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Anyone want to travel to Paracho?
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JuanDaBomb
Posts: 189
Joined: May 18 2011
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 RE: Anyone want to travel to Paracho? (in reply to Shawn Brock)
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Having been there, I can say that I'd definitely want to go again some day....just, by the looks of things, not any time soon! The odds are too high that something could happen to me, in my opinion, and I'm Mexican for cryin' out loud! It's like the wild west these days. For example, the tiny pueblo where my parents are from is supposed to be the kind of place drug lords don't care about. It has one tiny little federal police booth manned by a couple cops, and they got machine-gunned to death last year, for no apparent reason that could even begin to make sense. And now there's no security at all in the town, weee. The time I went to Paracho, we stayed at this nice hotel in the historical center of Morelia, a really nice area, very safe, lots of families, and lively even at night. Then something like 2 years ago during Mexican Independence celebrations some degenerates rolled a few grenades into the crowd, right in front of that hotel. **shakes his head** To say nothing of the headless bodies found near the airport, and the all-out hours-long machine gun fight at the city police station where some cartel members were being held. And Morelia isn't some border town; it's about 2 hours away from Paracho. Everyone sees the news and the stories they report, but it's all the local events told to me by friends and family members that tell me to keep the hell away! It just ain't worth it. Personally, I'm gonna wait until the U.S. military rolls through there and wipes all those fools out. That oughta buy a few years of peace, at least. Then, I'll go get my negra LOL!
If you do go, my only real recommendation would be to appropriate enough of your budget to transportation costs. Avoid the bus and taxis like the plague. Use a well known tourist company to get around. They'll be happy to basically serve as your taxi, from anything to a night out on the town or moving from city to city. And you'll get a street-wise driver who realizes he doesn't get paid unless you stay safe, and who doesn't want to get shot any more than you do! 
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Date Nov. 3 2011 5:57:59
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Shawn Brock
Posts: 271
Joined: Sep. 19 2011
From: Louisville KY
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RE: Anyone want to travel to Paracho? (in reply to Shawn Brock)
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@JuanDaBom: holey ****! I was thinking that as a person traveled from the airport, you would have the most risk in the beginning of the journey. I didn't know these small towns had the troubles you described. It kind of makes me wonder how the hell a guy could make guitars with these kinds of goings on? I have read about Morelia, and that a lot of folks who traveled to Paracho had stayed there. Lucky for them they must have missed the action.
I'm still game to go, but its nice to hear some true accounts about how things work. I don't know if I'm willing to wait until U.S. military rolls in, don't know if that will ever happen. Plus if they ever did, the Mexicans may be pretty pissed with us after!
All I know is its a shame that things are like that. Maybe I'm just a white boy with rose colored glasses... When I think of Mexican culture, I always think of happiness. I have always respected the high energy and spirit of the people. Just lucky for me that I have never ran into any cap popin cartel members I guess!
There are a few of these guys who I would love to buy guitars from, and it sickens me that a few here in the states are profiting so much off those makers. I know some of the importers are fare about it all, and I expect everyone to make money. At the same time though, some of these guys are paying the luthier $500 for a guitar, and selling it for $2000 or more. All because they can run a cheap web site for the maker, and speak just enough Spanish to communicate with him. Don't get me wrong, I never bitch about how much a guy sells his instruments for, its his business, but I'm not one to contribute to the poverty of a Mexican maker, while some white dood gets rich off it. I would rather go down and pay the guy in person, at least then I know he was taken care of.
Shawn
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Date Nov. 3 2011 16:34:44
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Richard Jernigan
Posts: 3431
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA
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RE: Anyone want to travel to Paracho? (in reply to Shawn Brock)
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I began traveling to Mexico when I was four years old. I would go to Matamoros or Reynosa with my parents or grandparents. They would give me a silver dollar. I would trade it for eight silver pesos at the money changer, and be the richest four-year old in Mexico. I had a great collection of Mexican toys I bargained for in the market.
I went to Mexico by myself when i was seventeen and spent all summer. I have travelled to every state and territory in the country, dozens of times, over a period of more than fifty years. I speak serviceable Spanish. I live in Austin, Texas conveniently close to Mexico. I don't go there any more.
My last trip to Paracho was in December, 2006. I love Michoacan--Morelia, Patzcuaro, Uruapan, Paracho....I stayed at the Mansion Cupatitzio in Uruapan, a luxurious hotel. One evening I asked the concierge where would be a nice place to go for a drink. He suggested the Bar Sol y Sombra downtown. They had nice live music. The decoration was tasteful and luxurious. There were upscale couples and a few well-dressed singles. I found a beautiful, intelligent well dressed girl who didn't mind dancing with an old gringo and having a few drinks.
Back home a couple of months later I read the New York Times. In an article about the drug violence in Mexico they wrote about the murder of the police chief of Michoacan six days after he took office. They said one night recently a guy showed up at the Bar Sol y Sombra in Uruapan with a burlap bag. He rolled five human heads out onto the dance floor and said, "This will teach you cabrones to play both sides of the fence."
The Times quoted the bartender as saying, "It pretty well ruined the whole evening."
Last year I had a fairly close call in Morelia. About once a month I hear stories from friends of some other atrocity, not to mention the events that make the news.
Mexico is far more prosperous than when I first started going there. The people are still marvelously friendly and hospitable. I love the culture. But just about anywhere in the country, it can suddenly hit the fan.
It breaks my heart.
RNJ
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Date Nov. 3 2011 18:08:12
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Richard Jernigan
Posts: 3431
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA
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RE: Anyone want to travel to Paracho? (in reply to HolyEvil)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: HolyEvil
I'd say "you lucky dog".. but in view of u being so much older than I am and my cultural need for respect.. I'll say "you lucky sir" =)
Thanks. But the point is, if you're going to Mexico, dress modestly, blend in as well as you can, use public transportation (but choose wisely), don't flash money, don't consume conspicuously, be careful who you associate with..
Last year in Patzcuaro Larisa and I met a young Dutchman, in his twenties. He followed all the tips above, chiefly because he was traveling economically, with one exception. A tall, very fair skinned blue eyed blond, he was conspicuously a foreigner.
A very nice lad, we invited him to have lunch with us, and to accompany us on a few short excursions. We asked him how long he planned to stay in Mexico. He replied, "Until the money runs out."
Unfortunately his luck ran out first. A few months later we heard from his parents in Holland. He had mentioned us to them in an e-mail. They had our e-mail address. They asked if we could give any advice, or help in any way.
The police in southern Mexico had contacted his parents, saying he was found dead, with no money on him, but with his identification. The police said they had no leads. They were vague about the cause of death.
I gave the parents contact information for a couple of fairly well connected people in Mexico City, but as far as I know the police "investigation" has produced no results.
My ex-wife is a 5' 7" (170 cm) blue eyed blonde American. When we were young, she turned heads when she walked down the street. She speaks fluent Spanish, and went to university in Mexico one summer. When I first met her she was engaged to the son of the Mexican Minister of Agriculture--their families broke it up.
We used to go to Mexico two or three times a year. We took our children when they were old enough. I used to enjoy the attention my wife attracted.
These days, on our only trip to Mexico, the attention Larisa attracted set the alarm bells ringing loudly in my head.
RNJ
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Nov. 10 2011 4:57:46
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