[quote author="graphrix" date=1258564870]You all have been living in Irvine for way too long. Bunch of pansies. And to my NW friend, you just lost your man card. Not only are you afraid of Baja, but you mention your tea time (that ain't even golf related), so you totally deserve to lose your man card. I love the talk of the "old" road vs. the "new" road... LOL, that was so 30 years ago. Everyone takes the "new" road. If you take the "old" road then you are lost. I've actually been lost on the "old" road and never had a problem. Seriously, if you live in SoCal you know several people who have been to Baja several times, so do you know anyone... ever who has had a problem? Anyone? Just one... I know I'm shooting in the dark here, but if problems were so wide spread we would know someone who has had a problem. We know someone who has been in a retail store in Irvine that has been jacked, so someone here must know someone who has had to pay off the Mexican authorities or been in jail, right? Anyone been carjacked in LA? Well... you have just as high a chance to get jacked in someway in Baja as you do getting carjacked in LA.
Yes, you need a passport. I will ask my Mexican (yes, I can call him Mexican because he is and proud of it) neighbor if there are any problems for gringos down there. He has a nice ocean view place right above the Lazy-Boy founders. Go there, enjoy the culture, have some lobster, eat off a taco stand, but don't buy the "multa" the chef will sell you. Chill, have a good time at the beach, take an ATV through the sand and para-sail if the weather permits. Do not listen to the sissies of IHB and live a little. Bring cash, just in case you are the 1 in 1,000,000,000 who gets F'd with. Then if you do go to jail, ask them for internet access and PM me, and I will see what I can do with my connections. Laugh you sissies, but I have a long story of how I was at a party in Mexicali that had a policia escort for the kegs of beer.</blockquote>
My future wife wanted to go, so I went. You want to pull my man card, Mr. MyLittlePony? You better bring a flash light, some friends, and some dinner because it's going to get dark, you're going to need help, and I'm going to get hungry. I drove to Ensenada when I was 18 with three friends, in a used Caprice, with nothing more than $23 and a carton of smokes between us. I went back to Tijuana two months later and got blind drunk with a girl I met in Huntington Beach that morning, and I worked shrimp boats in Mazatlan that fall for room and board and booze. We spent our honeymoon in PV and Cabo and had a great time.
However, back when I was 18-19 people weren't <a href="http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html">getting kidnapped in Mexico City</a>, nor were there <a href="http://wcbstv.com/national/tijuana.mexico.gunfight.2.709600.html">running gun battles between drug gangs</a> in the border towns, or <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/02/01/20090201algodones0201.html">police detaining octogenarians for taking pictures</a>. When we went on our honeymoon, we took a cruise ship and stayed with our groups and guides. What I was willing to risk at 19 becomes impossible to risk at 39. Is Mexico a wonderful country with rich history, great beaches, and a wonderful culture... certainly. Is it run by corrupt politicians, patrolled by corrupt cops, and overrun by human traffickers, drug lords, and violent criminals? You'd have to ignore current events to think otherwise. The problem may not be as bad in Rosarito, but the problem is getting there and back, isn't it?