What's REALLY Happening In MEXICO? - Day 8, ZIHUATANEJO & IXTAPA(SCROLL DOWN to view TODAY'S VIDEOS)

So far on this trip to some of Mexico’s beachfront hotspots, we’ve met all kinds of people from all over the world.  And get this - they are all just having an amazing time; enjoying themselves, taking the sun, discovering new activities and enjoying familiar ones.

But what about the Mexicans themselves?  How do they fit into this equation?  Are they a gang of bloodthirsty drug-dealers?  Certainly not.  The truth is that they are a nation of people that at heart are just like us.  They want to live their lives working and enjoying themselves with their friends and families.  It’s as simple as that.  Imagine that 30% of your country’s economy depended on tourism – and that someone very persuasive was telling your customers to stay away from your country because of something that basically would not affect them at all.  The plain fact is that there are literally millions of Mexicans who depend on tourism to live: to feed, clothe and house their families.  And they do an admirable, honest job of it.  A whole population of people should not pay for the sins of a tiny minority that has nothing to do with them.  It’s just common sense.

We’ve been trying to let the people of Canada and the world know that it is patently ridiculous to boycott a country as fabulous as Mexico because of a problem that hardly touches most of it and has it’s origins in our own need for… distraction?  I mean, where do you think the drugs that are at the raison d’etre of this issue are going, anyway?  It is certainly no coincidence that the recent violence in Mexico finds its focal point at the U.S. border. 

Anyone who has ever been to this country knows that Mexicans are a kind and generous people.  We interviewed three generations of a Canadian family today on the beach in Zihuatanejo, and their story, more than any other we’ve filmed in the last week, illustrates the reality of traveling in Mexico.  They are a family taking a six-month sabbatical from their busy lives back in Calgary to drive wherever their inspiration takes them – all over Mexico.  Watch the video.  It speaks for itself.  Then try not to think about whether or not your circumstances would allow you to do something similar!

As for us, in Ixtapa & Zihuatanejo we have found yet another fantastic travelling destination.  Zihuatanejo offers all the charm and character that a small coastal city possibly can, and it’s younger sister Ixtapa just up the road rounds out the offerings for the tourist in this region with it’s opulent resorts, spas, golf courses, marina, and fine dining.  It is hard to imagine a better pairing of two destinations

Scott
(WhatIsReallyHappeningInMexico@hotmail.com)

What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 8 - Part 1 IXTAPA / ZIHUATANEJO

What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 8 - Part 2 IXTAPA / ZIHUATANEJO

What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 8 - Part 3 IXTAPA / ZIHUATANEJO

What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 8 - Part 4 IXTAPA / ZIHUATANEJO

What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 8 - Part 5 IXTAPA / ZIHUATANEJO

What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 8 - Part 6 IXTAPA / ZIHUATANEJO

What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 8 - Part 7 IXTAPA / ZIHUATANEJO

What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 8 - Part 8 IXTAPA / ZIHUATANEJO

What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 8 - Part 9 IXTAPA / ZIHUATANEJO

What Is Really Happening In Mexico? Day 8 - Part 10 IXTAPA / ZIHUATANEJO

Comments

[wayne yee]

lived in mexico, for 11 months, from matxalan to tapachula; ixtapa area is my favorite,(i'm tropical fruits / vegetables, specialist / broker), oxaxca is another; ...like to meet someone /lady who wants to roam that neck of the woods? or have a home there? (puerto vallarte)?

[dave]

Nobody has questioned the fact that the Mexican people are good people. Or that they rely on tourism to survive any many areas.
The only thing the federal government and media are doing is warning people about the gang wars and violence that are currently happening in Mexico.

Your information and comments are rather misleading. Chances are if you stay at a resort and dont leave the resort you probably wont see or here anything but if you like to venture off you are definately putting yourself at risk.

Dont base any decisions on the comments of these people or myself do your own research and inform yourself. These are serious problems that the Mexican President and military are having a difficult time with and dont know how to resolve the problem.

It doesnt matter what caused the problem or where the drugs are being exported to. The issue is that there is a problem and why put yourself in harms way if you dont need to. There are many beautiful places to visit in the caribean.

