr thread
He says real Mexicans don't eat tacos on Revolucion, that's how he knows you're a phony white supremecist. ???
Oh, and the accuser on that thread says you're a "Mexican hater" because what you really got on Revolucion was "a cut rate boob job" which they messed up and "screwed in the wrong color nipples," whatever that means, and "left your face like a Shar pei."
Is this true, or has that person lost his mind once and for all?
Pathetic desperate liar.
Ran out of meds at 10:40 and 10:45:
I looked at all your posts. Why would you admit to your bad nipple and botox job? Have you completely lost your mind?
This answers the question at 10:45
You were entitled to a refund on your T.J. boob job. That's reason to be furious with the Mexican gangs but not to go off on the tacos.
AP News Alert
5 minutes ago
HAVANA (AP) — Official media quotes Fidel Castro saying he will not seek new presidential term.
I don't need to go to Tijuana, I just drive down around the Westlake area it has lots of illegal street vendors selling junk on the sidewalks, trash on the streets, and loud mexican music. I save several hours of driving time and get the Tijuana experience while saving gasoline.
Don't waste gasoline driving all the way to Tijauna, just drive to Downtown L.A. on Broadway street or Alavarado street. There are mexican corrupt politicans runing the city, Villa-Mugroso, Huizar and Reyes. There are mexican gangs collecting street taxes from the illegal street vendors, and the mexican cholos kill when not paid in full.
Why drive so far for the Tijuana experience? Some people are so silly Tijuana has come to you.
Cut the shit 7 :32 you know you can't get your boob job and botox Shar Pei face fixed on Alvarado, go back to TJ and get your change.
Hey at the Pulga on 7th you can get a miracle candle to help, Santa Fea the patron saint of the PMS sufferers.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
All we need in Los Angeles to complete the total "Tijuana" experience is
..
1) Corrupt cops collecting the "Mordida" (bite of extortion)from American Tourists.
2) Armed bandits robbing you of your vehicle on lonely dark freeways.
3) The Army doing battle with heavily armed mexican drug cartels.
4) Lots of cheap whore-houses.
5) More poor mexicans begging on the streets.
Los Angeles is well on it's way.
We have 4 out of 5 and would have all five if we could use our police.
1) Corrupt cops collecting the "Mordida" (bite of extortion)from American Tourists. Rampart Scandel
2) Armed bandits robbing you of your vehicle on lonely dark freeways. Hoppens a lot in many neighborhoods.
3) The Army doing battle with heavily armed mexican drug cartels. NOT YET
4) Lots of cheap whore-houses. No, our girls work on the streets unless they are pandering to the Councilmen and we know where to go for their stuff.
5) More poor mexicans begging on the streets.Every day, every location.
8:08
There's no more cheap whorehouse's in TJ, all the working girls got discount botox and boob job treatments like you and are now "high class hookers".
That damn Mexican president Calderon must be working with the American news media inventing all those stories about drug cartels in Tijuana. Lies, Lies I tell you there are NO drug cartels is Mexico and Tijuana is the safest and most beautiful city in the world. All the stories about Tijuana drug cartels hit-men, killing Tijuana, cops and prosecutors all FALSE.
Go to Tijuana, it’s beautiful it’s the safest city in the Western Hemisphere.
Here are some of the lies including fake pictures.
This story has lots of good fake pictures
Tijuana's new chief knows the cartel's killers are after him
L.A. Times Lie #1
Even the Tijuana Newspapers lie
Three policeman are assassinated, and also family members
http://www.oem.com.mx/oem/notas/n559073.htm
Mexican gangs try to bribe army as drug war flares
Reuters AlertNet Lies
Mexico police chief murder linked to border tunnel
SignOnSanDiego Lie 1
Don't worry about the Mexican drug cartels, it's really Asian gangs doing all the killings in Tijuana.
It's the Asian gangs, who are the real killers in Tijuana and here in Los Angeles, Asian Gangs are the vicious and extremly violent gangs to worry about.
All mexicans are honest and hard working people who help this city and state become great.
I read it here on this blog !!!!!!
Asian Gangs are the vicious and extremly violent gangs to worry about.
This makes no sense. I hope you're joking.
Another nice little story in the Daily News today: "Crews" of jewel thieves from Columbia targeting people in the Jewelry Mart downtown, with a really scary scheme. Follow home managers or owners who they know will have jewelry with them in their cars to take home (wonder how they know this, inside job, from workers?) and follow them home to the Valley and surrounding areas.
Today's story features them following a guy from Jewelry Mart to his home in North Hollywood and back and forth to his store, until they know he's got jewelry on him and rob him, for example while he was getting gas. Story pretty vague, but this happened often enough that this guy is quitting the business.
This is not an isolated incident by any means: story talks about the "crews" who "were trained as pickpockets in their home country" of Columbia, graduating to jewelry and car burglaries like this. It's a huge problem, apparently.
The scariest part to me is all the surveillance and following around of their victim, following them home all the way from downtown to the valleys and all day long.
Wonder if this "training" is unique to Columbia or if its common down there. I know most Mexicans are hard=working family people, and the baja region is beautiful once you get south of the polluted beaches of Tijuana. But this kind of thing and now the more brazen variety is just too much for me.
Like a breath of fresh air!
Thank you for debunking the myths. We live and drive in Baja and San Diego.
I do not drive late at night in area I do not know - here in San Diego or south of the border.
I am also glad the truth is out about Baja, Ca.
Baja is the safest place on earth, don't worry buy property from me.
Surfs up at Baja
Here is another nice story from Los Angeles times, these kidnappers are going to Tijuana.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-kidnap20feb20,1,5272747.story
An Ontario father of three was beaten and kidnapped Monday afternoon by a band of men who police said had held his wife and children hostage for hours as they waited for his return home, authorities said today.
