Tuesday, November 6, 2012
The robbery caught by passerby
El ladrón se metió a un local tras arrebatarle el bolso a una mujer en el callejón Tamazuca
Por Rosa Balderas | Noviembre 04, 2012
Tamaño de letra:
El ladrón se metió a un local tras arrebatarle el bolso a una mujer en el callejón Tamazuca.
GUANAJUATO, Guanajuato.- Gracias a la coordinación ciudadana con la Policía municipal, se logró la detención de un presunto ladrón que despojó de sus pertenencias a una mujer que transitaba por el callejón de Tamazuca la noche del viernes.
CONTINUE HERE
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Crime Against The Medical Community
Acusa la Asociación Mexicana de Facultades y Escuelas de Medicina a las autoridades de incumplir con programas de seguridad.
Por AGENCIA REFORMA / MARTHA MARTÍNEZ / MÉXICO
Publicada el 11/04/2012
Médicos y pasantes asignados a zonas con presencia del crimen organizado han sido asesinados, secuestrados, extorsionados, agredidos y amenazados sin que autoridades de salud ni de seguridad los protejan oportunamente.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE
Friday, November 2, 2012
Security in Mexico ... Interesting!
Seguridad
“Tenemos el Gobierno más grande y más caro de nuestra historia, y tenemos más violencia y más pobreza que nunca”.
Julián Lebarón
El crimen no nos deja solos ni un día. Este 3 de octubre fue asesinado José Eduardo Moreira, el hijo de 25 años del ex presidente nacional del PRI y ex gobernador de Coahuila, Humberto Moreira. Es sólo uno de los miles de homicidios que tienen lugar cada año en nuestro País, pero nos recuerda que todos los que vivimos en México estamos sometidos a la ley de la violencia.
READ MORE
Thursday, November 1, 2012
So, They Don't Target Americans?
Number of Americans killed in Mexico continues to rise
Deadly violence strikes areas once considered peaceful for U.S. retirees
By Dudley Althaus, Lise Olsen | Saturday, April 28, 2012 | Updated: Sunday, April 29, 2012 11:40pm
Last year, a record 120 Americans were killed in Mexico, compared with just 35 in 2007. Most happened in areas bordering the U.S. But for the first time, a significant number of murders occurred in previously peaceful areas like Jalisco state, where 14 Americans were killed, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis of U.S. State Department data.Last year, a record 120 Americans were killed in Mexico, compared with just 35 in 2007. Most happened in areas bordering the U.S. But for the first time, a significant number of murders occurred in previously peaceful areas like Jalisco state, where 14 Americans were killed, according to a Houston Chronicle analysis of U.S. State Department data.
READ MORE
***
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Mexico Security Memo: Increased Violence Likely in Guanajuato
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Where Have You Been?
I don't know why, exactly, it has been so hard to find the time to post. Could it be my attention is diverted to a seemingly endless list of other things I have to do? My classes for my doctorate seem eternal, I am on a quest to take control of my health (I was recently diagnosed with Diabetes-Oh joy!), and trying to fit some semblance of exercising into my daily routine (ha!) all conspire to tell me I do not have time (the energy?) to blog.
Yet, there have been plenty of stuff about which to blog. Well...not really (more sighing!). I am simply not on the streets as often as I used to be since moving out into the boondocks and also since we ride the bus even more to get to where we need to go. In this place, if you are on the streets and in the small out-of-the.way places you get to see a glimpse of Mexican behavior that sticking just to the tourist traps will never reveal.
This is really the root of all the writing I have done over the years. You don't see "real Mexico" by staying in hotels in El Centro, nor if you hang out in the place that coddle the Gringos. It is also, I cautiously say, the root of all the criticism that have been heaped my way like so much doggie caca by the Gringos (Gringos = Gringolandians); criticism in which the Lord of the Flies ( Lord of the Flies = Gringolandians Mafioso, Mexican Branch) accuse you of fabricating everything in your prose from start to finish.
These are people who, I suppose, forgot how to walk, and drive everywhere in Guanajuato. They send their maids to shop and for all practically purposes never "mix" with anyone but their fellow flies. This might be mainly because most, not all, cannot string enough words in Spanish to form a complete sentence, and that they like "being with their own kind." (A Gringo lady, and a prominent one I might add, told this to me years ago.)
Just how, if they cannot communicate in the language, know anything about anyone in the country in which they have invaded (infected)?
