I live in the RGV. I don't go across, but I have friends who will walk across to Nuevo Progreso for lunch. My wife walks across to Nuevo Progreso every now and then with her sisters. Without my approval.

Pro Sandy said:

---

Not the Texas border, but quite similar geopolitical.

I let my 17 year old son cross to Tijuana on a regular basis. He's got a gf who lives there on the weekend. We drop him off at the border, he walks across and they pick him up. Returns on foot around 11pm. Never had an issue. Except when he told the beggar lady "no tienes dinero." I'm sure she thought "no **** gringo... that's why I'm begging..."

He's also 6'4" which may be a deterrent.

---

I can only dream of having had a weekend girlfriend in Mexico at 17.

Had two friends who have been hunting for years in Mexico made their last trip ever to Mexico. They were robbed just after crossing the border and left standing on the side of the road with nothing but the clothes on their back. Lucky for them a citizen came by and gave them a ride. They lost a nice 2023 truck, about $5000, wallets and other personal items. They are thankful to be alive but they were slapped around by the bandits.

smstork1007 said:

---

agsalaska said:

---

OK Man. Never mind.

I'm out of here. Geez.


This board is starting to suck like everything else.

---

I was for sure not trying to offend you, sorry if that happened. I might have been trying to make you think what you were really wanting to go across the border for. Mexico is NOT what it was in your memories when you were having those great times years or decades ago. Also, if my responses pissed you off, you for sure need to keep your ass out of mexico, you don't have the skin for it anymore, that I can promise you.

---

The man asked for answers to a question and you were a d**k. When he called you out you were a bigger d**k.

Then you give a lame excuse and went on to be a d**k for a third time.

Rethink your life.

Go to Big Bend. Then go to Boquillas. It isn't anything special but it is tourist focused, out of the way, and pretty much safe.

I go out to Presidio now and then and between it and its sister city Ojinaga being so relatively isolated out in the desert, it seems pretty safe. Then again, going to Presidio is basically like going to Mexico but everything on signs is mostly in English. Not sure how touristy Ojinaga would be but I am sure it has some restaurants.

The reality is that the nice cute parts where tourists can walk across and have fun have all dried up. With the great reduction in Anglo foot traffic, that economy has dissipated. So- you aren't likely to find much that truly interests you. It won't be like you remember it, I guarantee.

I've crossed many many times, and done extensive work on the border in the RGV. I would NOT cross with my kids, nor for personal reasons. Listen to the people who live there on this board, they advised against it too.
There are plenty of places in Mexico I would fly to, and have an absolute lovely time. Perfectly safe (well, as safe as anywhere in the world).

But the TX/Mex border, ain't that anymore.

You might have a more soft approach to people from your assumed line of work (based on your handle), most of your interaction is probably resulting from people who have already done something stupid so the cat's out of the bag... calm, cool, and collected is the way to go.

I don't see any of those responses as dicky. There is a matter of fact response, followed by a backing of the first response because the OP didn't like it, followed again by yet another reasonable response to back the second. The OP may have already made the decision or he doesn't like the answer. It's like when my 16 year old asked "which of these rubber handled screwdrivers should I use to pry out the 50A service disconnect from the main painel?"

That kind of question represents complete lack of understanding, complete ignorance of the danger of the situation, or worse, complete lack of respect of the situation. It requires a blunt and hard nosed response so the OP fully understands so he can make a truly informed decision. The OP is asking a question that could result in his wife and kid never being seen again, with the best case being that they are killed quickly and not raped for the rest of their lives. Whether that's likely or not is of no consequence, the odds are a fair bit better than zero. It's a crap hole. People risk their lives fleeing that country north. Why on God's planet would you go the other way? Find something else to be entertained for the day in the state.

Del Rio native here, parents still live there. Acuña is fine to cross over and enjoy some drinks and dinner. Don't take your brand new vehicles across, just catch a cab and go enjoy some drinks and dinner at a number of restaurants and then come back. Wouldn't venture too far off the main path and don't do anything shady and you'll have a totally safe and great time. Friends and family are over there almost daily.

Quote:

---

That kind of question represents complete lack of understanding, complete ignorance of the danger of the situation, or worse, complete lack of respect of the situation. It requires a blunt and hard nosed response so the OP fully understands so he can make a truly informed decision.

---

You mean like the responses you get from us when you talk about pit bulls and children??

Aren't you the same guy that said ' isn't a planet in this universe where I would tote my kids and wife to Mexico.' That's pretty funny actually. Don't come to town man. Its SCARY!!


In all seriousness I think anyone can probably see the difference in responses I received from him, you now, and the majority of the posters that I knew would provide me with the information I needed. I received dozens of great responses and a couple of PMs that were very helpful. And thanks to everyone for those. I wish this board could just stick to that but like everything else the world is a changing.

Im not going to respond again on any of that stuff and will get back to conversation. Have a good day.

I've never been in Mexico except for Cozumel off a cruise ship, but I will say this…

My company will not send any of our representatives into Mexico to directly call on customers there because it is unwilling to risk the safety of its employees, despite the fact we have lots of business with manufacturers there.

