2011 Summer Vacation/Ep. 47.2: Matamoros, MX

[ComputerJA]

I'm from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, and yes, there's hardly anyone that can actually speak English. The only stores that I know for a fact that have workers who can actually speak English are those near the bridge, which are the main tourist attractions. Beyond that, who knows.

Anyways, hope you had a great time at Matamoros.

[401RoadWarrior]

@ComputerJA I tried to talk to some ppl in that gas station also in that pretty large supermarket, not much luck, and yes, they were looking at me a kind of weird, like I was from a far away out of space unknown planet LOL I was holding my canadian passport, PROUDLY, to show them where I'm from, in case they had not too friendly feelings towards americans, other than that no issues whatsoever. BTW, was I illegal driving w/o MX insurance on board? Not that I had any worry in that department. LOL

[ComputerJA]

@401RoadWarrior

I'm not so sure, but I think you can drive without a MX insurance. As long as you pay damages if you have an incident, you'll be fine. There's no law that enforces insurance in every car, like there is in the U.S., as far as I know.

[401RoadWarrior]

@ComputerJA TYVM for the reply, in Matamoros no big deal w/o MX insurance, but by what I've been reading on the Internet as soon as you leave that sort of "buffer" zone, 20-30 miles south of the ENTIRE border, Tijuana to Matamoros, you must stop for the MX Police where they direct you to the immigration area where, among other things, must pay MX (travel or car?) insurance, cannot avoid MX checkpoints, so if I intend on driving to Monterrey, somewhere south of Matamoros a MX checkpoint, right?

[ComputerJA]

@401RoadWarrior

Yes, you're right on the insurance thing. Be very careful. I'll suggest to ask a professional for more info if you plan to travel more down south.

Actually, Monterrey is west of Matamoros, about three hours. You have to go through Reynosa, and you'll probably have to stop in several checkpoints.

[michael112254]

You said you did not buy anything in Mexico. Did you not eat or drink anything in Mexico the whole time you were there? I was wondering what the food was like over there? What type of products did you see at the supermarket as compared to what is offered in the US. Did you ever figure out what the price of gas was in Mexico? They sell it in liters. I read somewhere that the Mexican government keeps the price of fuel artificially low and it is not sold at the world price like in the US.

[401RoadWarrior]

@michael112254 No tengo dinero, Michael, ningun pesos a Mejico, just driving around, also got inside some local stores, tried to talk to some locals, exchange impressions, why not, right? no luck, got some weird looks when I was asking some humble questions in english so at one point I just gave up, see you later alligator, right? LOL In that gas station in the video, nobody was able to tell me how much is their gas (in pesos on the pump) in $ per gallons. No private gas stations in MX.

[michael112254]

@401RoadWarrior I was in Europe in 1996 for my only trip to the Old World. We went to Germany, Italy, Austria and Slovenia. I had no problem communicating with anyone over there in these countries. Many, if not most people, spoke English. The Mexican educational system is the culprit. If they did not speak English, they quickly found someone who did speak English. I did not receive any receive any weird looks. Everyone tried to be helpful. They understood the value of good customer service.

[michael112254]

The trouble here is that most of what we get in immigration, legal and illegal, from Mexico are not the educated, winners and ambitious, but the poorly educated and unskilled. This has been going on before Obama. Obama is continuing the policies that have been around since the 1970's. Both political parties want new voters and cheap labor at the expense of American workers. What did you see as far as border security and what did you feel about its effectiveness. What about your return to US.

[michael112254]

It is amazing that so few Mexican can speak English. Mexico really blew it. When huge reserves of oil were discovered in Mexico in the late 1970's and early 1980's, they did not spend the money on building an educational system. Other oil-rich nations did a better job in preparing their societies with decent educational systems. I would bet that many of these Mexicans only have rudimentary literacy skills, let alone English language skills. It did not sound like they even wanted to help.

[401RoadWarrior]

@michael112254 Few educated, Michael, maybe in big cities things are different, Mexico City or Monterrey for instance, but on the country side, poor ppl everywhere. But who cares about Mexico, they have America just across the border, free education, free healthcare (medicaid), free citizenship for their kids if born on american soil (what a STUPID law, everybody takes advantage of it), sanctuary cities, signs in english AND spanish, stupid again, so why would they stay in MX?