Again, I sigh.
Anyway, more next week (I hope).
Friday, July 13, 2012
Something Curious
But, if you can understand Spanish here is a link to a couple living in Madrid, Spain that pretty much sums up, almost exactly, my experience as an expat here.
LINK HERE
Friday, June 1, 2012
LIFE IN MEXICO: Never Dull
The family is totals four. Two adults and two sons. Olimpia's parents, sister, brother (his wife and three girls) live next door. It is a family compound popular here in Mexico.
Problem: This week, one evening, everyone was gone from our house. Her parents were home next door. Someone called her aged father and demanded money for ransom of their adult son who works as a computer geek in Leon. The kidnappers knew not only the names of the family, and I mean ALL OF THEM, they also knew Cindi and my name and even told Oli's father Cindi's and my routine of walking to the bus stop each Monday and described us perfectly down to the clothes we wore when we went out last Monday.
Also, Carlitos (16 years old), one of the kids in our home, was in the Plaza at the end of our street playing with his cousin and the caller told Mr. Sergoviano ( Olimpia's father) where they were and what they were wearing. So, he (they?) had to be watching us -- ALL OF US.
This sort of thing has been common in the past. I haven't heard of it or read an account of it in a while. But, it does happen here.
The adult son who works in Leon was not kidnapped as claimed by the caller.
One of the huge problems is that locals fear rather than trust the police. Some will claim that the cops could be in on the plot. To "Protect and to Serve" is in this country a myth according to some Mexicans.
***
Click On This Link Reach The
Learn Spanish Like A ROCKET With Rocket Spanish!...
###
Friday, May 25, 2012
I Am Back .......
Soon after my 2010 post, we moved into the home of a Mexican family from our Protestant church. An interesting fact, at least to my wife and I, is the head of the household, Carlos, one of his paternal relatives was the author of the Mexican national anthem. That is one of the many things, both good and bad, that we have encountered since not just living in Mexico but living, eating, sleeping in the home of Mexicans.
We have the upstairs, more or less, to ourselves and share the rest of the house for meals, laundry, internet, phone, coming and going, etc ... It has been a life changing experience full of ups and downs as we have had the privilege of an intimate and close-up look into the Mexican culture at a family level. Let me just comment, after all this is what a blog is for, that the Mexicans you meet in street encounters, the stores, the parties, in the public, are not as they seem: Mexican Culture is a Mask Wearing Society!
By the way, the family with whom we live do not speak a word of English.
My wife has been busying herself with more cooking chores making all manner of delicious things that she finds online. She has improved her Spanish tremendously! Her accent is improved as well and I am exceedingly proud of her.
I have ended a 2.5 year adventure earning my Master's Degree in Biblical Theology from a school in the States and am now a doctoral candidate in Biblical Counseling. This project will take a while to complete. I have a horde of reading and writing to do. I am also working toward becoming a licensed Biblical Therapist. In is an intense goal but worth the effort.
Where we live is nice. The locals are rather different from living in the heart of Guanajuato. They are accepting to the point of being protective. They are eager to help, patient to a fault, invite us into their homes at the drop of a hat, and we have grown to love them. Here there is not the incessant smell and noise of carbon monoxide machines belching poison into the air (read: Cars). You can walk about the barrio without
the fear of breathing too much car/bus exhaust (there are cars but not as prolific as in downtown).
I plan on weekly posts as my studies will allow.
Good to be back.
Click On This Link Reach The
Learn Spanish Like A ROCKET With Rocket Spanish!...
###
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
San Miguel de Allende Crime
The Gringos in Guanajuato, where we live, are pretty much on the same delusional track as the SMA Gringos. They will plot your demise, and try to carry out their threats, should you cross them with the truth.
Here is a quote from an Internet forum that my wife found for me. It speaks to the false sense of security Gringolandians live with in Mexico's Gringolandians.
Walled property does not guarantee safetySource: Comadres Forum http://groups.yahoo.com/group/comadresdemexico/message/27910
My friend and art teacher here in San Miguel let her walls give her a false
sense of security. She was brutally beaten with a wrench and sexually
assaulted, ending up in hospital. In a robbery attempt gone wrong he entered
her unlocked door at 7:30 am while she was still in bed. She was not raped, but
could have been or worse, killed. Once when I locked myself out I asked one of
the workmen to borrow a ladder and open remote garage door for me, where I had
an extra set of keys hidden in the garden. He scaled the stoned walls like a
monkey in a few seconds, anchoring his feet on the protusions in the stones. I
have two dogs, but am thinking of a third. Unfortunately large glass sliding
doors don't allow for screens so during the day I keep mine open for the cross
breezes. My friend does not live in a gated community that's patrolled like
mine, still even that does not call for extra caution. I keep my car keys
bedside because they have a panic button. One of my dogs would go for the
jugular. It's my feeling that any woman - or couple living in Mexico should have
a good guard dog.
