My friend tells me New Zealand is dangerous because she saw horrible earthquake damage on the news last year. Should I avoid traveling to Nelson? Just kidding. But that is what your question reminded me of.

Yes, the drug gang violence is there in Mexico. It is reported in the US newspapers and on TV. But lets face it, sensational headlines sell newspapers and get you to read ads. I know people who canceled their New Zealand vacation plans because they saw sensational footage of earthquake damage in Christchurch. I just rolled my eyes in disbelief. New Zealand is a big country. Why not try the north island if you are afraid of Christchurch aftershocks. And Mexico is the same. Why not avoid the big cities and border towns where the violence is being reported. Mexico is a HUGE country with many friendly people and wonderful things to see and do.

So I imagine your friend in Arizona is reading the news and it scares her. The reason more people don't travel from the US to south of the border is because their friends who read newspapers tell them it is dangerous. Which is fine by me, since it is less crowded and keeps the prices down.

The thing is, there is violence in Arizona as well. Yet your friend still lives there and gets in her car and drives around. When I was in Arizona last year a crazy guy shot the Arizona representative to US Congress in the parking lot of a grocery store down the street from where I was staying on my way to Mexico. I felt safer riding through rural Mexico last year than downtown Phoenix.

But come on! You're from EnZed. Kiwis are some of the toughest, most fearless travellers I have met. Who else eats muttonburgers and camps on a beach covered in sandflies? Mexico is cake in comparison.

Heck yes, its dangerous to travel on a motorcycle from the US to South America. Anybody that tries to tell you different is deluded. So what? Its a hoot!

Not to say you shouldn't avoid riding through the big Mexican border towns at night when the gang shootouts usually occur. And it would be prudent to avoid the big cities and stick to the rural mellow areas.

As we say in the rural north central US: Buck up buckwheat. (perjorative slang for strength and courage).

P.S. I Love Nelson. It was one of my favorite areas when traveling in NZ. Did a farm stay and spent my time remodeling the farm kitchen instead of working in the orchard in autumn (March). Wired the kitchen lights and plugs. Had to go to the government to get 220 wiring and switchs since they weren't sold commercially in stores. We flip the light switch up to turn it on and you flip the switch down to turn it on. We walk on the right hand side of the sidewalk. You walk on the left. I kept bumping into people until I figured it out. We go around roundabouts counterclockwise. You go around roundabouts clockwise. That nearly killed me. Finally learned to always keep my right shoulder next to the centerline. In fact I think riding on the left in New Zealand is probably more dangerous than riding in Mexico for a slow witted chap like me.

Cheers,
John Downs

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South America and back on a 250 Super Sherpa Minimalist Adventure http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=831076