[Derham43]

Looks like you had a great time in Matamoros. The last time (and only time) I visited Matarmoros was in the late 90's. My son was the only person who could speak Spanish but we had a great time. I still to this day have souveniers that were purchased from that trip. We didn't drive across the border as my insurance coverage would not allow it. Great video indeed!

[401RoadWarrior]

@Derham43 Sorry but I don't understand: "The last time (and only time) I visited Matarmoros was in the late 90's" & "We didn't drive across the border as my insurance coverage would not allow it." So how did you get to Matamoros?

You don't need any MX insurance to drive within a 20-mile "buffer" (touristic) zone, only if you decide to go deeper south you will have to stop at some special MX checkpoints and purchase MX insurance.

Not in a million times to drive in that place after dark!

[Derham43]

@401RoadWarrior

We drove to Brownsville. Then we walked across the border into Matamoros. From there we then Taxied to various shopping markets while in Matamoros.

[401RoadWarrior]

@Derham43 Sure, got it now, now u know that u don't need any MX insurance if u stay within that 20-30 miles "buffer" zone. But true, my car insurance coverage is valid in CDA & USA, same for American drivers, the only risk is when YOU hit a MX car in MX, so u at fault, but if u know how 2 drive that will never happen so, again, no need of MX insurance for driving within 20-30 miles south of the border.

Dec '01 I drove over to Tijuana, personal car as well, no MX insurance as well.

[Westcoast802]

I have never seen a "trailer" like that one on 03:00 before. The truck with the couch also didn't take it toooooooo much serious with the load securing.But the craziest thing was the man who read the news paper in the middle of the multilane road. I think how could he do this while the vehicles are whizzing by? Pretty impressive and BTW great video.

Michael

[401RoadWarrior]

@Westcoast802 Different culture, Michael, and yes, Mexico IS a pretty poor country regardless of what you might see in the video or on TV. That's the ONLY reason ~15 million illegals in the States, no political issues (aka dictatorship) in MX, just poor ppl who take advantage of a damn unsecured border to try their luck... in changing your own country.

2 more videos on Mexico, uploaded next days, before getting back to the States.

Glad you like the videos.

Enjoy the weekend.

Chris

[Westcoast802]

@401RoadWarrior Yeah I know, in the States illegal immigrantion is a great theme, that's the problem when a rich country borders to a poor.I personally HATE those who immigrate in a country and then become criminal, smear walls, destroy public property and stuff like that. I got no problem with immigrants who learn the language, culture, integrate themself, easily good people who deserve it. Like the motto: "The goods can stay, the bad ones should go away"

[401RoadWarrior]

@Westcoast802 "I got no problem with immigrants who learn the language, culture, integrate themself" When u come from a country with a culture so different than the one in the States (CDA as well) is almost impossible 2 fully integrate (assimilate) into the local society, and I'm talking about honest mexicans, no criminal activity, they simply have no connection with the traditional American culture, that's it. Plus, lots of them consider the S-W USA as stolen from their motherland, Mexico..

[Westcoast802]

@401RoadWarrior Yeah, you know what I mean, it's not easy to discribe such a complicated theme in 500 signs. It's OK that they have their own culture, it's a part of them, I only ment it should not be so that all immigrants (in that case mexicans) are living in a city, town, district, apartment block or whatever, that when you come in as a non-mexican and then they are all looking at you with crooked eyes that you feel like "Are I'm still in America?"

I wish you also a great weekend

Michael

[401RoadWarrior]

@Westcoast802 "you know what I mean" Of course, Michael. Well, up here in CDA you go to any store, supermarket like Wal-Mart and everything in english only (I guess french in Quebec only), no other languages other than english at any fast food restaurant, go also to your AutoZone or other auto parts retailer and you see signs in english AND spanish, so Michael, businesses are also part of the problem, they put their own profit above the traditions of America, no such thing in CDA, yet.