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Is mexico City dangerosu at night ??



 
 
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  #1  
Old June 21st, 2004, 10:08 PM
tile
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Default Is mexico City dangerosu at night ??

i have heard all mexico city is dangerous at night.-
actually..
I am interested only in Garibaldi square

is it dangerous ??
thank you for yr help


  #2  
Old June 21st, 2004, 10:50 PM
d b
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Default Is mexico City dangerosu at night ??

Yes it is!


djb

tile wrote:

i have heard all mexico city is dangerous at night.-
actually..
I am interested only in Garibaldi square

is it dangerous ??
thank you for yr help


  #3  
Old June 22nd, 2004, 03:55 AM
Richard Ferguson
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Default Is mexico City dangerosu at night ??

Yes, Garibaldi has a particularly bad reputation, more info below.

MEXICO CITY TAXI ROBBERIES

For tourists, perhaps the most serious crime problem in Mexico is taxi
robbery in Mexico City. This problem is more or less unique to Mexico
City, so many tourists are not aware of the problem. The governments
of the US, UK, Canada, France and Australia warn travelers of taxi
robberies. I have also read several first person accounts of taxi
robberies, via the internet and in the media. Taxi robberies in
Mexico City have been covered in US and Mexico media, both TV and
newspapers. Basically, anybody who knows Mexico knows that taxi
robberies are a problem in Mexico City, and takes certain precautions
to prevent themselves becoming a victim. The exact recommendations may
vary, but it is unwise to ignore the problem and pretend that "It
can't happen to me."

A taxi robbery generally works something like this: The victim or
victims get into a taxi, usually a green VW beetle taxi. After a few
blocks, the taxi stops, and one or two armed men enter the taxi and
rob the victim. In many cases, the victim is held for hours while the
robbers use the victim's ATM card to get more money. This is
sometimes called an "express" kidnapping. In a few cases, the victim
is held overnight to allow withdrawing more money the next day. The
taxi driver is part of the gang, and may have stolen the taxi. In
some cases, a waiter or hotel employee may also be part of the gang.

In one article that I read, the robbers found out that they were
robbing a reporter. While he was being held at gunpoint on the floor
of the taxi, they told him not to write anything bad about Mexico! An
American resident of Mexico City was killed in a daylight taxi robbery
in December 1997. An American reporter was shot in a taxi robbery
April 20, 1998. The personal accounts that I have read indicate that
a taxi robbery, even if you are unhurt, is a very traumatic
experience. As far as I can tell, from reading the papers and taking
taxis, there are lots of "unofficial" taxis, and the government
has not solved the problem yet.

So, what can you do to protect yourself from taxi robberies? Use the
official sitio taxis at the airport and bus stations. Buy a ticket at
the window, and take that ticket to the official taxi stand. If there
is no taxi stand (sitio) where you are, call a radio taxi. Get the
taxi number so you get into the correct taxi. According to an article
about taxi robbery in the November 1998 issue of US/Mexico Business,
radio taxis have become so popular that it is difficult to get a radio
taxi after dark on a weekend. Generally, the roving taxis are the
problem, not the ones that work from official taxi stands, which
should have a supervisor with a clipboard logging taxi departures.

I was in Mexico City in January 2002, and I was very satisfied with
the radio taxi company "Radio Servicios Moviles de Transporte", and
got their card, which showed numbers 5771-4012, 5771-0130, 5760-4696
and 5551-7710. One of the taxi drivers told me that the company was
founded more than 30 years ago, partly at the instigation of the then
US ambassador, because American visitors were being robbed in those
days also. If you call yourself, you will need to give your location
and what you are wearing. I am not sure if their dispatchers speak
much English, I did not put them to the test. They will give you the
color of the taxi and it's unit number. One time they asked me to
move to the other side of the street to simplify a pickup, I did, and
the taxi was there in five minutes. These taxis are not marked.

There are many other radio taxi services. The US government suggests
the following phone numbers. 5271-9146, 5271-9058, and 5272-6125.
You can ask your hotel for a recommendation.

