Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

Brian

Feb 11, 2010, 9:52 AM

Post #1 of 16 (3767 views)

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Heads up re: Nogales point of entry

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I think we are going to be hearing a lot more in the narco news about this area of the border. There are reports that Chapo Guzman intends to retake the plaza which had been under the control of the Beltran Leyva cartel until it's downfall in Cuernavaca. First, Chapo needs to deal with Dos Mil who now runs things there. It is the increased violence that was predicted whenever there is a changing of the guard. I am sure there are a lot of people who would like to see a truce between the Sinaloa and Juarez cartels but there seems to be no willingness to share the powers. In the meantime, folks crossing into/out of Arizona might want to consider Lukeville at this time.

http://mlb.mlb.com/...xt=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Brian

(This post was edited by Rolly on Feb 11, 2010, 10:04 AM)

RickS

Feb 11, 2010, 10:54 AM

Post #2 of 16 (3736 views)

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Re: [Brian] Heads up re: Nogales point of entry

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Brian could you explain what 'retake the plaza' might, in actuality, mean? When I cross at Nogales I always use the western-most Mariposa crossing. If the 'plaza' refers to a more interior point (where I presume the older crossing is located) then I can understand a 'warning'.

Brian

Feb 11, 2010, 11:12 AM

Post #3 of 16 (3730 views)

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Re: [RickS] Heads up re: Nogales point of entry

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Rick

With respect to discussions about the drug trade, the word "plaza" connotes a specific territory which is under the control of a cartel for the transport of drugs and migrant smuggling. Disputes or struggles for the plaza, in this case the part of Mexico across from Arizona as separate from Texas or California, are common and probably most of the killings have been internecine as opposed to the battles with the Army. In recommending the Lukeville crossing, I don't mean to imply that it is really much safer. It just seems to make sense to avoid the areas with the most action. A few years ago, Nuevo Laredo was going through this same situation. People were advised to circumvent the area by using Columbia point of entry.

Brian

tonyburton

Feb 11, 2010, 11:19 AM

Post #4 of 16 (3725 views)

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Re: [RickS] Heads up re: Nogales point of entry

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= turf as in 'turf wars'

RickS

Feb 11, 2010, 11:22 AM

Post #5 of 16 (3719 views)

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Re: [tonyburton] Heads up re: Nogales point of entry

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Gracias to both of you.....

Moisheh

Feb 11, 2010, 6:11 PM

Post #6 of 16 (3653 views)

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Re: [RickS] Heads up re: Nogales point of entry

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As one who crosses at Nogales multiple times every year I can tell you that it is no more dangerous at Mariposa than any other border cossing. However you will encounter a ridiculous inefficient check point set up by Homeland Security. This is just before the gate to Mexico. A bunch of very green recruits who would not what to do if they actually found weapons or cash! l crossed 2 weeks ago and they decided to x ray my truck. Wasted an hour. This was at night and they did not have enough lights to see what they were doing. Lots of recruits standing around with their hands in their pockets. Shining flashlights CSI style in the eyes of drivers. All wearing tool belts that were full of GI Joe toys!! Border crossing has become hell.

Moisheh

chinagringo

Feb 11, 2010, 7:12 PM

Post #7 of 16 (3635 views)

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Re: [Moisheh] Heads up re: Nogales point of entry

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I am guessing that comparing the Mariposa crossing to the Nogales crossing would be like me comparing the Juarez crossing to that at Santa Teresa, NM. While not many miles apart, two totally different atmospheres and attitudes! Brian's original post simply must be taken for its content and make people aware that things may be changing at the Nogales crossing. We have not used the Juarez crossing since '98 quite simply because of the convenience of Santa Teresa but when the early warning signs started coming out of Juarez, it simply re-enforced our decision. Now there is not enough money in the world to get us to cross there!