Authorities said they believed it is possible that the suspects fled across the border to Mexico.
Joe Bozo writes.....
"-I drove the road from Tijuana to Ensenada at night (against all published warnings).
Nothing happened. Nada"
*******************
Wow you are genius, If one person can run across a busy freeway, does that mean it is safe?
One person driving through Baja, without being a victim does not mean it's safe. I once drank a whole bottle of 100% ever-clear alcohol, I survived now everybody should try it.
I don't need to drive to smelly tijuana just for a margarita. I just go to Chili's restaurant and have a "Presidente Margarita". Or I just make them at home and enjoy the mountain view from my patio.
Ingredients
1 1/4 ounces tequila (SAUZAS COMMEMORATIVO)
1/2 ounce Cointreau liqueur
1/2 ounce brandy (PRESIDENTE)
4 ounces liquid sweet and sour cocktail mix
1/8-1/4 fluid ounce lime juice (splash)
Directions
Place all ingredients in a Bar Shaker. Shake-up very well. Pour over a salt rimmed margarita glass filled with ice. Enjoy!
I think a margarita is the least of reasons to travel to Baja (avoiding Tijuana of course). Those that know
why, would prefer that you don't. And for those that only know Tijuana, let's just keep it that way.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19. 2008
FEDERAL AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES TARGET VENICE-AREA GANGS
LOS ANGELES – Over the past six months, officers from the Los
Angeles Police Department (LAPD), agents from the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and prosecutors from the City Attorney’s Office
have investigated narcotics and gun trafficking by the Venice Shoreline Crips (VSLC) and V-13 gang members in the Oakwood neighborhood of Venice.
"This joint local-federal law enforcement effort once again puts gang members throughout the City on notice," said City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo. "We will fight you with every tool at our disposal, at all levels of government. We will target you as individuals, and we will target your bases of operations."
This LAPD-lead investigation involved personnel from the Narcotics Abatement
Unit (NAU) and Pacific Area Gang Enforcement Officers. It also involved the assistance of seven outside agencies. In all, there have been 19 arrests for sales
of narcotics and/or firearms, with 33 suspects still outstanding. The suspects are members of VSLC or associates of the gang and have an age range of 18-30.
Over the course of the operation, undercover officers purchased several weapons from VSLC gang members and/or their associates.
Recovered weapons include shotguns, machine pistols (Tech 9), an AR-15 rifle, semiautomatic pistols and a Derringer.
“Today’s collaborative effort involving our partners with the ATF and the City Attorney’s Office sends a clear message that law enforcement will not stand idly
by while gang members terrorize our neighborhoods, “ said Deputy Chief Kenny Garner, LAPD West Bureau Commanding Officer. “These communities belong to the people who reside in them, not those whose only intent is to cause
disruption.”
Special Agent in Charge John A. Torres of the ATF is pleased with the enforcement operations occurring in the Oakwood area of Los Angeles. "Today's events reinforce that ATF will not put up with armed gang violence and the drug trade that fuels it," Torres said. "This is an outstanding example of the combined
efforts of ATF, the Los Angeles Police Department, the United States Attorney's Office and the City Attorney's Office joining forces and bringing these gang
members to justice."
City Attorney Delgadillo today filed a motion seeking closure of one of the narcotics locations (646 Broadway Ave.) which is the subject of an injunction signed in December 2005 prohibiting narcotics sales on the property.
Delgadillo also gave eviction notices to 13 individuals living in Oakwood pursuant to the Violent and Crime Activated Eviction Program (VACATE - Los Angeles Municipal Code section 47.50).
Eleven of these tenants are members or associates of the VSLC gang and one is a member of the Bounty Hunters Bloods gang.
In addition, the City Attorney and LAPD will work closely with the City's Department of Recreation and Parks to address community concerns that the Oakwood Recreation Center is being used by gang members and associates as a base of operations for narcotics sales.
The City Attorney’s efforts today are the latest in a series of legal actions taken against gang-controlled properties throughout the City.
Through his innovative Project TOUGH (Taking Out Urban Gang Headquarters), the City Attorney
targets the properties used by gang members to commit crime and terrorize communities. TOUGH, a new section of the Citywide Nuisance Abatement Program (CNAP),
addresses locations that typically have a wide range of criminal gang activity associated with the property, ranging from quality-of-life crimes like drinking in public, to violent crimes including shootings, assaults with deadly weapons,
robberies, and murders.
The TOUGH program focuses on property abatements through lawsuits against property owners and gang members that seek aggressive and specifically tailored injunctive relief. Since its inception, the TOUGH program has targeted several gang-controlled properties including those operated by the East Side Pain gang in the Harbor area, the Avenues gang in the Northeast area, the Black
P-Stones gang in Baldwin Village, the Front Street Crips in Pacoima, the Venice Shoreline Crips in the Oakwood neighborhood of Venice, the Grape Street Gang in Watts, and the Rollin 30s Crips in South Los Angeles.
As part of City Attorney Delgadillo’s anti-gang efforts, CNAP will continue to abate nuisance properties with special attention paid to locations with a gang connection. If gang activity is extensive at a nuisance property, the case will be
transferred for special handling to the TOUGH program.
Does the post above mean we should all flee to Baja for our safety?
Okay. Any excuse for a margarita!
Mayor Sam said, "This is a great post Joe! Maybe we need a Mayor Sam trip to Baja!
Can you imagine how fun that would be? It would have to be an over-nighter or two. I refuse to be the designated driver.
Also, thanks to don quixote for your
insightful post!
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