My buddy and his wife do some mission charity work in Mexico for disabled people along with their church. He tells me they have to pay bribes to corrupt local officials in the towns they visit, just to bring things like wheelchairs for disabled citizens and to give Christian witness in churches there. Likewise, they have to pay bribes to get escorts for safe travel within Mexico just to get to their destination without being robbed and/or attacked… despite doing strictly charity work, riding in a church bus.

A buddy of mine lives in Mexico City and has dual US/Mexican citizenship. He served in the USMC and served in multiple combat deployments as a scout-sniper in the ME. Currently he is head of security for a major oil company there. He said there's really no safe places for a US citizen to travel on the Mexico side of the US-Mexico border anymore.

The right answer is to fly to Costa Rica and skip Mexico.

He said along the Mexico border. He didn't say in the entirety of Mexico….

agsalaska said:

---

smstork1007 said:

---

agsalaska said:

---

OK Man. Never mind.

I'm out of here. Geez.


This board is starting to suck like everything else.

---

I was for sure not trying to offend you, sorry if that happened. I might have been trying to make you think what you were really wanting to go across the border for. Mexico is NOT what it was in your memories when you were having those great times years or decades ago. Also, if my responses pissed you off, you for sure need to keep your ass out of mexico, you don't have the skin for it anymore, that I can promise you.

---

Alright man fair enough. I just didn't like that response and then you doubled down on it.

Imagine I asked 'Is it safe to fish in the bay in the winter.' and You responded with 'well its safe until its not and then you die' Yea man no ***** Since you have spent hundreds of days fishing in the bay how about talking to me about the weather, the waves, the winds, the tides, etc. I get that boats can sink.

Anyway.

I know it's not the same as it was. But is there still a tourist scene at all? RIght across the border? People say it is dangerous but I can't find much to verify that, especially in the 6-8 blocks right there past the bridge. When was the last time there was violence in that area. That's what I am asking. Can you cross, for a couple of hours, into Mexico, safely. And I will put the safe/not safe line at walking from one end of Downtown Dallas to the other at night.

---

It's no longer the same. There aren't many shops/restaurants open anymore, so there's no longer a tourist market or vibe across the bridge. I still hunt and cross regularly in Laredo, so that's the only place I can comment from.
Where all the hate for Mexico comes from is beyond me? It has a huge issue with drug cartels, which wouldn't be an issue were it not for the steep demand for drugs in the US…we can't point the finger South and snub our noses without admitting we are part of the problem.
I have traveled all over Mexico, and would certainly avoid certain areas (just like I do in Houston), but overall Mexico is a beautiful country with a wonderful history, friendly people and unbelievable natural beauty. I plan on retiring in Mexico PT.

DVM

JB!98 said:

---

Dirty-8-thirty Ag said:

---

Ma Crosby's is now just a crumbling building from what I understand. Corona Club is still open and going strong!

I wish I could sneak in there to Crosby's and snag some of those framed pictures off the walls in there. I used to just walk around in amazement at all the old revolutionary pictures and the old ranching photographs hanging up in there.

---

Damn, damn, damn. That place was always the starting spot for a great night in Acuna! Such an absolute shame. I agree on the pictures. Hell, I always enjoyed going to the bar while waiting on a table and just looking at all of the squadron stickers over the bar.

---

"Members and non-members only"

Lots of good info and opinions on this thread. But also some misconceived notions and ideas.

What DVM relates is about the gospel and not embellished nor underplayed.

I have dual US/Mex citizenship, without adding it up I have probably spent 50-60% of my life living, working, and living and working in Mexico. The rest of the time has been spent primarily in Central America or the Caribbean, all in places on the "do not travel" list. In my younger days I drove around Northern and Central Mexico without a care in the world. I have driven from STX to Guatemala and Belize several times. And after moving to the states in HS, to the RGV, from Mexico I spent countless hours in Mexican border towns. I have operated many companies in Mexico and owned some smaller companies. I have worked in many of the Mexican border states and spent time in TJ and other non-Texas areas as well.

I don't recommend anyone to visit Mexico nowadays, in terms of driving across a bridge or border crossing unless they are well aware of where they are going and what they are doing.

If you have a problem in Mexico nowadays, and really since about 2009, and you have to get any kind of authorities involved there will be organized crime groups having influence in things. And the rub is that they no longer control things in the somewhat civilized manner they did for decades. Now coked up, meth addicted teenagers have weapons and impunity and that make terrible decisions as they are dumber than hell and addled by drugs. Cops were always a joke, now they are a terrible joke. The changing LEO deal with the National Guard stuff has a bunch of indigenous conscripts with limited education in positions of high authority and at the top levels they are compromised in a big way.

Even with all my experience and contacts I know that probably 2 outta 5 issues I might have are going to go very badly for me and thus I limit my exposure in a big way.

Last time we went to the border we were crossing into Matamoros. There was a shooting in the tourist area and 21 people got shot 5 min before we crossed. We turned right back around and went to S. Padre. Luckily my mom is always late to everything. If she wasn't late agin we most likely would have been there. Haven't returned.