Linda W.
I am telling you that so entrenched is the the Lord of the Flies delusion in Gringolandia that they will read this quote and accuse me of making it up, lying.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Here's What I Mean...
###
Crimes and misdemeanors: Staying safe in San Miguel
Is SMA still safe, or falling prey to drug dealers and thugs?
By Anne Nicolai
August 11, 2009
Knowledge is power: Spanish-speaking residents are safer
Across the board, every official interviewed for this article agreed that one of the best ways for foreigners to provide for our personal safety is to learn the language of the country that we’re living in. They point out that Spanish speakers have an easier time getting to know their neighbors and the local police. Knowing the language also helps when calling for help or reporting a crime.
In fact, the author’s calls to the various emergency telephone numbers prove this point: on two different days, at two different times of day,...there were no English-speaking operators.
Click On This Link Reach The
Learn Spanish Like A ROCKET With Rocket Spanish!...
###
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Guanajuato, Mexico - Violence and Dangerous
" “Son cinco grupos de vándalos que nos están dando peligro en la ciudad y están operando a través de la comisión de faltas administrativas y asaltos en colonias como Cerro de los Leones, Cerro del Cuarto, Cerro del Gallo, Las Teresas y Pastita”, sostuvo el Director de Seguridad Ciudadana de esta ciudad."
Translation: There are five groups of vandals which are "giving us danger" (a literal rendering) in barrios such as Cerro de los Leones, Cerro del Cuarto, Ceror del Galla, Las Teresas, and Pastita.
In fact, go to the website, http://www.am.com.mx/Nota.aspx?ID=418297, and notice the little graphic map with, "Danger Zones of the City."
Monday, August 9, 2010
Guanajuato, Mex -- More things to notice
The thieves set up all manner or tricky devices on the ATM's, actually attaching them, on the cash machine itself. They call these skimmers. These are devices that can read your info on the magnetic strip on the back of your card and at the same time film your pass code while you enter it. Then, of course, the enter your account and drain it dry.
This is a huge problem here. Each time I go to get cash, I first check to see if there's anything unusual looking on the ATM machine. Then I tug at the machine's front to see if something comes loose. Then I cover up the key pad with one hand while keying in my code with the other.
For more info on Guanajuato's problem with this click here.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Bus Travel Safety - Is there nothing sacred left?
In recent months robberies began to happen with alarming frequency. Some of the bus lines actually stepped up to the plate with safety procedures and policies. This is shocking to see in Mexico--private companies implementing security plans.
I suppose that the criminals are now adapting to this. If they can't rob the whole bus with the new security policies, they will do it more surreptitious by slipping a mickey in the drink of a passenger and then robbing him blind.
This happened to a young man at one o'clock, Saturday. Bound for Irapuato, Guanajuato, someone slipped him a sedative rendering him unconscious. The thieves took his belonging, made off into the afternoon, leaving the poor kid for the bus driver to deal with him. An ambulance was summoned.
The lesson? Don't have open drinks in the cup holders while you visit the bus' restroom or accept drinks from strangers.
One didn't used to have to think about things like this.
Now we do.
Things have changed. A lot!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Guanajuato Choice of Neighborhoods
Correo reporter, Ruth Elizarraraz, reported, Thursday, July 15, 2010, that five robberies occurred mostly taking place on a Friday night. Only one of the victims reported to the police.
This is common in Mexico generally and in Guanajuato specifically: Not to involved the police.
Watch for this in the listings that show lots of rentals and even houses to buy. It is not a good area of town. We have friends, Mexican nationals, who have moved from this barrio for that very reason.
###
ROCKET SPANISH
Click On This to Reach The
ROCKET SPANISH Website!
Learn Spanish Like A ROCKET With Rocket Spanish!...
Who Else Wants to Learn to Speak Spanish Confidently and Naturally In Less Than 8 Weeks??...AND take all the frustration, difficulty and headache out of YOUR practice time with this EXPLOSIVE interactive 'learn Spanish' package!