The Canadian government in their March 1998 advisory said that you
should leave your credit cards and ATM cards in the hotel safe, to
minimize the risk that you will be held prisoner while the robbers use
your cards. (The current warning is worded more mildly). The current
Australian government also advises you to leave your credit cards in
the hotel safe. Only carry the cash that you will need that day. Some
people, including the French government, say you should carry 20 or 30
dollars US, to prevent a robber from becoming angry with too small an
amount. Consider using your ATM cards only at ATM machines inside a
bank or other commercial facility during regular banking hours, as
recommended by the US government. Even the Mexican government
recommends that you not carry your ATM card with you unless you plan
to use it.

If you are robbed, comply and hand over your valuables immediately.
This will greatly reduce the risk of violence. Don't look the
criminal in the eye. Your life is worth much more than your
camera or your credit cards.

Other types of public transportation are also targets of crime.
The buses are robbed often enough that the government has listed
the bus routes and times that are most frequently robbed, and
gives specific instructions about what to do if the bus is robbed.
The metro (subway) also is subject to crime, both pickpockets and
robbers.

Official statistics show that crime in Mexico has doubled since the
start of the economic crisis in 1994. However, I should note that
victim surveys and many government crime statistics indicate that
crime rates in Mexico City are similar to or lower than rates in urban
areas in the US. In private correspondence with a university
professor working in statistics, I have been told that Mexican crime
statistics are a little primitive, and are not really worthy of
confidence. I have seen few crime statistics for visitors and
tourists, just overall statistics or surveys of residents. There
is some information to indicate that crime in Mexico is more
likely to include violence or threats of violence than in the USA.

In a brief visit to Mexico City in July 1999, my friend Miguel, a
lifelong resident of Mexico City, said that he felt that the crime
situation was exaggerated. When I was with him, I did get into a
couple of roving taxis, somewhat against my better judgement. I still
feel that roving taxis should be avoided, and I did avoid them for the
rest of our time in Mexico City. I also carefully reviewed the ID for
the driver before I got into a tourist taxi outside a museum. We did
see one noteworthy thing on that trip, relating to the police. There
was a police car, running red lights and siren, so overstuffed with
police officers that neither of the rear doors could close. It looked
a lot more like the Keystone cops than a professional police force. Of
course, the Mexican police are often criticized for being ineffective
and corrupt.

Should you go to Mexico City? Of course, the decision is yours. There
are lots of things to do in the largest city in the world, but it is
not a place to relax and let down your guard. Mexico is a big country,
and most areas of Mexico are much safer than Mexico City. If you do
decide to go to Mexico City, read the various government travel
advisories before you arrive, and practice security while you are
there.

Richard Ferguson
August 3, 2003


There are several web sites with security information for travelers
and tourists. The ones that I am aware of are listed below. I urge
people to review the information on these web sites, compare the
recommendations of the various countries to each other, and compare
the various government recommendations to any personal opinions
expressed on the internet. The government web sites include security
and other travel information for virtually all the countries in the
world, including each other.

USA - http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html

UK - http://193.114.50.10/travel/default.asp

Canada - http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/graphic...os/cntry_e.htm

Australia -http://www.dfat.gov.au/consular/advice/advices_mnu.html

The French government has a web site with security information, in
French. http://www.diplomatie.fr/voyageurs/e...avis/conseils/

The following web sites offer personal views on security.

Mexico Mike gives his views about security in Mexico at
www.mexicomike.com



tile wrote:
i have heard all mexico city is dangerous at night.-
actually..
I am interested only in Garibaldi square

is it dangerous ??
thank you for yr help


  #4  
Old June 22nd, 2004, 04:08 AM
Miguel Cruz
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Posts: n/a
Default Is mexico City dangerosu at night ??

tile wrote:
i have heard all mexico city is dangerous at night.-
actually..
I am interested only in Garibaldi square
is it dangerous ??


We spent several evenings at Garibaldi Square this January without incident.
We then walked back about 10 blocks to the hotel, usually around midnight or
later.

Some local people that we talked to suggested this was dangerous, and to
some extent they were probably right. In one case we accepted a ride back
with some folks that we met there (now THAT goes against my better judgment)
but it worked out fine too.

If you do take a taxi, make sure that you choose the taxi, rather than the
taxi choosing you. Pick one coming down the street (even at random, as long
as you pick it) and settle for none other.

