There are only two other Western Hemisphere nations that have a State Department travel warning issued for them, and they are Colombia and Haiti. Surely that fact is not lost on the Mexican government, and I hardly think that the wording of this travel warning (which is far more detailed than the warnings for the other two countries) was meant to pacify them.
Diana * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Diana R. Tomchick Associate Professor University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Department of Biochemistry 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. Rm. ND10.214B Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A. Email: [email protected] 214-645-6383 (phone) 214-645-6353 (fax) On Apr 23, 2011, at 12:24 AM, David wrote: > For any cavers still pondering whether to travel to Mexico to go caving: > > > http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5440.html > > I am not sure what this says differently from the warning issued in September. > > However, it clearly states to avoid the state of Tamaulipas, which some cavers > would drive thru if they were heading to the Sierra Madre area around Ciuidad > Victoria or points further south. > > It prohibits Federal employees from certain areas. Included are > areas are in the > state of Jalisco. I states they can't go to Boystown in Laredo. > ( Rumors are that place was abandoned by tourist years ago, and > I haven't heard of a caver going there in over 15 years. ) > > Note federal employees are prohibited from travelling several popular routes > used by cavers in the Monterrey area. It also says very clearly that the > area around the town of San Fernando is dangerous. ( This is the area > that has been in the news lately for the mass graves ) > > It subtly indicates some of the consulate offices have been downsized to the > point they are no longer functional. > > It says to not travel Highway 57 in San Luis Potosi. > > It subtly warns not to travel to Cuernavaca, Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, and > the beautiful tourist resort of Ixtapa. But more clearly warns to avoid > Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana, and Puerto Peñasco. > > Personally, I think the statement is vague. It does not mention beheadings, > or some of the torture methods, and the public displaying of corpses with > narco-messages, or that the crime is so bad that the criminals are taking > real estate property from people. It doesn't mention all the escaped > convicts. It does not mention the bad guys are heavily armed with > automatic weapons. Nowhere in the article does it describe what the > bad guys look like, so how are you supposed to know how to keep a > watchful eye ? Nor does the article in any way refer the tourist to > the best up to date news sites on the web related to the narco-crime. > It seems designed more to please the Mexican Government, and not > hurt their feelings. > > David > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Visit our website: http://texascavers.com > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] > For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected] > ________________________________ UT Southwestern Medical Center The future of medicine, today. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
