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Richard Jernigan -> RE: Travel to Mexico Dangerous (Mar. 15 2023 2:33:28)
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I'll repeat this from several years ago:
In about 2009 we were in Michoacan, Mexico. This was before the Cartel La Familia was setting cars on fire in a main street of a big city.
Patzcuaro is a delightful small city. Sitting at a restaurant's outdoor table in the main square we noticed a young man at the next table, close by. We spoke. Turned out he was a 20-something from the Netherlands. He made his living driving a cross-country truck. He was taking a couple of months off to see the world. Seemed like a nice kid. We invited him to join us.
Next day I was ill. The Dutchman and Larisa toured the countryside, making it as far as Tzintzuntzan. I joined them for dinner at the market. Next day he continued on his journey.
Back in Morelia, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Larisa and I walked around the glorious downtown, shopped, had a nice dinner, met a tuna (traditional music group) from the local university. They serenaded Larisa. Walking back to the hotel through the sqare next to the Cathedral we came upon a group of Mexican clowns putting on an acrobatic performance. We sat on a high backed concrete bench, secure from pickpockets, and enjoyed the show. Finally I said, "I'm about ready for bed."
Larisa replied, "I'd like to stay a little while and watch the clowns some more."
I walked less than a block to the hotel, changed into my pajamas. Just as my head was about to hit the pillow, I thought, "At this moment my phone is going to ring, and somebody is going to say, 'OK gringo, a million dolares for your blonde' "
I put my clothes back on, picked up the aluminum hiking staff with the razor sharp steel point, walked back to the square and said, "Have you seen enough of the clowns by now, Sweetheart?"
"Yes. I was starting to think about walking back to the hotel by myself. Thanks for coming back."
I should add that Larisa is tall, strong, and highly skilled in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. But even Chuck Norris would be no match for three sicarios with pistols.
A couple of months later Larisa received a message from the Dutchman's parents. Her contact info was in his phone. He had been found dead somewhere in southern Mexico. The cops said there were drugs in his body.
I wrote back giving the parents contact info for some people in Mexico City who might be able to help. We heard that there was a mistake. There were no drugs in his body. A couple of weeks later we heard that in fact there had been no autopsy. The cops were diligently working on the case. Right. I warned the parents not to get their hopes up. It was the last we heard.
Thing is, the Dutchman was doing everything exactly right. His clothes fit right in with working class Mexicans. No jewelry, no camera. Public transportation, not first class. Only problems were he was maybe six feet tall, blond hair, blue eyes, fair skin.
It can happen to anybody.
RNJ
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