Ok so I guess this might be one of my first controversial kind of rant posts. I've tried to sprinkle some of my personal thoughts into posts in the past. We are almost ready to hit the road again and a lot has come to mind. Especially when seeing the links posted below...
The first question most people ask us about sailing through Mexico is "Aren't you scared of violence, drug cartels, and pirates?" When we look at them puzzled, after having an instant flash back of a happy moment in paradise, and say "no, not at all".
I would like to confirm that I am completely proud to be an American before I share these bits of American stupidity and violence to those who are "scared" to travel to 3rd world countries, let alone out of their everyday "comfort-zone". Where the majority of civilians live peacefully and consciously of their family's simple means of survival, while also helping their small community and neighbors along the way. Where people grow, gather, and hunt/fish for their own meals. Where people adapt to the climate and the outdoors because they are mammals that need to survive. Where stores consist of a simple market with ONE option of each necessity. Where if you don't dwell on the dramatic negatives of violent people, keep your nose out of their business, you should be safe. I feel that when people live like this, it makes them more conscious of SURVIVAL... Is that not Humans ultimate goal here on Planet Earth? I find that these "scary" people are immediate to lend a hand, a meal, a beer, some water, or even encouragement to strangers.
Personally I think that a dark alley way in any US city in the middle of the night is MORE dangerous than anywhere that we have wandered through in our travels. But now, just being an innocent by-stander seems equally as sketchy. Be safe, have fun, wise-up, keep it clean, re-use shit. While you're with your family and friends this holiday season, it's nice to have conversations about the world around us. Please try to MAKE people's gifts with your hands, purchase USED items that are perfectly fine to RE-USE, don't compulsively by something for someone because "you think they'd like it" and it's "a good deal".
Being back here in America this summer, it was a drastic comparison and culture shock. I am not saying that everyone in America is a poor sport about life. Again, I am proud to be an American. Even if you don't "watch the News" it's still pumped into your brain here more than you could ever imagine. Being out on the open water in a desolate area of a "not so fortunate" country I had zero influence of this. It wasn't until us coming back to our "more fortunate" country that we were bombarded with information on murders, kidnappings, shootings, bombings, and robberies. It's just when you see the way "others" view "us" from the outside looking in..."we" need to wake up and smell the dog shit that's lying all around us. It can't be hidden forever by shoving a cell phone in your face, a high definition reality show, blaming "the Government", or by following someone else's drama.
Here's just a few examples of disgusting links that I found during ONE cup of morning coffee in America...enjoy.
Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4
I suggest working hard, saving your money in cash form, and traveling to places you may think aren't "safe". Isn't that how America was formed? Use your ancestors guts and get out there, you'd be surprised at what's really going on.
local water purification.
extremely cheap, local job, family run.
my mother and father admit that it tastes better than American premium bottled water.
clean neighborhoods.
HAND swept. each person just sweeps their portion of the side-walk, drive-way, and street.
i DID find bullet holes in cement walls in this town.
out of gas.
getting a ride with three complete and foreign strange men through marijuana green houses.
i'm still here typing this aren't i?
they do have cell phones, electricity, tv...
wandering foreign junk yards for boat and motor parts.
Chuy (chewey) who most would have thought would have been a homeless man. He helped us prepare our boat for the worst of sailing conditions, mapped out secret hazards on our charts, and blessed us with his giving charm. In return we gave him useful things for his family and had him enjoy lunch with us.
Posada Bob fully opened his doors to us. Multiple meals at his home, rides into town, he even bought us an SUV's trunk full of groceries!
I do carry a knife "just incase" at all times. Thus far in my travels, I've only had to use it as a tool. Guns are an awful idea to carry international, so no we do not have guns on our boat. We do have protection from burglars and animals alike.
If you find this post RUDE or opinionated, then buy me a beer and we can chat it out. I have an open mind.
I would like to, once again, thank ALL of our friends and family, near and far, that support us through our travels; along with everyone we have met along the way. We would not be out here bouncing around the world with out their continued love and support. I hope this post does not touch people in a negative way, but just prove that we are confident in our safety. Honestly our answer to the "Aren't you scared" question is... "Yes, we are scared of the unpredictable weather and the strength of the Sea."
