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Safety

General:
See the US Dept of State Travel Warning for Mexico.  This is a change from the long-standing Mexico Travel Alert, reflecting recent attacks on US Embassy officials and their family. 

Travel Warnings are issued to describe long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable. A Travel Warning is also issued when the U.S. Government's ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff.

We note that the warning is in two parts, the first regards family members of US Embassy employees and the second part is to travellers in general.  The travel warning applies specifically to three Mexican states: Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua, which are not adjacent to Tijuana. 

While this indicates that the danger in our travel to Estado 29 along the western edge of the state of Baja California should present no more danger than in the past, we encourage every individual to decide for themselves what level of threat they are willing to encounter.

We take the normal precautions that any traveler should take:

  • we travel in groups whenever possible - multiple cars caravan together
  • we travel in ordinary vehicles- no special markings or logos
  • we don't get lost easily - our drivers know how to get to Estado 29 without following anyone, checking maps or asking for directions
  • we travel directly to the orphanage and then directly home, we don't allow side-trips
  • we pass quickly around Tijuana in the company of many other US and Mexican vehicles
  • we use well-traveled roads (toll road 1-D and highway 3) and travel only in daylight
  • we do not carry cash or valuable goods.  All funds are sent prior to our trip by bank wire-transfer.
Military Checkpoints:
We normally encounter military checkpoints on the trip.  These checkpoints are now heavily manned by the Mexican military, wearing their fatigues with their semi-automatic weapons.  There has been no reason to be worried at these checkpoints.  They are primarily looking for drugs and weapons.  If we are stopped, we explain where we've been and they have always waved us on our way.  If one of our vehicles is stopped, the rest will wait just ahead for them to catch up.
 
Sometimes they wear black stocking face masks.  We assume that this is to protect their identity for concern of vengeance attacks by those who might identify them.  They are engaged a vicious battle and many police have been murdered for it.  
 
One humorous incident: many years ago we we're stopped and our vehicle was thoroughly inspected by one of the soldiers.  When asked why, he answered "because my boss is watching!".  
 
The stakes are much higher now but they are always very polite.