More Resources
ROCKET GERMAN
Friday, July 30, 2010
Guanajuato. Mexico: Barrio San Javier
Well, the Pollos Negros are up to their old tricks again of not only gang violence but this time with gun fire.
Check it out:
A young man fired shots out of barThis location is just minutes from where we live.
By: Ruth Elizarraraz / GUANAJUATO, Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The boy of 20 years, an alleged member of the band "The Black Chicken", was shot in the alley Atarjea. When leaving a bar in the Corn Exchange Street, a member of the band "The Black Chicken" was wounded with a firearm, a vehicle was damaged in the fighting, locals said they were tired of the assaults and fights increased from six months ago.
In 2003, when we came to language school and moved here, this area was safe enough where we walked to our host family's home after a concert or movie and had no problems.
The amazing thing to me is that the major police station is just down the block from where this gang activity takes place and is worsening.
I reported just a few blogs ago that crime has gotten bad enough in GTO that even its own experts are calling the city, "no longer safe...", and I tend to agree with them.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Those Loving Mexicans
However, and there's always a "however," on the other hand I feel there are some Mexicans that hold anti-American sentiments. I reported on this years ago in my blogging and article writing and earned the title to which I am still the exclusive record holder:
I used to interview Mexicans in Guanajuato, and other cities, and was able to extract from them some pretty strong feelings about Gringolandians. The Gringos don't believe it. They call me a liar.
So, here's a guest post from a lady writing about the Ajijic and Chapala area and their deteriorating Gringolandia...
Since I don't post here usually, and only pop in to read every couple of weeks
I wanted to let you all know about friends who are moving away from Chapala.
We have had two sets of couple friends who have returned NoB because they
didn't enjoy Mexico. One set said they just no longer, after 2 years, felt welcome in their primarily Mexican neighborhood in CHapala and didn't want to move toward Ajijic and they were discouraged from moving to Jocotepec, or any of the other primarily Mexican villages to the east and west. We were surprised to hear
this, but they were very "into" being quasi-Mexican, so they were hurt by the
attitude change they had been feeling from their neighbors.
Then lo-and-behold a couple months later another single friend mentioned she
was moving from Chapala back to Ajijic because she no longer felt welcome in
Chapala. She is ignored in eateries and stores, spoken rudely to on the Malecon
and is cheated regularly at the market.
And then a couple, who had lived in Ajijic for 18 months and moved to CHapala
because they liked the atmosphere there better and have been there 3 years
called me just 3 weeks ago asking if I would alert them to any houses from San
Antonio to La Cristina as they were moving back from Chapala. When we went out to dinner they said that their beautiful downtown Chapala 2 story house with
pool and fab garden that they willing paid $1000 US per month, had become a
jail of sorts because they no longer were welcomed in their neighborhood as they
previously had been. That where they had shopped for the last 3 years and at
the main market they were slowly paying more for food and had realized they
were now victims of a "gringo tax" whereas they had not been before and that young shop persons who had been chatty and willing to talk in Spanish at their level now virtually sped thru anything and when asked to speak slower the young
people were rude and wouldn't make the effort.
What does this all mean. Well, this couple has been talking with other expats
in Chapala and they have come to the conclusion that the citizens of Chapala
have seen their town grow and improve and there is a movement afoot to make it
uncomfortable for expats so that Chapala does not become Ajijic with its
unaffordable housing and high living prices for its locals.
This is also the case in Jocotepec, but that has always been that way.
Mexican friends tell us that many men who left the area to work in the US are
returning and they are angry for lots of reasons and they are relating stories
about the US and they are telling family and friends that the expats don't
deserve to live better in Mexico than they could in the US because that means
that Mexicans can't live in their towns and villages. They would be right.
It had to happen, and whether its as prevalent as these people seem to think it
is, it still is obviously making Chapala uncomfortable for some expats, enough so that they are leaving or moving out.###
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Crime in Mexico -- Gringolandians Don't Get It
"I've already done my fair share of research and haven't found anything badThis a fairly typical forum post about crime in Mexico and this person specifies a particular place.
about crime in PV. I went on vacation to puerto vallarta in early 2008, and
absolutely LOVED it. I stayed at the presidente intercontinental which is a beautiful little resort all the way up in the mismaloya area. I really want to go back and am planning a vacation for late august. However, with all the crap I've been hearing about crime in Mexico lately I'm a little freaked, not too mention scared to stay at the hotel that I really want too because its so far up in the mountains. What I'm wondering is if anyone has been there really recently and can tell me what it was like?"
