Anyone in Austin up for a beer?

[magoo]

sbwcbrad74 - No problem! Your comments are well taken and appreciated. If you have time, please shoot me a PM before your next visit as I would enjoy getting together for a few cold ones.

I haven't been to the zona in a while as I have been having much more fun downtown. (Hey, just my personal preference and if anything, BT would probably be a bit safer!) But, I would imagine BT is hurting for lack of business just like everywhere else around here these past weeks. Everyone be safe and check the news reports before traveling so that you are aware of any last minute developments in the area.

 

[lonesome star]

vincenld - Sorry, but I will stick to my post as before.

The website (scrambling to find it, but not found just yet) shows every incident of murder in that area up until June 8th, covering all this year. I wont repeat myself, but they are all specific to what I mentioned before.

I live in Dallas, the violent-crime capital (murder) per capita in the country for the last several years running. I travel to Colombia on a regular basis, and was even married to a colombiana for quite some time. SO maybe I just dont get "phased" by this type of news very easily. I always travel alone and do quality research before going anywhere.

NL, specifically Boystown, is relatively safe for Americanos at this time IMHO. The violence is specifically targeted not to us, but the clash betweenthe varying levels of government. Sure its dangerous if you get caught up on this, otherwise the danger only stays consistent in our dealings with tour guides, street-level drug trade and muggings...just as it always has been.

ANYONE have ANY legitimate news on murders or violent-incidents involving Mongers like us? Nope..cause the smart ones know where to be and when, and what to avoid.

 

[Lorri M]

sbwcbrad74 - With all due respect, you are wrong on this. Stressed out? When I count ten (10) known (published) homicides occurring in less than one week, I think it is cause for concern and also just cause for a warning to potential tourists who intend to come here to have a good time. No different than the past 5 years? Only the drug dealers and people in local government involved in power struggles should be holding their blankets?

3/24/05: NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico – In less than six hours, this raucous border town saw the execution of a convict, a prison riot, the deadly ambush of a Mexican police officer, and a fiery shootout that ended just yards from the U.S. border and sent bystanders scrambling for cover behind telephone poles and concrete walls. By the time it was over, two people were dead and seven injured, Mexican authorities said. "It's not every day that you face enemy fire from the other side of the border," said Laredo police Officer Octaviano "Tony" Rodrيguez, clutching a .45-caliber pistol after a gunbattle erupted near Laredo's International Bridge No. 1.

Laredo and NL are about the same size. The Mexican side population is impossible to confirm as there is no official census. We just had a month's worth of homicides (based on the year to date total of approx. 63) in less than a week. Laredo stood at 13 for the year last time I checked. If you wish to compare to US cities, the NL count is still high.

The police chief who was killed after 9 hours on the job this week gave up his post as a highly respected local businessman to take that position. I am sure the 7 year old daughter who thought she was on her way to school last week will remember the horror of watching her father, a police commander, gunned down in a hailstorm of bullets that morning. Fortunately, she had went back into the house as she had forgotten her school bag or she might no longer be with us. The 3 guys at the neighborhood hotdog stand last week? (2 dead, 1 still in the hospital.) I do not think the hotdog vendor was selling drugs.

Shortly after midnight one day this week I heard rapid-fire gunshots. That's nothing unusual and it never bothers me. This was different, as the sound was too close, followed by scretching tires and then a woman's desperate screams for help. I first saw the woman laying in the street. She had visible bullet wounds and had been run over by the vehicle as it speed away at high speed. The male had multiple wounds and was already dead. I do not know their personal business, but I do know they were coming home from buying tacos. And you know what? After seeing the pain in their faces, I got stressed out. BTW, this is a family neighborhood with 2 schools on the block.

everyone else - Soldiers all over is good. They shoot at the bad guys. Fox sent in 700 federal troups the end of March. In recent years, they would send in the army for the weekend after major problems. You will see them standing on street corners downtown and in residential neighborhoods. This is also good. It's funny, as I have watched the police go from VW Beetles to Nissans and now to new Chevy pickups and Crown Victorias. Most nights you will now see guns mounted in the back of the police pickups.

FYI, the neighborhood around Boystown is bad and there are a lot of drug dealers. So, do travel only on the main streets when coming and going. The bars were "dead" tonight. I have not been to BT lately, but everyone seems to say the crowds and chica count is quite low.

Getting back to my original post, I suggested taking a wait and see look for a few weeks. I think things may get worse in the short term future. I hope I am wrong. When you do make the trip, plan intelligently and watch your back.

 

[sandybars]

I went down over easter weekend and there were soldiers all over the place. I saw two trucks with about 10 soldiers each all with m-16s and when I was in boys town two humvees were patroling around with about 6 soldiers each and get this maned mounted heavy machine guns. That freaked me out a little bit i did also see bullet holes along a wall on the street one block to the left from papaguyos. That was a wierd windy as hell night with like a sandstorm the whole area had an orange red tint to it. I swear to god it looked like something out of the news in Iraq. Incedentely Ive been to BT about 7 times and that night was the worst experience I ever had there. The prices have gone up and the quality of service has gone down. I was very surprised at that expensive new place on the back section. Very expensive but a few smoking hot girls I mean honest to god perfect 10's. If I wanted to pay those prices I could just do that here in Austin and save the drive. I am going to give BT one more try maybe it was just an off night who knows, but if its the same as the last trip then I'm done with the place. I'll be sticking to Costa Rica.

 

[Jen x]

It might be wise to wait a few weeks to go down to see the what, when, and where of the retaliation for this hit.

After that, so long as I won't be caught in the middle of the police and drug dealers, I'll definitely be up for heading down to NL and when I do, I wouldn't mind the company because many gringos are less of a target than one.

