Fly into Loreto, (out of LAX on Alaska Airlines) and stay at the La Mision Hotel- Then take a taxi to Nopolo, 20 mins South of Loreto and have your mind blown... It's an expat haven and the Marina is one of the finest I've ever seen...
FYI- BAJA NORTE VIOLENCE.
- Thread starter hankgs
- Start date
Deleted Member 183
Well-known member
YEAH! And posts like this are going to get you "SOOOO many friends when you return down there again!!!!
Typical "greenhorn" behavior! "ZIP IT PUP"!
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Mickey Bitsko
Adventurer
He's just trying to help 🤣
BajaNomad forums may be a good resource.
Deleted Member 183
Well-known member
That is the funniest stuff I've heard in months!
It is tough for most of us Gringo's to understand how "Baja" works! The first thing that those who desire to get "the lay of the land", is to have to grasp of what main land Mexico's term for the Baja peninsula is... "LA FRONTERA"! The "wild west"!
Back in the 90's I had a few decades of Baja travel before I was introduced by a good Mexican friend of mine to a close friend of his one evening at a nightclub in a beach town about 40k below the border. My buddy's buddy, was a very personable guy and we got along GREAT! As the evening went along, he waved over cute little teen latinas to keep each of us guys company and had his sidekick to draw out thick lines of really good coke for all of us to enjoy! I was STUNNED that this was happening in raging bar in a Baja beach town... and whispered in my buddies ear "Who is the guy?"
He laughed hard and told "my new friend" what I had asked... Then the guy started cracking up and pulled out his badge! He was the "BIG DOG" cop for the area between Playas de Tijuana and Ensenada!
He appreciated my feeble attempt at Spanish and gave the best "life lesson" about dealing/ getting along in La Frontera...
"no es lo que sabes, sino a quién conoces"!
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GHI
Adventurer
Family of 4 here currently traveling through Central America in a rental. Stopped at a tourist attraction the other day to watch some crocodiles under a bridge. It took exactly 12 minutes from parking until the attempt break in of my vehicle.
The 40 yr old male who offered to watch our vehicle was on his walkie talkie almost immediately after we walked off. I know we’re targets and am very aware of my surroundings so I waited and observed just out of sight.
I kid you not a G-wagen pulled up to block the view from the roadway while the walkie talkie guy pulled out his burglar kit. I yelled out “hey” while running toward them. Thankfully they left in a hurry.
Replacing my Redoxx backpack might have stung a little bit, but losing my glasses and contacts were not an option. I didn’t hesitate. Just reacted as I’m sure these 3 fellas did. I’m certainly second guessing my international travels.
The 40 yr old male who offered to watch our vehicle was on his walkie talkie almost immediately after we walked off. I know we’re targets and am very aware of my surroundings so I waited and observed just out of sight.
I kid you not a G-wagen pulled up to block the view from the roadway while the walkie talkie guy pulled out his burglar kit. I yelled out “hey” while running toward them. Thankfully they left in a hurry.
Replacing my Redoxx backpack might have stung a little bit, but losing my glasses and contacts were not an option. I didn’t hesitate. Just reacted as I’m sure these 3 fellas did. I’m certainly second guessing my international travels.
Mickey Bitsko
Adventurer
Until you can legally carry down there you have no defense. I know, it doesn't make it right, but what's your options?
Mexico, not much different than Compton or Chicago.
Mexico, not much different than Compton or Chicago.
Would you be safe with a firearm against multiple meth infused men with firearms who had already killed Mexican nationals?
I doubt a firearm protects you, unless you are trained military.
I would at least have a chance to fight back. Especially if there were multiple assailant.
I am not saying carrying a firearm is the end all for self defense. Situational awareness and good decision making matter more. But training with and carrying a firearm is a part of personal safety.
Even the possibility of having a gun could be a deterrent. Do you think those suspects in Mexico didn't feel confident knowing their victims were surely unarmed? Of course they knew the victims probably didn't have a firearm.
I think the armed suspects had encounters more than once with someone who had a firearm and they were very skilled at killing. Peers in Mexico in those circles carry firearms.
Mike McMullen
Member
There wear 3 guys, all in there 30's all fit, there were 2 guys and a girl trying to get the tires/truck? My guess is the three surfers though they had a good chance of winning. Pure speculation on my part.
Mike McMullen
Member
This is mostly right on. I was by myself solo on the beach, kayak fishing last year. I posted up by a a old hotel (Now closed, but had stayed there in the past) place for a couple of nights. I did it as the lizard voice was saying it was bad and I should run.
I still go to San Quintin there are plenty of places to stay for free that are 80% + safe. I love the area and have people that I know there, even if i don't stay with them we stay in touch.
Stuff I don't do anymore when I am solo in Baja:
No camp fires.I want to become invisible QUICK.
If I see autos or boats at night, I am not there. light out, head down.
When a local shows up at camp uninvited I start listening to that lizard voice, I have left a couple of camps at sunset to be away after dark.
I no longer believe in Baja Karma. If you know than you know.
Stuff i still do:
Remote camp in Baja, I have doing it for 50 years.
I am giving to my charities with my time and money. (Maybe a little karma?)
Get to know the locals, go to the baseball, football, games they are very cool, You will make dear friends even you don't speak much Spanish.
I'll collect toys, (McDonalds happy meals from friends) Cheap balls, Paper and pens and art stuff and school supplies for kids.
Fishing stuff the locals. Yard sale rods and reels, no crap. Hooks, line, lures.
Meet people with a open hand and a smile.
I have a deep love of Baja and it's people. I will look at it with caution, but I will not let other peoples fears determine how I live my life. I'll let fate decide the rest.
I'm not going to argue with you.
If you don't want the capability to defend yourself, cool. Don't.
In the high desert east of Bakersfield California is a very rural land and few land owners. The Mexican cartel moved in, forcefully bought out the land owners, with ultimatums. They built many grow farms. The California Sheriff refuses to go to this area because they get machine gun fire upon them. It is so bad, the Californian officials are considering the national guard to clean this up. My point here is crime is not a Baha exclusive. And any citizen with a handgun is easily outnumbered. Many of the cartel groups are very close to "paramilitary" trained. (or experienced)
I often thought how could I defend myself in a situation. I found simple smoke bombs, and a $300 rechargeable flamethrower, fairly small and easy to handle that shot out 35 feet of intense flame. Now, I may be foolish, but one single handgun will do little to protect me.
I often thought how could I defend myself in a situation. I found simple smoke bombs, and a $300 rechargeable flamethrower, fairly small and easy to handle that shot out 35 feet of intense flame. Now, I may be foolish, but one single handgun will do little to protect me.
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Mickey Bitsko
Adventurer
Appears to me you have toy self defense against high powered weapons, a losing battle.
Might be safer in baja.
Humorous not funny, sheriff dept refusing to uphold laws..priceless.
Might be safer in baja.
Humorous not funny, sheriff dept refusing to uphold laws..priceless.