Comments on: The Dark Side of Yucatan http://www.yucatanliving.com/editorial/the-dark-side-of-yucatan.htm Online magazine about living, working and traveling in Merida and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:09:46 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Working Gringos http://www.yucatanliving.com/editorial/the-dark-side-of-yucatan.htm/comment-page-1#comment-100169 Working Gringos Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:28:10 +0000 http://www.yucatanliving.com/editorial/the-dark-side-of-yucatan.htm#comment-100169 Thanks, CY! We couldn't have said it better ourselves. We had to laugh about the boys throwing pebbles! The most we've ever had stolen here were two California license plates. We've left our door wide open all night (by mistake of course) and not only were we not hurt, but nothing was taken. We've never felt safer, frankly. Thanks, CY! We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. We had to laugh about the boys throwing pebbles! The most we’ve ever had stolen here were two California license plates. We’ve left our door wide open all night (by mistake of course) and not only were we not hurt, but nothing was taken.

We’ve never felt safer, frankly.

]]> By: CasiYucateco http://www.yucatanliving.com/editorial/the-dark-side-of-yucatan.htm/comment-page-1#comment-100160 CasiYucateco Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:57:59 +0000 http://www.yucatanliving.com/editorial/the-dark-side-of-yucatan.htm#comment-100160 Personally, I get bored being in a beach house relatively quickly. I like all the people of the city. But some people may prefer the peace, tranquility and constant wind off the ocean. Safety? Merida is so much safer than any US city, I don't know how to even compare them. The biggest worry I have about encountering a gang of teenagers is that they are all going to want to practice their English with me for too long. Sure, there are robberies here and there and all the regular stuff you find in any city in the world. As in many places with a disparity in wealth, <em>protectores </em>(iron bars or grills) are used to guard against burglaries. Car burglaries happen, but less frequently than in the US. (It sometimes becomes a big newspaper story if there are more than two car windows broken in the same neighborhood, if that tells you anything). Mugging of foreigners... Well, I've been visiting and staying in Merida for over 15 years now and I've never heard of any foreigners being mugged. I'm sure it's happened. And, for example, women should watch their purses around sidewalk restaurants in Centro, because that is an easy target. But purse snatching is not the same as mugging. I've stayed with Yucatecan friends in the poorest parts of the city and never felt my safety was at risk. And I've stayed in houses of all kinds in all areas of the city and never worried about a thing. Well, that's a lie. One time, I had a rental car parked on the street in a lower income area and these 7-8 yo kids were tossing gravel in the street for fun. I was so worried they'd chip the car and I'd have a repair charge, but they just wouldn't stop tossing that gravel no matter what I tried. Short story: I worry more about the mosquitos than personal safety from crime. It's the tropics, you know. Personally, I get bored being in a beach house relatively quickly. I like all the people of the city. But some people may prefer the peace, tranquility and constant wind off the ocean.

Safety? Merida is so much safer than any US city, I don’t know how to even compare them. The biggest worry I have about encountering a gang of teenagers is that they are all going to want to practice their English with me for too long. Sure, there are robberies here and there and all the regular stuff you find in any city in the world.

As in many places with a disparity in wealth, protectores (iron bars or grills) are used to guard against burglaries. Car burglaries happen, but less frequently than in the US. (It sometimes becomes a big newspaper story if there are more than two car windows broken in the same neighborhood, if that tells you anything).

Mugging of foreigners… Well, I’ve been visiting and staying in Merida for over 15 years now and I’ve never heard of any foreigners being mugged. I’m sure it’s happened. And, for example, women should watch their purses around sidewalk restaurants in Centro, because that is an easy target. But purse snatching is not the same as mugging.

I’ve stayed with Yucatecan friends in the poorest parts of the city and never felt my safety was at risk. And I’ve stayed in houses of all kinds in all areas of the city and never worried about a thing.

Well, that’s a lie. One time, I had a rental car parked on the street in a lower income area and these 7-8 yo kids were tossing gravel in the street for fun. I was so worried they’d chip the car and I’d have a repair charge, but they just wouldn’t stop tossing that gravel no matter what I tried.

Short story: I worry more about the mosquitos than personal safety from crime. It’s the tropics, you know.

]]> By: Rich http://www.yucatanliving.com/editorial/the-dark-side-of-yucatan.htm/comment-page-1#comment-100131 Rich Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:21:25 +0000 http://www.yucatanliving.com/editorial/the-dark-side-of-yucatan.htm#comment-100131 Thanks for the quick unpolished view. My questions are really this: In general, how safe does one feel sleeping in their bed or walking the streets of the typical neighborhoods day or night? Is burglary or mugging more or less than one would expect in a typical US city in a typical commercial/residential area? M's revenge is a no-brainer, but what's this about the bugs? Finally, can anyone compare/contrast lifestyles in Merida vs Progreso in terms of restaurants, social activity, etc? I am torn between the cosmopolitan vs the Jimmy Buffet alternatives. Thanks for any info. Thanks for the quick unpolished view. My questions are really this:
In general, how safe does one feel sleeping in their bed or walking the streets of the typical neighborhoods day or night? Is burglary or mugging more or less than one would expect in a typical US city in a typical commercial/residential area?
M’s revenge is a no-brainer, but what’s this about the bugs?
Finally, can anyone compare/contrast lifestyles in Merida vs Progreso in terms of restaurants, social activity, etc? I am torn between the cosmopolitan vs the Jimmy Buffet alternatives.

Thanks for any info.

]]> By: meg http://www.yucatanliving.com/editorial/the-dark-side-of-yucatan.htm/comment-page-1#comment-100065 meg Sun, 23 Aug 2009 01:08:13 +0000 http://www.yucatanliving.com/editorial/the-dark-side-of-yucatan.htm#comment-100065 We have a home in Merida, one of the classics that has been redone. We absolutely adore it there. All of the drawbacks you have listed don't really bother us. You'll find the same in the Carribbean, especially those dang insects! It helps that we speak the language and are familiar with Mexico. We plan to live there someday, but for now are happy just to be able to go there. We love the slower pace. As a poster above said, I applaud you for pointing out our American failings. We have a home in Merida, one of the classics that has been redone. We absolutely adore it there. All of the drawbacks you have listed don’t really bother us. You’ll find the same in the Carribbean, especially those dang insects!

It helps that we speak the language and are familiar with Mexico. We plan to live there someday, but for now are happy just to be able to go there. We love the slower pace. As a poster above said, I applaud you for pointing out our American failings.

]]> By: Viola http://www.yucatanliving.com/editorial/the-dark-side-of-yucatan.htm/comment-page-1#comment-84195 Viola Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:15:29 +0000 http://www.yucatanliving.com/editorial/the-dark-side-of-yucatan.htm#comment-84195 We own a home in Merida. Don't have any FM2 or 3 as of yet. I hear that taxes are going up? Can one own a car without the FM2-3? Seems odd that you can buy a house and cannot own a car? Any information is welcomed. Have a great day. We own a home in Merida. Don’t have any FM2 or 3 as of yet. I hear that taxes are going up?
Can one own a car without the FM2-3? Seems odd that you can buy a house and cannot own a car?
Any information is welcomed.
Have a great day.

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