Forums > Areas > Central Highlands

tashby

Dec 29, 2007, 11:55 AM

Post #1 of 14 (2469 views)

Shortcut

Living in Michoacan: The drug question...

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hi all,

We're planning on moving to Mexico next year, and one of the areas we'll be considering is Michoacan, probably somewhere along the Morelia/Lake Patzcuaro corridor. Of course, these days it's impossible to live in the U.S. and not hear about the drug activity that goes on in Michoacan (and Guerrero). My question is for those of you who actually live in the state. Does it have any real impact on your lives and living experience....or is it all so isolated and limited to specific areas that it's simply a non-issue?

Sorry for the semi-alarmist nature of the question. I suspect it's something we don't need to be concerned about, but am curious what you folks who already live down there have to say. Thanks.

Brian

Dec 29, 2007, 4:15 PM

Post #2 of 14 (2435 views)

Shortcut

Re: [tashby] Living in Michoacan: The drug question...

Can't Post |

Just don't read the Mexican newspapers and you will be fine. Thousands of foreigners live happily alongside the narcos in their fine houses. It is just important to remember to emulate the proverbial ostrich with it's head in the sand.

jennifer rose

Dec 30, 2007, 7:17 AM

Post #3 of 14 (2395 views)

Shortcut

Re: [tashby] Living in Michoacan: The drug question...

Can't Post |

The narcotraffic really doesn't affect the lives of most who live in Michoacan, and that includes the foreigners, at least no more than the issues of drug use affects those who live in the U.S. The press -- and I do urge you to read the Mexican press -- does have a field day with drug killings. Those are newsworthy, and the business of the press is news. But as long as you're not a famous singer or head of public safety and as long as you stay out of the areas where you really have no business being in, you'll be just fine. See http://staringatstrangers.typepad.com/...every_so_often_.html

To the best of my knowledge, Brian does not now nor has he ever lived in Michoacan.

Brian

Dec 30, 2007, 7:46 AM

Post #4 of 14 (2392 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jennifer rose] Living in Michoacan: The drug question...

Can't Post |

Sorry to have responded to the post then. I didn't think that the Michoacan situation was different from the other areas of the country where the narcos are so active. Foreign residents, in my opinion, are indeed impacted by the governmental corruption which the drug trade has wrought. Don't you think that the challenge to freedom of the press impacts foreigners as well as Mexicans? Read this article (which is local to Michoacan). Add reporters to the list of endangered species along with musicians and corrupt police.

http://africa.reuters.com/world/news/usnN08362483.html

Brian

(This post was edited by Brian on Dec 30, 2007, 8:03 AM)

jreboll

Dec 30, 2007, 8:07 AM

Post #5 of 14 (2383 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Brian] Living in Michoacan: The drug question...

Can't Post | Private Reply

I live here in south Texas just a few miles from the Rio Grande River and I can tell you that the drug business permeates the local economy. It is all kept low key but I am sure some law enforcement personnel are also involved. From time to time these crooked cops are caught but it is probably just the tip of the iceberg that we hear about. Having said that I can tell you that I feel quite safe around here. I have also lived in L.A, Houston, San Antonio, Chicago, Gary,Ind.

tashby

Jan 2, 2008, 2:47 PM

Post #6 of 14 (2279 views)

Shortcut

Re: [jennifer rose] Living in Michoacan: The drug question...

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate them all, but yes, I am especially interested in hearing from people who live in Michoacan. (I just didn't want the thread to degenerate into speculation or opinions based on what someone has "read" or "heard" since that can sometimes paint an innacurate portrait. That said, everyone is welcome to chime in, of course.)

Given how few replies there are, I guess either there aren't that many forum members living in Michoacan, or the issue isn't really an issue. Or it's just a busy time of year. Thanks again.

jreboll

Jan 2, 2008, 3:04 PM

Post #7 of 14 (2275 views)

Shortcut

Re: [tashby] Living in Michoacan: The drug question...