Garibaldi square is on a very major, busy road, as well as a bunch of
smaller roads and alleys. If you're walking, take the main road, which has
plenty of foot and vehicle traffic (and some open businesses) late into the
night.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
  #5  
Old June 26th, 2004, 09:00 AM
Interferentius
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Default Is mexico City dangerosu at night ??

is it dangerous ??

From my personal experience I can tell you that
you can be assaulted and get injured if you walk
across the Plaza Garibaldi alone in the middle of
the afternoon :-(

Ten cuidado!

  #6  
Old June 26th, 2004, 04:43 PM
Joe Clancy
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Default Is mexico City dangerosu at night ??

Interferentius wrote in message ...
is it dangerous ??


From my personal experience I can tell you that
you can be assaulted and get injured if you walk
across the Plaza Garibaldi alone in the middle of
the afternoon :-(

Ten cuidado!


Yep!! Tenga mucho cuidado, Tourist are tageted, doesn't matter if it's day or night.

Joe
  #7  
Old June 26th, 2004, 06:58 PM
tile
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Is mexico City dangerosu at night ??

is it really that bad ??
how do I meet with mariachi groups then ??

I am getting paranoia about all these warnings..
"Interferentius" ha scritto nel messaggio
...
is it dangerous ??


From my personal experience I can tell you that
you can be assaulted and get injured if you walk
across the Plaza Garibaldi alone in the middle of
the afternoon :-(

Ten cuidado!



  #8  
Old June 30th, 2004, 02:57 AM
David
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Posts: n/a
Default Is mexico City dangerosu at night ??

(continuing on topposted reply)

Hmm, nothing to how paranoid you'll get once you're there and have had
minor incidents and near misses.

My blog is at brazil-blog.softsamba.co.uk/rio-gay/travel.php has
basicaly become a travelog on this topic ! and describes some of these
feelings.

I echo the advice about taxis. Always get the guys driving by if you
can
(as a second choice to counters and radio cabs). This applies
everywhere - in Bangkok too - the guys who hang around tourist areas
have all sorts of scams.

I have a related question about taxis. My guide (footprint, s.
america) suggests taxis are *not* the safest from the airport at
buenos aries. I always take taxis from an airport counter here (in
Brazil) as common sense says this is usually the safest way and I have
too much luggage.

Is this really a problem in bs as or is there no taxci counter in the
airport or is this some budget traveller tale who tried negotiating a
fare? I find it hard to believe that the airport-police don't arrange
that this is safe.

Any comments?



"tile" wrote in message .. .
is it really that bad ??
how do I meet with mariachi groups then ??

I am getting paranoia about all these warnings..
"Interferentius" ha scritto nel messaggio
...
is it dangerous ??


From my personal experience I can tell you that
you can be assaulted and get injured if you walk
across the Plaza Garibaldi alone in the middle of
the afternoon :-(

Ten cuidado!

  #9  
Old July 1st, 2004, 01:31 AM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Is mexico City dangerosu at night ??

I had our travel agent arrange for taxi service between the airport and
our hotel in BA. Lots of cabs in the city and no bad experiences.

Al

David wrote:
(continuing on topposted reply)

Hmm, nothing to how paranoid you'll get once you're there and have

had
minor incidents and near misses.

My blog is at brazil-blog.softsamba.co.uk/rio-gay/travel.php has
basicaly become a travelog on this topic ! and describes some of

these
feelings.

I echo the advice about taxis. Always get the guys driving by if you
can
(as a second choice to counters and radio cabs). This applies
everywhere - in Bangkok too - the guys who hang around tourist areas
have all sorts of scams.

I have a related question about taxis. My guide (footprint, s.
america) suggests taxis are *not* the safest from the airport at
buenos aries. I always take taxis from an airport counter here (in
Brazil) as common sense says this is usually the safest way and I

have
too much luggage.

Is this really a problem in bs as or is there no taxci counter in the
airport or is this some budget traveller tale who tried negotiating a
fare? I find it hard to believe that the airport-police don't arrange
that this is safe.

Any comments?



"tile" wrote in message

.. .
is it really that bad ??
how do I meet with mariachi groups then ??

I am getting paranoia about all these warnings..
"Interferentius" ha scritto nel messaggio
...
is it dangerous ??

From my personal experience I can tell you that
you can be assaulted and get injured if you walk
across the Plaza Garibaldi alone in the middle of
the afternoon :-(

Ten cuidado!


 




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