[anonymous]

There may not be much crime where the videos are, but that doesn't mean there isn't violence and crime in other parts of Mexico. Regardless, it is somewhere that is unsafe at the moment, and a video of scenery isn't going to prove it's safe for people to travel too.

[Rick Swift]

My wife and I just returned from five weeks in Puerto Escondido on the Pacific Coast between Acapulco and the Guatamalan border. This is a wonderful spot with great weather and beaches and warm, friendly people. The one and only North American presence is the Best Western Hotel on the outskirts of town. No burger kings or Walmarts or Wendy's or Sam's Club. We have never once , in three years, felt unsafe. Having said this, I think you are doing everyone - tourists and Mexicans- a great disservice to downplay the problems facing the country. Economic difficulties are enormous. The drug cartel problem is immence. It is wrong to downplay the violence and immoral to dismiss the mayhem that these thugs have caused. Estimates put the figure at over 8,000 drug related deaths in twelve months or so. Underplaying the violence is just as misleading and dishonest as overplaying it. Let's be honest.

[ZihuaRob]

Anyone who thinks it is risky or potentially unsafe to visit Mexico because of what they read or see in US media should take a few moments to read all the recent trip reports that have been posted on my Message Board at http://www.zihuatanejo.net/wwwboard/ by people that actually came here and went anywhere they wanted without any problems. If you don't believe first-hand accounts or those of us who live here then your bias invalidates your argument that Mexico is too dangerous to visit, because that is simply not true. For the tourist nothing is different this year than in any previous year.

[james duffin]

our family, (my children+ grandchildren) have been vacationing in mexico for a very long time. we have been to most of the resort towns and never encountered any problems. we have been staying in cabo san lucas for fifteen years and have never even seen a fight at a club or bar . but we have seen smart ass people who get thrown out of clubs who deserved it. i wouldnt go to tijuana right now or the border towns. use common sense wherever yu go. in your own city you can find gang trouble if you go to the wrong places.

[cathy cunningham]

Thanks for doing this blog. We've wondered when someone would actually do more than make a comment here & there about how safe Mexico really is. All it takes is the same common sense you'd use in traveling anywhere, even in your own home town. If you're not involved in drugs or crime, you won't find trouble. The border towns aren't even problematic if you just use common sense. We travel to Piedras Negras frequently for meds & dental, etc, & it's a lovely border town.
We've been traveling to Mexico for 25 years, just returned from a wonderful 2wks on the Costa Chica of Oaxaca, & will be moving there permanently in a few months.
It's time to stop the media hysteria madness which is only hurting the precious people of Mexico who depend on tourism to feed their families.

[anonymous]

Why is no one mentioning the incidents that happened involving the Canadians that were killed in Mexico- and no they did not happen outside of resorts- one incident happened right in a hotel. Maybe all you people are just covering up the incidents to preserve the tourism in Mexico. The fact remains that Canadians were killed there- if you really want to change the minds of Canadians then show how the people that got killed could of avoided their tragedy- maybe they couldn't because it really is too dangerous in Mexico.

[A Nonny Moose]

Anonymous fails at coverup accusations by the mere fact that its comment was published. A few people murdered is tragic, but it is not an alarming trend. Like many people, when it comes to Mexico and the supposed dangers, Anonymous is seeking out stories that feed its confirmation bias addiction... got an ugly truth hiding behind your facade of tolerance, now, dontcha buddy?

[Jennifer]

Perhaps Anonymous is referring to the hotel murder at the Barcelo a few years back? It seems to have been a murder related to mafia connections and not random at all, and could have happened anywhere. As for the other young man who died in Mexico? It seems that he was making a terrible a** of himself at a local bar, and according to reports, if his behavior was brought out anywhere else in the world he would have experienced the same reaction. We have travelled to Mexico many times, and even in all of our travels off the resort we have never felt in danger. We have gone to fairly remote areas and if you follow the golden rule, local residents are happy to have you visit.

[Friday124226]

Like many of the other writers I have been to several Mexican Resorts and Cities. I myself have traveled as a couple and as a single woman. But I have to say there is alot of fear mongering going on. Don't get me wrong there is violence with the drug cartel but lets get series, we don't go on a vacation to go looking for this stuff. Most Vacationers stay on the resort or only travel to the tourist trap shops and golf course areas.

