With a switch of a button or a tap on a screen you are able to see the world in front of you and how it is forever changing. Then we are filtered with a new topic of discussion or a new trend that we never thought could be real. Then suddenly…. BOOM! A tragedy hits and now we see a country attacking one another other. So each morning you wake up and see the same events as if you are living a never ending day. In today’s media we are only suppose to notice the bad and how this world is spiraling into a deep abyss that were are unable to climb out of.
What they don’t want us to realize is that good can be found everywhere you just have to look. Puebla is one of the safest cities in Mexico and I will be showing you what the media doesn’t want you to see. Crime varies widely any place, any time, any where or that is what were are supposed to believe by what the media shows. Armed robberies, kidnappings, car thefts, credit card fraud, and various forms of residential/street crime will always be a daily concerns for the public. With these crimes happening on a daily basis there is a low rate of criminal convictions which contributes to the high crime rate.
Although there is no pattern of criminals specifically targeting foreign or American businesses or personnel, criminals will target anyone or anything that has any value. Victims are selected based on an appearance of wealth, vulnerability, or a lack of awareness. Although Mexico employs strict gun-control laws, criminals are usually armed with handguns or knives (Mexico 2015 Crime and Safety Report: Mexico City). Millions of people mostly Americans travel, live, and work, in Mexico every year; however, organized criminal groups continue to produce significant levels of violence throughout the country.
This type of organized crime is common in many areas of Mexico. The northern half of Mexico is considered a higher “threat area” which is basically due to organized criminal conflicts and drug trafficking to the U. S. In recent statistics, it is starting to show that violence is on the rise in central and southern states; Guerrero, Michoacan, and the State of Mexico. One common act is for gangs to charge ‘protection fees’ or add their own tax to products and services with the threat of violence for those who fail to pay.
Others will threaten state level administrators and any other officials into accepting their corrupt practices. Many injustice acts such as beheadings, lynching, and torture are some of the displays of violence as well as high numbers of forced disappearances have become routine occurrences in various parts of the country (Mexico 2015 Crime and Safety Report: Mexico City). After reading through that you are probably think why on earth would I even like to leave the safety of my own home? Well from latest Travel Warning which was provided by the U. S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs dated August 15th, 2014 talks about in great detail the dangers in Mexico.
Reading through the article it only mention cities like Monterrey, Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Acapulco, Cuernavaca, Oaxaca, Guadalajara, etc. and it excludes Puebla from any travel warning. Which we should remeber stated in the previous paragrph tht is only the major cities the media like to show. With that being said, I have choosen a quote from Antonio Prado will help make you look at things a little differently, “One way is to compare Puebla to San Antonio, Texas both of these cities with similar population.
In this comparison we find out that Puebla has the lower homicide rate. ” Puebla was in the top 10 cities in the world that should be visited by National Geographic Magazine. Lonely Planet readers named Puebla as one of the top 10 cities in the world to visit for 2012 and The New York Times names Puebla #13 on the list of the cities in the world that you should visit for 2012 (Spanish Language School). All these publications can not be wrong and if they were, why would such popluar magazines which we considered part of media to recommend such a dangerous city to visit?
Roads and highways are used by many and the quality of road markings, signage, and street lighting is inconsistent. A common accident would be involving heavy trucks or buses because of their common use on the highways, especially near urban areas with high volumes of commercial traffic. To reduce the risk of encountering criminal activity and accidents, you are strongly urged to travel only during daylight hours, to use main highways and toll roads wherever possible, and to avoid isolated roads.
Tourist should travel by intercity bus only during daylight hours and only by first-class transportation whenever and as much as possible. Even though there has been several reports of bus hijackings and robberies on toll roads, buses on toll roads experience a lower rate of incidents than buses that consist of second- and third-class, that travel on less secure highways (Puebla State, Mexico). Plus we shouldn’t forget about traveling through the air, there is plenty of air connections within Mexico, and the Embassy recommends that its employees fly, rather than drive, to many destinations.
Tourist should be familiar with the saftey department’s latest travel warning for Mexico and also recognize that crime can occur in any place and at any time. By following the next few tips you should be able to have a fun and safe time. First maintain a low profile basically, don’t advertise the fact that you are not from around. Dress casually and make sure to keep valuables out of sight. Valuable items are the first time a criminal will look for in deciding if you’re a worthy target or not. Second jazz up your routine, make unpredictable movements.
You can also change up your routes from home to the office as well as as leisure activities. While making difference in your routine make sure you stay alert. Make note of any individual who appears out of place along your routes to regularly planned activities. Third be alert to your surroundings, so to continue with what | have stated previously but also minimize valuables and don’t carry a large amount of money while in crowded areas. While traveling out into town or around the city take note of all the items you have on your person and also the ones you bring.
So if we take a step back and stop listening to the media or always focusing on the bad we can see the good. No matter where you go there will always be a conflict or something that stops you in your tracks, but that doesn’t make it a dangerous place. Not everything you hear, see or read will be true. So now it is time we start listening to facts and stop living with what we call reality. Puebla is not dangerous as many people think it is, because of the state being in Mexico. So give it a chance and start a new adventure, you will never know how amazing something is till you try it.
