Since my last post, Lipstick
on an Alligator, March 2, 2014, I have been accused of editorializing, distorting
facts, and “Baja Bashing.” I was also told that it was not my place to write
about someone else’s accident and, to add insult to injury, I seem to have distressed
someone in Mexico because negative accounts such as mine are hurting Mexico’s
tourist industry.
I have no desire to misrepresent any facts and I did offer
to correct any inaccuracies that may have been in my last post. However, the
individual making those accusations would rather not provide me with any
corrections to the story of Hugo’s accident. He feels that it is not his place
to write about someone else’s accident and I respect that.
I do apologize to Hugo for any errors that may have been
made in my retelling the story of his accident. Yes, it was an accident. I thought
that was made clear in recounting the story. There was no crime involved.
I checked the latest State Department travel warnings for
Mexico and there are none for Baja California Sur (the southern half of the
peninsula). However, tourists in the northern half are urged to exercise
caution, particularly at night. It is true that a majority of the crime is near
the border, particularly in and around Tijuana, as mentioned in my previous
post. I will stand by the crime rates quoted in that post. Once you run the
gauntlet through the border area you should be in the clear.
As far as the brief summary of unpleasant things experienced
a couple of years ago while on an RV caravan to the Yucatan and back, that all
happened, just as I wrote. I was there.
Perhaps I should have divided the post into two separate
posts. One to tell the story of Hugo’s accident and the other to discuss Baja’s
crime rate and how a very successful public relations program has helped shift
people’s perceptions of the Baja from major crime to the art and food scene.
But please, don’t let me stop anyone from going on a road
trip to Baja just because I am too much of a wimp to ever go to Mexico again.
Make your own decision.
