I look white/european, but I know how to not stand out when traveling.
White skin does not make you stand out at all in Mexico, since a sizable
percentage of "native" mexican people have fairly light skin, and some
even blond hair and blue eyes.
What makes you stand out is dressing and acting like a rich tourist, and
driving a fancy car. Bring a beat up looking car that's well maintained,
and buy clothes locally that look like what everyone else is wearing and
you'll blend in. I generally will wear a guyaberra (southern mexican
style dress shirt) or a white T-shirt, and drive my somewhat beat up and
dirty Volvo 740. I eat and go where the locals go, and avoid the tourist
places. My car has american plates, which also blends in- because a lot
of the cars down there were imported from the US and never had the
plates changed.
How you act has a lot more to do with your safety when traveling than
where you are or what your race and nationality are. Taking the time to
learn a few phrases in the local language doesn't hurt either.
Tyler
Tom Hargrave wrote:
Tyler,
A friend if mine travels to Mexico a lot. He's Hispanic descent and he also
feels safe & probably is. But I'm white and I stick out like a sore thumb in
Mexico. Locals automatically know that I'm not local and I draw attention
which makes me a target.
Do you look like you are from the area or do you look "European - American"?
If you look like you are from the area then you blend in & will not be a
target.
I would not be a target in any Northern European country.
Thanks,
Tom Hargrave
www.kegkits.com
http://www.kegkits.com/JABF/
256-656-1924
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