Mexico is a beautiful and welcoming country. If you go and start partying in local bars and get stupid, your setting yourself up for trouble and there is no one but yourself to blame.

This theory goes for any counrty, not just Mexico, remember drink responsibly and stay out of trouble!!!!!!

[Gilles Polnicky]

Just get back from Mexico and had a wonderful time. Yes! It is alarming what is going on in Mexico right now with the awful brutality of the crimes. I have to agree with most of the commenters that if you are on a resort you are basically safe. Will this change in the future? No one knows for sure. However,the probability of these gang wars extending to the tourism areas (resorts) is very unlikely. This war is drug related and is not religious in nature. CNN has suggested that the "gang participants" are similar to the Taliban in their tatics.This is a bogus and unrelated comparison to fuel the fear out there.

Hopefully the economy and civil unrest is not going to deteriorate to the point we will start seeing kidnappings of tourists for ransom.

As for now, I do not plan to stop going to Mexico because of the situation out there. THis is a personal choice. Like any contries, one as to try to stay away from the high crime areas. It is only common sense.

[Nat]

I just came back from Mexico, and had a great time. I agree with the others who say that you're at risk if you put yourself in a dangerous situation, but that's the case in most countries. As long as you do your research beforehand, traveling to Mexico is just as safe as almost any other country! I was traveling alone with a friend, and even as two women, we felt safe. We were on Cozumel Island, and the people there are the kindest and most welcoming I've ever met. We didn't stay in a resort...instead we stayed in a beautiful villa downtown. As long as we were smart about it, we didnt feel like we were in danger. Although I think it's wrong to overplay the violence that's happening in Mexico, it's just as wrong to underplay it too. (like someone mentioned it ealier)

[Ted Chisholm]

What's the frequency Kenneth?

I do feel sorry for people who are so paranoid as to believe that simply because a few corrupt politicos commit murder over drug money that they would ultimately be at risk by going on a holiday in Mexico. Although, I guess it does ensure that there are people left to procreate ;)

In the early 90s I travelled to Chicago frequently because a close friend lived there and I went to visit him to have some fun. We would go out on Rush and/or Division Streets and often travel up to North Halstead. To get there we would drive through the Cabrini Green housing project that, at the time, was considered one of the most violent places in America. If you've read Freakanomics you'll know why.

Did the fact that Chicago had one of the most violent neighbourhoods in America make me think twice about going to Chicago? No. Did it make me think twice about going out on RushandDivision, a mere few blocks from this violent neighbourhood? No. Did the fact that Chicago was reputed to have corrupt politics deter me from going to Chicago? No. The same media view should apply to Mexico since I don't ever recall a travel advisory to Chicago; the vast majority of people are kind, gentle and helpful. To believe otherwise requires a great deal of imagination.

Ted (the guy who surfed with host Scott)

[ken mezerecky]

Hi my names Ken. I'v been to mexico 3times in a 1 year spand by my self .The people are great friendly, i drank never had a problem ,you only get in trouble if your causing trouble great place togo i was in Puerto Vallarta

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The Tropic of Cancer effectively divides the country into temperate and tropical zones. Land north of the twenty-fourth parallel experiences cooler temperatures during the winter months. South of the twenty-fourth parallel, temperatures are fairly constant year round and vary solely as a function of elevation. This gives Mexico one of the world's most diverse weather systems.

[Chuck F]

I've been to Mexico twice and enjoyed both times. Never a problem and always a good time. Maybe I'm just trying to improve the tourism in the country, but I live in the US ... so WHY would I do that? If you come on a site to see what's going on and 20 different people say they loved Mexico it's probably just a conspiracy huh? We're all against the Canadians apparently. Maybe if you're going to leave such a comment you should at least be man (or women) enough to post your name.

[Brian Stenerson]

People need to remember that common sense beats all. If it looks like an apple, tastes so, then isn't our perception of it an apple?
I don't know about anyone else here but I think that we each will make up our own mind on it when we taste it for ourselves.

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