Can't Post | Private Reply

I forgot to mention that we also have a home in Michoacan and I don't feel any less safe there than here in south Texas.

esperanza

Jan 2, 2008, 5:13 PM

Post #8 of 14 (2264 views)

Shortcut

Re: [tashby] Living in Michoacan: The drug question...

Can't Post | Private Reply

I live in Morelia. There is lots of news about drug-related crime, but so far we have not personally been involved and feel no fear.

Much of what you hear in the USA about life in Mexico, including life in Michoacán, is incredibly exaggerated.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

tashby

Jan 2, 2008, 5:23 PM

Post #9 of 14 (2261 views)

Shortcut

Re: [esperanza] Living in Michoacan: The drug question...

Can't Post | Private Reply

Quote

Much of what you hear in the USA about life in Mexico, including life in Michoacán, is incredibly exaggerated.

I know. Heck, much of what we hear in the USA about life in the USA is incredibly exaggerated, too! That's why I'm asking all of you who actually live there. Thanks!

(For context, among other large cities in the US, I've lived a good part of my life in Los Angeles and New York City.....and I've heard how dangerous they are, too. Usually from people who've never been there.)

TigerTonio

Jan 2, 2008, 5:45 PM

Post #10 of 14 (2258 views)

Shortcut

Re: [tashby] Living in Michoacan: The drug question...

Can't Post | Private Reply

I'm in Morelia and my life here is not affected by anything related to drugs, narcos or violence.

toddmc

Jan 3, 2008, 5:53 AM

Post #11 of 14 (2231 views)

Shortcut

Re: [tashby] Living in Michoacan: The drug question...

Can't Post | Private Reply

I live in Patzcuaro , Michoacan.
I feel safer here than the vast majority of the places I have been in the USA.

Todd

*************************
Our new life in Patzcuaro: http://lifeinthecorazon.blogspot.com

hopalog

Jan 6, 2008, 7:38 AM

Post #12 of 14 (2177 views)

Shortcut

Re: [tashby] Living in Michoacan: The drug question...

Can't Post | Private Reply

Here in QRoo we are surrounded by narcos and the fact that many are turning out to be foreigners is somewhat distressing to me. Our head of security told me last night that we have four narcos living here; all Canadian. Next property to us is also narco property. You just can't get away from it here.

So far, the victims are generally the intended victims. I've not seen children accidentally killed when a narco, police chief or policeman is killed; there don't seem to be bystanders killed as the victims are generally tortured first. That is what keeps me feeling safe; if someone picks up my neighbor, they won't be shooting at him from a car but personally stopping by and taking him away.

Hell's Half Acre

Flickrlicious

jennifer rose

Jan 6, 2008, 7:58 AM

Post #13 of 14 (2172 views)

Shortcut

Re: [esperanza] Living in Michoacan: The drug question...

Can't Post |

I spent a few days this week in Bogota, which is rated a dangerous place. And you know something? It struck me as safe. 0f course, just as in Michoacan, I didn't wander into the seedy part of town, frequent the taxi-dancer bars or even try to buy drugs. As I entered a shopping center, one thing did catch my attention: a policeman wanded a young man carrying a backpack. He wasn't wanding everyone who entered. Now, imagine if that had only happened at Westroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska, last month.

The US strikes me as more dangerous than even the most narco-ridden area of Mexico. Consider, for a moment, the Beltway sniper, Blacksburg, Columbine.

Oscar2

Jan 7, 2008, 1:04 PM

Post #14 of 14 (2116 views)

Shortcut

Re: [tashby] Living in Michoacan: The drug question...

Can't Post | Private Reply

In an un-complex, simple way, our senses are tuned to what we expose ourselves too, regularly. Intravenous media hype can be addictive to its mix of sensationalism, its pending danger and the explosion of our most dreaded fears waiting for the next episode.

The rush and the need for more and more is a tempest that doesn’t quit and will blow you here and there, and whip you around with delight and tragedy. I was reading a piece the other day and it said, “Reading is one way of traveling all over this world and more, without having to move one inch.” The origin of this statement was well before the transfusion of TV, instant replays and Blockbusters…… Laugh