Date:         Thu, 5 Oct 1995 14:19:23 -0500
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         cheeses@arn.net (Cheese)
Subject:      Re: baja update

>That's pretty scary about the federales.  Makes me think I don't wanna go!
>
>  :(
>
>/martha

The Federales are much less likely to screw with you if you're part of a
large group, such as a caravan (lots of witnesses).  They've been getting
some heat from Mexico, D.F. about cleaning up their act, especially since
NAFTA.  BTW, tourism is now the number one source of revenue for Mexico.
Hassling American tourists is just not popular with the Mexican Federal
government anymore.  With Mexico's economy teetering, they need the dinero.
I used to get hassled some back in the '70s down there but no serious
harassment since then.

They used to give long-haired, hippie-looking types a hard time, especially
those in VW vans, which, for a while, they thought were the vehicle of
choice for drug users/smugglers.  Now, you're not a hippie if you have
money, despite your beard, long Earth Mother dress or whatever.  It helps
not to be too freaky-looking but I haven't heard of much serious harassment
in the past five years or so.  A few of the beaches on the Caribbean coast
are clothing-optional, in many other places it's usually a strict no-no to
run around in your birthday suit.  If you're far enough away from populated
areas, though, just about anything goes.

BTW, your dollar goes pretty far down there nowadays.  Last I checked, the
peso was at 6.4 to the dollar.   A year ago the peso was worth almost twice
that: about 3.4 to the dollar.  Of course, inflation is high but you can
still buy at lot more stuff with your dollars.  Gasoline is not cheap, nor
are items such as repair parts or anything very high-tech.  Bring your own
motor oil and parts. Food, beer, Mexican-made liquor, most medications,
handicrafts and lodging are very reasonable to downright cheap, if you stay
away from the tourist traps.

The best places to buy beer are the depositos, where they sell only beer.
There's usually one or two in every village of any size, or on the outskirts
of big towns.  You can get cases of great Mexican beer and blocks of ice
really cheap.  They'll want you to put down a hefty deposit on the long-neck
bottles, which you get back when you go stock up again.  I really like Dos
Equis Lager, in the green bottle.  Carta Blanca ain't bad, either.  And then
there's Pacifico, yeah! Don't forget the little key limes (limones).  Yum.

Don't put the block ice into beverages, though; it may give you the trots,
bad.  Drink only bottled water or other beverages from a sealed bottle or
can.  Beware of salads or raw vegetables; they may contain microbes your
system isn't used to.  Fruits that you can peel are generally safe, e.g.,
oranges, bananas, grapefruit, papaya and so on.

Don't be afraid of the Federales; they're under increasing scrutiny from the
Mexican government all the time.  If you keep your nose clean, at worst,
they're a minor nuisance, if you encounter any at all.  Just don't be
stoopid and let any of their snitches set you up by selling you a bag of pot
or whatever.

Cheese