In a message dated 02/05/2008 11:12:36 AM Central Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

Boy, am  I envious of your Mexico trip !!!
Looks like you all had a real good  time
overall except for the engine breakdown in AZ.
I was wondering who  got robbed
& what the circumstances were?
I take it, guns cannot be  taken into the country
( and folks would probably be out gunned any way  )
But what can Gringos do to protect them selves?
Protection in numbers  I believe, Stay out of alleys at 3AM
Any words of  wisdom?

John,  it was Ernst who got robbed, well held up by the Mexican Federales as
they  presented themselves.  In Laredo - twice.  He hung around there too
long camping out in the Soriana's parking lot while waiting for his US ~
Canadian auto insurance to be restarted.  He had cancelled it to save $s  while in
Mexico so instead of calling ahead he waits until Laredo and it's a  weekend so
no one's in the office so he decides to camp out in the Sorian's -  BIG
mistake.  He was told by many to NOT HANG AROUND THE BOARDER TOWNS  !    Anyways, my
take on security in Mexico is this:   It's not much different than anywhere
else in the US or Canada.   Behave yourself, act like a human being, don't do
foolish things, don't break  the laws, don't hang around the boarder towns and
you will be just  fine.

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
- Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/exhaust.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June12 ~ 15,  2008