This person claims to have done research on the crime issue. The problem is that the vast majority of websites this person more than likely encountered were in English and the info was someone's subjective opinions. You will not encounter, generally, someone who quotes stats or interviews from Mexican nationals because they are incapable of speaking Spanish.
This is the major problem. If you want to research "crime in Mexico" you have to be able to read the Mexican print media and listen to the Mexican television news programs. They report daily on the crime issue and their view is that crime is on the increase EVERYWHERE in Mexico.
Let me restate for emphasis: If you want to know whether crime is rampant in Puerto Vallarta or anywhere else in Mexico, you have to consult local news, national news, in both print and television (radio).
An all too tragic reply by "Gringolandians" who mostly live part time in Mexico will be tell you some along the line of, "Don't listen to Foxnews," as if Foxnews was reporting inaccurate news.
Gringolandian's reply to poster: "When you say "crime in Mexico", do you mean petty crime, major crime or narco-violence? Crime is all over the world. (Please turn off Fox News)"Rather than showing themselves in possession of any facts about crime in Mexico the Gringolandian will blame a Straw Man, and in this case it's Foxnews.
No facts, just absurdity.
Gringolandians are deluded. So disenchanted are they with what America has devolved into they are searching for a "pipe dream" and not reality.
The Gringolandian reply to the Vallarta inquirer also said this: "Many of my friends in Illinois are very concerned for me since I plan to move to Bucerias as soon as it will be possible. To me, it's like living in a small town in the U.S. Things are a lot the way things were 50-60 years ago in small-town America, except that there are ATM's and Internet cafes."See what I mean. So desirous are they of a time and place in America long over and forgotten by realists, that they move to Mexico looking back over their pipe-dream shoulders for something that does not exist. Their delusions will not allow them to come to terms with the fact that 21 century Mexico is not America 50-60 years ago. Again, I say, just absurdities.
Just like in America crime has spread beyond the "other side of the tracks" and is affecting everyone, everywhere, and in every situation.
If you read the Mexican newspapers and watch the national Mexican news, you will see commentators and even local citizen that are beginning to be harbingers for Mexicans to wake up.
Gringolandians haven't a clue because they depend on their own little circle of social incest for news as to what is going on around them.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Armed Robbery in Grade School
This time, however, this school day's end would be one the kids and their caretakers would not soon forget.
In a primary school located in the downtown area of Celaya, Guanajuato (about two hours from the capital city), 100 students and their caretakers were set upon at 1:30 PM by three armed men.
They took at gun point more than 80,000 pesos the student's caretakers had just donated to the school's support.
The thugs entered the school pretending to be parents or caretakers of the students. They pulled guns and when the school manager refused to fork over the money the thief began beating him threatening to begin shooting. The students saw this and ran for cover.
Though there were witnesses no arrests were made.
I hope no one is holding their breath waiting for arrests.
Monday, July 19, 2010
American Unversities Canceling Language Programs in Mexico
Increasing violence from Mexico's drug and gang problems are cited as reasons for the language program cancellations.
The University of Kansas has, in the past, lost students to violent deaths in other countries which is a consideration in the strict policy governing the decision to cancel the Mexican language problems.
Source 1
Source 2
###
ROCKET SPANISH
FREE 6-Day Spanish Course!
Click On This Link Reach The
ROCKET SPANISH Website!
Learn Spanish Like A ROCKET With Rocket Spanish!...
Who Else Wants to Learn to Speak Spanish Confidently and Naturally In Less Than 8 Weeks??
... AND take all the frustration, difficulty and headache out of YOUR practice time with this EXPLOSIVE interactive 'learn Spanish' package!
ROCKET GERMAN
ROCKET FRENCH
ROCKET JAPANESE
ROCKET ITALIAN
ROCKET CHINESE
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS
Learn to Speak, Read & Write a New Language!
Synergy Spanish - How To Turn 138 Spanish Words Into Effective Spanish Communication.
Learn How To Speak Spanish - A 31-Day Course That Shows You How To Communicate In Spanish Using Thousands Of Spanish Words You Already Know.
Fsi Spanish Level 1, 2, 3, And 4 - Quickly And Easily Master Begginer To Advanced Spanish. Instant Download Just $97.
###
