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#1
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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