As far as the Homeland Security checkpoint just north of the border goes - Yes it is kind of a joke but at the very least, they are attempting to do something and by my way of thinking, it is no big deal! At Santa Teresa, there is a Mexican military checkpoint just inside the border and at times, they have been quite thorough. So what, they have identified a problem and are making some attempts to do something! The inconvenience just goes with the territory!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

JohnnyBoy

Mar 3, 2010, 9:02 AM

Post #8 of 16 (3415 views)

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Re: [Moisheh] Heads up re: Nogales point of entry

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As you know, we live in the same general area and I, too, use the Mariposa crossing several times per year. I have always felt very safe there, with the possible exception of when I cross in my pickup and have stuff, like luggage, in the bed of the truck. Then the hoards of people selling stuff and snaking up the single-lane road before it divides and enters into two or three lanes just in front of the crossing. You simply cannot take your eyes off the people passing by, and you have to do it watching simultaneously to the front and to the rear. This becomes quite an act if you are alone.

Still, it is better than the downtown crossing. Is it called the DiConcini crossing? It has been so long since I used that crossing that I can barely remember what it looks like, except that it is a highly congested area tucked in between buildings on a narrow street. It is essentially in downtown Nogales, Sonora and when you cross you are in downtown Nogales, Arizona. If you got caught down there during a shoot out, you would probably be toast.

Getting to the downtown crossing from the south requires traversing the entire city of Nogales, Sonora, and it is a nightmare for me. I am already far more nervous about driving in Mexico than most gringos, but still, that town is a mess and it is so scary driving through there. While Mexicans elsewhere drive inconsiderately and recklessly, in Nogales they drive with complete abandon and it is a white knuckle affair for a good 30 minutes, until you reach the crossing.

If the border crossing at Mariposa becomes dangerous or slower than it already is, I will really have to seriously reconsider my living in Mexico. The deal I made with myself was that I would live close to the border where I could get back and forth easily and quickly. When/if that is no longer the case, the deal is busted.

My next few posts may have to be about how to go about unloading my casita and getting back to the safety and sanity of the USA.

La Isla

Mar 3, 2010, 10:50 AM

Post #9 of 16 (3382 views)

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Re: [JohnnyBoy] Heads up re: Nogales point of entry

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Quote

If the border crossing at Mariposa becomes dangerous or slower than it already is, I will really have to seriously reconsider my living in Mexico. The deal I made with myself was that I would live close to the border where I could get back and forth easily and quickly. When/if that is no longer the case, the deal is busted.

My next few posts may have to be about how to go about unloading my casita and getting back to the safety and sanity of the USA.

Your comments about the deal you made with yourself before moving to Mexico made me think about the deal I made with myself before moving here in 2007. Our perspectives are at opposite ends of the expat spectrum! While you seem to want to have your cake and eat it too, so to speak, living in Mexico in your "casita" and making frequents trips NOB, the attraction for me of life in Mexico is different: I like the feeling that I'm living here full time and have a desire to return to the States only once or twice a year to visit my mother and old friends on the East Coast. One more comment, which may have something to do with our different takes on living in Mexico: in many ways, my life here is much saner and safer than it ever was in the States.

Comments on these comments are very welcome!

(This post was edited by La Isla on Mar 3, 2010, 10:51 AM)

Rolly

Mar 3, 2010, 11:07 AM

Post #10 of 16 (3377 views)

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Re: [La Isla] Heads up re: Nogales point of entry

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After 10 years in Lerdo, I am so deeply embedded that I doubt I will ever go back to the USA for anything. When my sister lived near Dallas, I used to go about once a year, but she moved to a much more inconvenient place. I'd have to take Continental (which I hate) and change planes in Houston (which I hate). It just ain't worth it.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

arbon

Mar 3, 2010, 11:45 AM

Post #11 of 16 (3367 views)

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Re: [La Isla] Heads up re: Nogales point of entry

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I would guess La Isla has not crossed the border and driven though downtown Nogales, once was enough for us.

