patrick.net

Ceffer says

Around San Diego, a lot of people I met went across the border for drugs they can get openly and, of course, the brothels and bars. I wouldn't go into a Mexican bar unless dragged in chains.

My last trip from SD to Mexico was just before covid. Right after we got past the last guards holding machine guns where the taxis are there was blood all over the ground. Lots and lots of blood.

The taxi drivers had assassinated an uber driver for moving in on their turf. We took a taxi.

Ceffer says

I wouldn't go into a Mexican bar unless dragged in chains.

Used to go all the time. There was a group of bars across from Plaza Rio(the mall), call Plaza de Zapatos, or more commonly "La Plaza". Great local bands, good variety of rock(one place played exclusively 80's American/European rock). Has since been turned into a food and craft beer area, and while the food and drink have improved, the dancing and music have not...

Its interesting when americans talk about their experiences in Mexico, it always revolves around tourist traps and resort areas...never about spending several months in a small town when there isn't a gringo to be found, no english on TV, no american products, and people live a simple humble life. Where you have to integrate with Mexicans. It would be like a chinaman going to the USA and spending all his time in SF Chinatown. Or a foreigner with money spending his vacation in Las Vegas and at Disneyland.

komputodo says

Its interesting when americans talk about their experiences in Mexico, it always revolves around tourist traps and resort areas...never about spending several months in a small town when there isn't a gringo to be found, no english on TV, no american products, and people live a simple humble life

That's true of 95% of any tourist going anywhere.

When I went to Paris for work, I avoided the American hotel, I walked to work, and on my time off I wandered the city. When I went to Australia I went to Canberra and hung out at local bars for 2 weeks. I'm originally from NY but have lived in Colorado, Boston, Indiana, and am now in Silly Con Valley. I have never been to Alcatraz, I've never bee in the Statue of Liberty or Empire State building or the WTC towers (old or new).

The best part about being in a new place is experiencing the culture of that place. I don't know why people travel a couple hundred or thousand miles just to meet other Americans and/or tourists.

richwicks says

When I went to Paris for work, I avoided the American hotel,

I hear what you are saying but how about taking it a few steps further...You got to france and spend several months in a small farming community where nobody speaks english. You dont go there to work, you go there just to experience how the common folk live in "FRANCE" . Where your skills as a coder or investment banker or whatever have much less value than that of a person that can get a broken down car running or fix a washing machine. Things that are important to common folk. Not many people actually try that.

komputodo says

You dont go there to work, you go there just to experience how the common folk live in "FRANCE" . Where your skills as a coder or investment banker or whatever have much less value than that of a person that can get a broken down car running or fix a washing machine. Things that are important to common folk. Not many people actually try that.

I'd just be useless there.

I'd rather go to a small town in nowheresville in the United States. I grew up in one.

People would be at first "WTF are you here city slicker?" and would over time wouldn't be bothered. I know how to handle them and blend in. Also, I wouldn't display any arrogance at all - that's a HUGE mistake. It's always fun to walk into a bar in a small town to hear the entire bar go silent because you're unknown - because you're expected to be recognized.

In France I'd be recognized to be a tourist, in a small town, they'd have no idea why I'm there. There's enough unique cultures here.

Also, I don't watch television or listen to the radio, so that hardly changes it for me and my french sucks, and I don't want to struggle with it for several months.

richwicks says

I'd rather go to a small town in nowheresville in the United States. I grew up in one.

Just make sure there are no banjo players on the porch.

Patrick says

I have to say that seems true to me. I studied in Austria for a year and Germany for another year. The Germans may not be into fun like the Italians are (and Austrians are basically German whether they admit it or not). The Swiss are definitely more German than the Germans, though they would not admit that either.

The Dutch, oddly, are a lot of fun, though linguistically very close to the Germans.

The Dutch can't stand the Germans.

Ceffer says

Just make sure there are no banjo players on the porch.

You're looked upon with some suspicion in a small town, but if you don't give them a bunch of attitude and arrogance, you'll be fine.

Just like there's the "Ugly American" - there's just the "Ugly Out Of Towner".