First though, I would like to see whether or not any of this plays out near boys town. It seems like, in many places, crime, drugs and prosititution are managed by the same people and if they're looking for those managers, BT might get a little hot for the next few weeks.

I'm not saying it will, I'm just saying it might and a little PFP isn't worth the risk to me. I think I'm going to spend this weekend in my living room under the covers sucking my thumb or if I can find a nice lady up for some fun here, maybe a tit or two.

Holla next time you guys are thinking of going down after July 1 and I'll probably be down for the trip. I hope those of you that go down earlier get some good deals since this might scare a few people like myself off.

On the other hand, someone mentioned Piedras Negras. Isn't that near that reservation gambling too? Is there anyone down for a scouting trip in that direction?

 

[Alex (the chick version)]

Geez...why do you guys get so stressed out because of a little violence? This is no different than being the wrong race, tied up in the wrong bad stuff, living on the wrong side of town in your own American city!!!!!

Look on every website you want, find all the people that have been killed or involved in violent crime (robberies, abductions, ect) in Nuevo Laredo and you will find that 98% of them are Mexican-American and probably tied up in the wrong things, or are in a power struggle of some Governmental form. That leaves the same 2% of US who get involved in problems year after year...no different this year than the last 5....

Your choice, but nothing is changing for me...I'll be sure to post up pics and info about my visits to make you all jealous while sitting skeered in the corner of your living room holding onto your blanket and sucking your thumb! LOLOLOLOLOL

Get real guys..do some research before you try to shy people away from a great country, fun city and lots of bonita chicas who need our money!!!!!!

B.

 

[this kitty needs a hug]

Thanks Vince,
Probably means that most of the chicas have gone away, too.
Wonder about Acuna and Piedras Negras. Reynosa?
Thanks

 

[Nobody.]

Hey guys, you might want to hold off coming down to NL for a few weeks. The new police chief was assassinated only 9 hours into the job. A good source for current info is to go to the Laredo Morning Times website at http://www.lmtonline.com - Go to their advanced search page and type in keywords "nuevo laredo homicide" and tell it to search backwards showing newest dates first.

Just the action you will see from June 2005 should be enough to suggest extreme caution for anyone planning a visit in the near future. I sure hope this will change. 2 people will killed in front of our neighbor's house shortly after midnight this morning in a drive by hit.

 

[Leahs mommy]

LBFM...

I would enjoy it also, even though I usually do it alone its still nice to hang with some otra americanos. Write me (anyone) at the email above and lets get some people together. I dont know about the June dates. I am pretty tied up at work in June and July but may be able to sneak a trip in from Dallas (only 7 hours for me).

Been talking with another guy from this board, so if we plan it...that maybe makes three so far?

B

 

[Wockii]

Miike, Brad, Vince, spy, Pat, Jack and anybody else.
Any chance any of you are going to be around either of the above places/dates?
Been many times by myself, but might be fun to hook up on a monger mission for a change.
Let me know.
Gracias!

 

[mo2k7us]

Just found this board...believe it or not...but been "travelling" for women for many years now! I would consider myself quite comfortable in Mexico, especially Nuevo Laredo...

As for those who are concerned about their safety, I really dont see why it is any worse for us now than it was before (white males, if you are one) because 95% of all this violence occurring to "Americans" there is directed at Mexican-American males and females, mostly because of drug-trafficking power-struggles. There are isolated incidents of quick-kidnappings to take someone to an ATM and empty their account, but not much more. It is best to be safe, avoid the back roads with little traffic (even in Boystown, I 've been shaken-down by local police - not Federales - and a few bucks disappeared so as not to end up in jail for being drunk in public I guess), know the routes to where you are going, take only licensed taxis, avoid discussing "sales" with people who pester you for non-prescription drugs. Really, its safe and not that bad if you know what your doing. I go all the time and hang out in a bar to drink and shoot pool during the day, then go to BT at night!

As for those of you talking about going this month (in June, Takeshi Miike, patman18, spyguy and any lurkers) count me in and write me at sbwcbrad74@yahoo.com. I would love to go and hang out with some other Americanos there...it would be great!!!! First round is on me!!!!

B.

 

[Christ alone]

spyguy - This subject continues to get debated on the various boards. I am a gringo who has lived in NL for around 9 years. Yes, the problems you read about are real. I feel safer here than I would in certain parts of Chicago, Queens, the Bronx, etc. I would be more worried about the safety of our daughters right now if we were living in Florida.

Exercise common sense, don't drink too much, stay away from drugs along with anyone who has them and you should be fine. I may leave town the weekend of the 11th. If you want to shoot me a PM when you firm up your plans I can probably meet up with you to make sure you get to where you are going safely and even buy you a few drinks for your birthday!

 

[manoj d]

I went to NL 2 summers ago, by myself and it was seemed pretty safe. I know since then that there has been some major danger for Americans and others. So has it gotten better? Has anyone gone down there lately and what was it like? I was thinking about going mid-June to celebrate my 40th birthday and I would like to know if maybe I should monger somewhere else.

 

[Nick Nuemann]

Hey TM whats up Im in san marcos I may go to nl this weekend dont know yet. I may have to leave for buisness. e-mail me or post on here


leesbenders@msn.com

 

[Tay B]

I'm new to Austin and while I went down to NL by myself once, it was a bit too sketchy for me to repeat the experience.

Since I know no like minded dudes in town yet and I'd hate to go by myself for mongering as I believe it could be pretty damn dangerous, is anyone up for getting a beer and potentially meeting someone who might be fun to hang out and monger with in NL?

I'll buy you a beer.