The Underrated Country
I love Mexico. The more I travel here, the more at peace I become. Two minutes after taking this photo the other evening
I was seated on one of those red stools in the upper right, eating street tacos with the locals. I was the only Guero - pronounced Huero (slang for white boy) in sight.
There is something about the experience of a shared meal, even among strangers. Nobody gave me a second look, they just wanted to eat. There was a low buzz of conversation that I didn't understand, like the white noise of a fan. Soothing.
Mexico is a highly underrated country.
When people learn of my adventure, somewhere in their first sentence is, “Be safe.” When I count, I realize I have been to Mexico more than a dozen times. I have never once felt unsafe. I have been to the deserts of La Paz and Cabo, the jungles of Merida, the warm beaches of Zihuatanejo and Cancun, and the rainforest of Mexico City. Mexico has something to offer everyone: big cities, small villages, beach towns, high priced all-inclusives, or hostel beds for a few dollars a night.
The key to staying safe in Mexico?
Don’t be an asshole.
Occasionally you hear about kidnappings, assaults, and murders. The media loves to portray Mexico as a dangerous place. Nearly every single I’ve delved into the story behind the headline, the “victim” was out at a bar or club until all hours of the night, engaged in questionable behavior.
Stay away from the Big Three: Drugs, Alcohol, and Hookers. Some people seem to think Mexico is the place you go to engage in debauchery without the fear of consequence.
Stay out until 3am, get so drunk you can barely walk, talk shit to the locals, act stupid towards their women; you’re going to have a problem. Fuck around and find out.
You are just as likely, if not more likely, to get rolled in the U.S. if you engage in similar behavior. Mexicans are way more patient with gringos, than gringos are with Mexicans.
Be respectful. Be humble. Have a great time and let your hair down. Smile a lot. Mexicans are super hospitable and love to show folks a good time. Enjoy everything Mexico has to offer. Great nightlife, museums, architecture, culture.
Then take your ass back to your room and go to sleep.
Maybe get some more street tacos first.