A few years ago a bunch of smart asses from NYC went to a place called Oniontown in NY - it's just a typical small town, with a bizarre name. Assholes decided to make fun of hte people there, and got their asses kicked.

Having been in both environments, I understand both. People who live in the city, in a tiny house, amid a ton of pollution with a nice car somehow think they are superior to somebody that lives in an expansive house with 30 acres of land, because they drive a jalopy. It's entirely different mindsets. The guy in the little town often has a boat, an RV, and a few ATV toys as well.

Television is a powerful influence on how people should dress, and act, and what sort of shit they ought own. People in smaller towns - television is for sports, for the kids and that's about it so they aren't quite as propagandized. This is why Trump got elected actually. People are less effected by the federal government though, so they pay less attention to it. Also, military is looked as an escape to get out of the place, and an honorable thing to do. You have no idea what sort of damage Trump has done to their illusion about how great our institutions are.

When the phrase "useless eater" is brought up - I don't know how people who use that phrase think of it, but believe me, the useless eaters are in the suburbs and cities. If China just stopped shipping shit to us - people would whine and moan, but the nation would get by no problem. Now if fly over country stopped shipping shit to us, we're dead within 6 months. If flyover country ever revolts, they'll easily win.

komputodo says

Its interesting when americans talk about their experiences in Mexico, it always revolves around tourist traps and resort areas.

Well I for one have often lived near or on the border. But I've also spent time in Guanajuato and Irapuato. It's been 20 years since then though. Last trip back just before I got into the car for the 18hr drive back I stepped in the biggest pile of dog shit I've ever seen. Warm and wet as well.

So I drove home with 1 shoe.

I would not be surprised if someone used that shoe and paired it with a mismatch.

All of the big cities of the word are more similar to each other than any of them are to their own rural areas only 100 miles away.

Sometimes I enjoy zooming in on Bing maps (I don't use Google for anything, ever). Anyone know a better set of world satellite maps?

Anyway, it's fun to just zoom in on all the weird geographical features and the little towns. You can kind of get a feel for how people live.

tanked says

The Dutch can't stand the Germans.

"Switzerland possesses the most disgusting and miserable people and political system. The Swiss are the mortal enemies of the new Germany." (c) Adolf

One interesting tidbit is the street layout in traditional Mexican cities, which are not like our towns which followed the Western design, or really Roman setup.
This is a grid pattern, which is what La Paz has originally.
It’s clear that the builders of La Paz were European and used that city pattern.
Newer parts of La Paz have strange sections with only a couple streets which enter and exit a labyrinth, this is the ancient indigenous Mexican pattern.
This does create a village feel however.
I have 3 friends who live in the relatively newer sections of La Paz, and I frequently have extreme difficulty finding their places although I have actually visited them.

I used to drive all over Baja without a passport even. No real issues ever. Even going out of free zone south of la bufadora.

Another Mexican tidbit is how they “pledge allegiance” in official meetings.
This may make you laugh.

keeprubbersidedown says

I used to drive all over Baja without a passport even. No real issues ever. Even going out of free zone south of la bufadora.

Baja doesn't require a passport, only if you cross into mainland Mexico.

clambo says

Another Mexican tidbit is how they “pledge allegiance” in official meetings.
This may make you laugh.

LITERALLY HITLER!!!

clambo says

Another Mexican tidbit is how they “pledge allegiance” in official meetings.

That's because it's based on Communism. Ours is too, but they dropped the salute when the Nazi's came around. Also same time Eugenics movement rebranded.

clambo says

“Mexicans are racist and they will constantly try to fuck with you because you are American.”.

their are american shit Stores that Sell Mexican Shit all Day, and import it by the ton to Americans who think this shit is expensive because its made by Mexican "Artists" for $10.00 a day in wages.. it's bad enough that Fender guitars are made there....Let them pound Terra Cotta... cut my frickin grass, build cigarette Lighter adapters, and wash the fucking dishes....
Next time you are in Barberville, go see Florida's Largest OutDoor Collection of Mexican Crap... acres of crap..

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nginx/1.18.0

Over the course of my life, I have only been repeatedly mistreated by one group of people.

Blacks

It mostly happened during a period of my life when I was taking public transportation on a daily basis.