But once was enough for a few roads in North America, not just Mexico.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

La Isla

Mar 3, 2010, 12:14 PM

Post #12 of 16 (3358 views)

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Re: [arbon] Heads up re: Nogales point of entry

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Arbon, I can understand that driving through Nogales can be a nightmare. The point of my post is that I don't leave Mexico very often because I'm happy living here and don't feel the need to go back to the States at the drop of a hat. Since I'm from the East Coast of the US, my infrequent trips in and out of Mexico take place in an airplane not in a car.

Manuel Dexterity

Mar 3, 2010, 12:22 PM

Post #13 of 16 (3359 views)

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Re: [arbon] Heads up re: Nogales point of entry

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In Reply To

But once was enough for a few roads in North America, not just Mexico.

Mexico is not North America?

arbon

Mar 3, 2010, 1:37 PM

Post #14 of 16 (3347 views)

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Re: [Manuel Dexterity] Heads up re: Nogales point of entry

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In Reply To

But once was enough for a few roads in North America, not just Mexico.

Mexico is not North America? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Not just in Mexico, not only in Mexico, not only or just in Canada, not only or just in the U.S.A..Eh (perhaps it is in British English)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JohnnyBoy

Mar 4, 2010, 2:22 PM

Post #15 of 16 (3234 views)

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Re: [La Isla] Heads up re: Nogales point of entry

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I have to admit that I do go back and forth a lot more than I ever thought I would, simply because I can, because it is so close and so easy. Or at least it was. I have another trip to Tucson brewing. I will pay close attention at the Mariposa crossing to see if there are any noticeable differences.

Originally I bargained with myself about living in Mexico and determined I could do it if I lived close enough to the border that I could get back quickly and easily IF I NEEDED TO. I was thinking about medical problems, about family in the USA, etc. But now I go at least as far as Tucson a lot more than is really necessary. The stuff I think I NEED and can't find in Mexico, well, it is not all that essential. I could live with it. Buy why should I?

More to the point...I recently read everything I could find here on MexConnect about the pro's and con's of opting out of Medicare and going completely onto the Mexican medical system. Not IMSS. I would never join IMSS. I can't believe it is even allowed. I would not feel right adding to its burden and depriving any Mexicans of what few services IMSS can provide. It would have meant self-insuring. I have just had an object lesson on the Mexican medical system involving my partner's mother. She got absolutely excellent care in a private hospital here. But she had to transfer to one of the IMSS hospitals after one day because she could not afford the care in the private hospital. Nor could the family, not individually, not collectively. It is pretty damned expensive. More than I could afford. Admittedly, it is cheaper than in the USA. But it is still well beyond what I could ever afford, even if I had saved every dime I might have spent on Part B and a Medigap policy from now until I was 100 years old.

I guess I lacked whatever it takes in courage, wisdom, whatever, that others of you have that made it possible for you to opt out of Part B. But I also realize most of you who did, do not live three hours from the nearest US hospital. Three hours on a good day. Three cheap hours that do not involve airplanes.

So, if I am needing to get back, for some urgent medical reason, I don't want to have to dodge narco shootouts to do it. It is not so much that I want to go back at the drop of a hat to buy bourbon. Although I do.

La Isla

Mar 4, 2010, 3:30 PM

Post #16 of 16 (3210 views)

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Re: [JohnnyBoy] Heads up re: Nogales point of entry

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I can see that you're a thoughtful guy who's trying his best to decide whether to stay in Mexico or leave. Living here is certainly not for everyone. I ended up moving here more or less permanently after having spent lots of time in Mexico for many years, studying, working, and traveling. Moving here was more like "coming home" than moving to a strange, new country. My Spanish is excellent, and I know a great deal about Mexican history and culture, all of which are reasons why I ended up here and haven't had a terrible time adjusting to life in Mexico City. Obviously, your story is different from mine. Apart from practicalities like paying for health insurance (for the moment, I've opted for a private plan that runs about 2000 pesos a month), the most important thing anyone thinking of relocating to Mexico needs to ask him or herself is WHY? Why does living here appeal to you? If it's simply because the weather is nicer and the cost of living lower, then your chances for happiness may not be that great. If you have other, more substantial reasons, then you may have found your next home.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do, JohnnyBoy!