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phil54601

Sep 3, 2010, 10:30 AM

Post #1 of 8 (2721 views)

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Trip to Nuevo Laredo from Wisconsin

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Hello All;
This is my first post, I hope it is in the correct place. I plan to leave on my trip sometime between Sept. 16, and Sept. 20th of this year. I have relatives in Arlington, Hillsboro, and New Braunfels, TX. I'll stop to visit each for a day or 2, so I can break up the trip. My question is: are there still 'white' Americans crossing at bridge#1? I plan to walk over about noon or 1P.M. & stay until about 3P.M. I'll just go down 'Avenida Guerrero'. I was across the border to Matamoros 5 or 6 times over the winter of '78-'79 when I lived in Brownsville,TX. I haven't been to Nuevo Laredo in about 55 years since I was 8. I remember a shopping area about 4-5 blocks south of the bridge. I want to go there, IF it's still there. Any information is welcome.
Thank You in advance.
Phil

chinagringo

Sep 3, 2010, 10:46 AM

Post #2 of 8 (2704 views)

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Re: [phil54601] Trip to Nuevo Laredo from Wisconsin

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You may wish to read and follow posts by "Altahabana"

He is quite knowledgeable about the area and the current events in Nuevo Laredo. It seems to be a hot/cold issue on whether or not, there are current safety problems.

Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

phil54601

Sep 3, 2010, 11:06 AM

Post #3 of 8 (2700 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] Trip to Nuevo Laredo from Wisconsin

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Hello Neil;
I've read post on this forum for 2 days. I did read a number of posts by both you and "Altahabana". I understand that the violence is sort of fluid, unpredictable. Besides this forum I check channel 8 Laredo,TX for current news. There is no news about the Laredo area on my local channels. I don't speak Spanish, so I can't check blogs. I'm not looking for any type of guarantee. I just want to be able to gauge how much I'll stand out in the crowd. I want to be as conspicuous as possible. I don't want to draw a lot of attention to myself, as an individual. If I'm the only tourist on the streets, I'd stand out! But, If there are a number of tourists on the streets I'd stand out less.
Thanks for the info.
Phil

bournemouth

Sep 3, 2010, 11:53 AM

Post #4 of 8 (2686 views)

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Re: [phil54601] Trip to Nuevo Laredo from Wisconsin

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Phil - given the news from Nuevo Laredo these days, it is highly likely that you would be one of very, very few tourists.

(This post was edited by bournemouth on Sep 3, 2010, 11:54 AM)

Altahabana

Sep 3, 2010, 1:07 PM

Post #5 of 8 (2673 views)

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Re: [phil54601] Trip to Nuevo Laredo from Wisconsin

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If you are concerned about narco-violence there is none in the area where you say you want to go. There is an army unit stationed at Bridge I and the cartels steer clear of the military. I go down Guerrero a few evenings a week on my way home after leaving the office. Most of the few "white" Americans I see are truck driver types wandering between the downtown hooker bars looking for female companionship. The downtown girls and the local crowd they attract are probably a much bigger risk than a Zeta to them.

(This post was edited by Altahabana on Sep 3, 2010, 5:28 PM)

texican

Sep 4, 2010, 5:24 AM

Post #6 of 8 (2613 views)

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Re: [phil54601] Trip to Nuevo Laredo from Wisconsin

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I crossed at Laredo last thursday on my way to Chapala. I went over the day before by car to get my permit for my car and had no problems, however I was in my car with a Mexican friend of mine. We talked at length that we were glad we were in the car and not on foot. When you cross you feel a thousand eyes on you, and trust me most of them are not friendly. The border patrol told us that the gangs have people watching and reporting who crosses and with what by radio to their bosses. The gang members lined the street by bridge #1. I would not cross to shop if they gave me the stuff I was shopping for. I believe that you would be pushing your luck

Altahabana

Sep 4, 2010, 9:19 AM

Post #7 of 8 (2565 views)

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Re: [texican] Trip to Nuevo Laredo from Wisconsin

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The border patrol told us that the gangs have people watching and reporting who crosses and with what by radio to their bosses. The gang members lined the street by bridge #1. I would not cross to shop if they gave me the stuff I was shopping for. I believe that you would be pushing your luck

The gang members who act as lookouts are called halcones. Their primary function is to report on army movement and everyone knows what they look like. No way in hell are they standing 50 feet from heavily armed soldiers communicating over hand held radios.

The border patrol- I assume you mean Customs & Border Protection who work at the bridges--are talking about crossings at Bridge II by paisanos packed down with consumer items intended for family in the interior. That is who might be of interest to someone. Very few people cross at Bridge I with loads of consumer items.

The hostile eyes that were staring at you were probably in your imagination unless you were doing something to attract attention to yourself. Even if you were told all this by a Mexican friend from NL, it doesn't make your account any more credible. I live in Nuevo Laredo with my Mexican wife and children and cross back and forth six-seven days a week. There is close to zero risk from narco-violence walking on Guerrero near the bridge. Garden variety crime poses little risk either.

(This post was edited by Altahabana on Sep 4, 2010, 9:32 AM)

phil54601

Sep 6, 2010, 10:21 AM

Post #8 of 8 (2432 views)

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Re: [Altahabana] Trip to Nuevo Laredo from Wisconsin

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Hello everyone;
This post starts as a reply to all who have posted . Thank You for all the info.
I just noticed a typo I made in post #3. I used conspicuous, and actually meant 'inconspicuous'. It looks like everyone understood what I meant to say anyway.

I want to especially thank Altahabana. Your last post gave me the info I needed to make my decision. Before post #7 I was going to cancel my trip. Now I intend to leave on about Sept. 19, 2010. I don't have a set time-table so I'll jog days depending on weather. I should get to Laredo, TX & Nuevo Laredo sometime between Sept. 22 and Sept. 26th.

Considering that I'll only be across the border from about noon or 1P.M. until about 3P.M. Do you think it would it be better to cross on a weekday or a weekend? By better I mean faster through customs, & also more tourists across the border?
Thank You for all the good info.
Phil