Acapulco is happenin’! What a fun, hustling, bustling city. It is the Grand Dame of vacation destinations. It can truly be said that as far as the sunny, ‘escape the drudgery of winter’ tourism industry goes, Acapulco has been the place to be for over 60 years! Ever since the Hollywood jet-set crowned Acapulco “King of the Getaway” back in the 50’s, it has been a tourist Mecca. And it’s easy to see why. There is so much to enjoy here! Today we visited hotels and hotspots that are super-hip shrines to a bygone era of Hollywood royalty. We visited the solemn and beautiful mountaintop chapel that a grief-stricken family built in memory of their tragically lost son. We watched the daring clavadistas (cliff-divers) bravely plunge into the surge 90 feet below. We ate incredibly fresh, deftly prepared seafood. And I tried my first bungee jump!
It is so gratifying to visit a coastal city of one million people that’s history is so fascinating. A ‘resort town’ that has stood the test of time, and which seems to be entering a new era in which it will pass into that small club of places that people around the world recognize as almost mythical cosmopolitan beach destinations. Places with a vibrant city feel, coupled with all the beach and sun related fun you can handle. Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Buenos Aires and Sydney, to name a few. Pretty good company, no?
Well, I’m sorry to say it, but this will be my last blog entry (for now?...) from this amazing jaunt around the beaches of Mexico. We set out with one question in mind: “What is really happening in Mexico?” And I think that we have collected an enormous amount of (admittedly anecdotal) evidence that the reality of life in the resort locations that tourists from around the world generally visit is pretty much the same as it has always been – awesome. Sure, anecdotal evidence is not ‘statistically accurate’, but I think that if you watch all the interviews we have posted on this blog you would have to agree that we have talked to all kinds of people - probably someone just like you - and that their overwhelming sentiment is that they feel perfectly safe down here. In fact, they are feeling waaaaay better than that – they are having one heck of a fantastic time!
I can speak candidly for myself and Director Mike, my partner in this endeavor, WE HAVE NOT FELT LIKE WE HAVE BEEN IN DANGER FOR ONE SECOND! I mean, not while we were doing anything – and let’s face it, we have gone more places and done more things in the last ten days than many people do in their lifetime. I can unequivocally state that we both personally think that you’re as safe as houses down here. Don’t join a drug cartel. That’s about all the safety advice I can give you. But hey, if you don’t believe me – check out the what, almost 100 video clips that we have amassed over the last ten days. We think they speak for themselves. And no, we don’t have a team of editors cutting out the bad stories – there simply haven’t been any. It’s just the two of us, with a little help from some locals who know where to go to find the tourists, working late into the night to upload this video diary for you, to let you know just what in blazes is really going on down here. I would of course caution anyone about the border towns – that’s just common sense – but we spoke to a family that drove their camper van right through one of those towns, and they are just fine. Don’t believe the hype. We actually spoke with a fellow that compared the situation with the media coverage of Mexico now with that of the SARS epidemic in Canada few years ago. Remember that? Did it seem sensible to be concerned about travelling to Canada just because a handful of people in Toronto had come down with a horrible disease? I’m in no way trivializing the loss that some people experienced due to that tragedy. I’m talking about perspective here, and I think that it’s something that we all should try and exercise. Toronto had the SARS concert, with the Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Justin Timberlake etc. Who does Mexico have? Just us. Scott and Mike. I sincerely hope that we have made a difference.
Thanks to everyone who has checked out our stories. Thanks to all the people who took the time to speak with us. And thanks to all the people who helped us along the way. Please DO look into the archives on this blog page of the places we’ve been, what we’ve done, and the people we’ve met over the last ten days. We sincerely hope you find the videos and text informative, and, Madre de Dios, entertaining.
Salut! From Scott & Mike
What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 10 - Part 1 ACAPULCO
What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 10 - Part 2 ACAPULCO
What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 10 - Part 3 ACAPULCO
What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 10 - Part 4 ACAPULCO
What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 10 - Part 5 ACAPULCO
What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 10 - Part 6 ACAPULCO
What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 10 - Part 7 ACAPULCO
What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 10 - Part 8 ACAPULCO
What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 10 - Part 9 ACAPULCO
Scott & Mike, if you ever have a chance, visit Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point to English speakers). My family owns a house there. While it isn't quite as glamorous as Cancun or Acapulco, if you enjoy a (relatively) sleepy little fishing town with great seafood and plenty of opportunity for outdoor activities by the ocean, RP might be of interest. Rocky Point is about 200 miles from either Phoenix or Tucson and is about as safe as you can get. If you look at a map, it is a dead-end at the ocean. Drug smugglers would really have to go out of their way to head through Rocky Point. We cross the border in Lukeville, which is about 200 miles West of Nogales and about 350 miles East of Tijuana. I've talked to Americans that live there full-time who say it's the same there as it's always been. Thanks for showing the reality of most parts of Mexico and battling the sensationalist media accounts.
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