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Tijuana, Mexico vs Medellin (How Long Ago?) = Same?

I just got back from a business trip to Tijuana, Mexico and it is very nasty down there.

I didn't have the pleasure of seeing it but 3 days before the day I arrived, traffic was stopped on a major bridge of the Tijuana River (no water in it), and one of the 2 ruling cartels threw 3 men over the bridge with ropes around their necks. 2 hung, and the third had his rope break. He broke one leg but lived. The bridge is 1 block from a large Tijuana police station with a view of the bridge.

A week before, on a major street in the Otay Mesa part of Tijuana, 16 lay dead after a shoot out between rival drug cartels. I could go on and on but lets just say it is bad in Tijuana.

I survived. Didn't get kidnapped so all is good.

My question is, how does my description above and todays Tijuana compare to the years of danger in Medellin? I watched the Anthony Bourdain, No Reservations show, and the people on the show said is was really bad in Medellin just 5 years ago.

I have enjoyed many of Dmte7's posts (sorry if I got your name wrong). Can anyone else bring some insite as to what Medellin used to be like? Is is like today's Tijuana?

Are there still neighborhoods in Medellin which are "the asasins cradle" or whatever it was called?

If possible, I'd like to hear from people who know about Medellin and lived through it.

Thanks

By taco on Oct 19, 2008, 18:49 in Friendly Talkzone.

taco says on Oct 19, 2008, 19:11:

or still are living through it........?

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feldz0084 says on Oct 19, 2008, 21:26:

google jorge hank and see part of the reason why TJ is a complete dumphole. it has been governed by criminals and thugs. had the pleasure of meeting his nephew during work trip last year in df. made sure to be nice...probably would have gotten whacked right then and there ajja

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utopiacowboy says on Oct 19, 2008, 22:01:

My wife lived in Medellin for 25 years and according to her, even during the Escobar years, it was always "muy tranquilo".

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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lili says on Oct 20, 2008, 08:01:

Well, being a native from TJ and having lived in Medellin for the past three years (although not precisely during the most "dangerous" years in Medellin, but having talked to a lot of colombians) I feel as if the kind of violence one experiences in TJ is very particular. A while ago we all knew that the ones who ended up dead where drug dealers but now this is not so. It is widespread. Drug dealers in TJ "diversify their portfolios" by kidnapping people for ransom and then not returning them to their families, but still demanding the ransom or else they'll go after the rest of the family; something which I have been told drug lords didn't do in Medellin. Also I believe one of the biggest fears in Medellin was bombs, which is not so in TJ. I would venture to guess that being kidnapped or trapped in random cross fire while going to work or school would be the biggest fears in TJ at the moment since (as it has happened) anyone at any moment could be a victim of either one,

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feldz0084 says on Oct 20, 2008, 08:48:

great article in the Times today...99 dead since September 26...more casualties than Baghdad in time period in an area 4times as small. chittttttttt

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L_pie_sah says on Oct 20, 2008, 09:00:

the reason for all the bombing that went on in medellin was cause pablo escobar decleared a war against the government. his bussines was ran by intimidating the people. he once ordered to kill as many police officers as posible. for every cop he would pay about $1,000 dollars. (this was worth a lot more in the 80s). so the bombings were done mostly at police stations that were setup all over the city during the same time to fight the street violence. so everywhere in the city there were bombings or shootings against police. add to all this madness the regular street violence of a latin american city.

this is what i know... im sure theres more. but i dont have much time...

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RUV says on Oct 20, 2008, 09:49:

Feldz,

I was invited to the mayor's wifes birthday party. Big bash. I also meet one of his many sons, he seemed like a spoiled punk. The stories about him being connected to the mob cost him the governer position.

I go down there every once in a while. The worse I experience was police bribes.

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feldz0084 says on Oct 20, 2008, 14:49:

yeah dude he has fokin ZOO in his house!!! i think too they said he shot a couple 50 cent videos in his house.
i dont think its stories haha i think its stuff that really happnd. long story about heading to club with same kid and him not getting in and his bodyguards putting their guns in the bouncers face and saying do you know who with fok this is? some serious chit there. i dunno i just thnk mexico is getting so grimey lately

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rhydewithdis (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 20, 2008, 15:02:

mexico has gone south (no pun intended) in the last 3 years. I'm not sure how much this has to do with Calderon versus the burgeoning drug trade that he inherited along with US backed failed drug policies. Would it have been different right now if AMLO were elected? I wonder...

I lived in El DF at the time of this happening and to see how things have played over the last few years saddens me. The people of Mexico deserve better than this.

Back to OP's inquiry... I think many here have answered this question with much greater insight that I would ever be able to add... on the flip side, one thing that can be said about Colombia is that there is some example in Colombia for Mexico to follow since violence has indeed decreased by many, many times.

They said I couldn't play football I was too small / They say I couldn't play basketball I wasn't tall / They say I couldn't play baseball at all / And now everyday of my life I ball.

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rhydewithdis (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 21, 2008, 06:48:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/20/world/americas/20tijuana.html

Bodies found nearby were the talk of the playground at Valentín Gómez Farías Primary School.

Drug Killings Haunt Mexican Schoolchildren

“They chopped out the tongues,” the boy said, seemingly fascinated by what he saw at the mass-killing scene outside Valentín Gómez Farías Primary School three weeks ago.

“I saw the blood,” offered a classmate, enthusiastically.

“They were tied,” piped in another.

They said I couldn't play football I was too small / They say I couldn't play basketball I wasn't tall / They say I couldn't play baseball at all / And now everyday of my life I ball.

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rhydewithdis (☼Travelguide writer) says on Oct 21, 2008, 10:05:

And just yesterday I was saying that Mexico could learn a thing or two from Colombia, this article comes out today:

http://colombiareports.com/colombian-news/news/1755-mexico-asks-colomb...

Mexico asks Colombia for help in drug war

They said I couldn't play football I was too small / They say I couldn't play basketball I wasn't tall / They say I couldn't play baseball at all / And now everyday of my life I ball.

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nueva york bombero says on Oct 21, 2008, 12:24:

My importing business is based in Mexico. I haven't been down lately, but with all the stories I read about drug violence....I'm in no hurry to ship a container anytime soon!!!

On a different topic, I recieved an email from a very attractive Mexicana in Tijuana. She doesn't speak English, but sounds intelligent. We exchanged a few emails and photos. Now, she wants me to visit. I'm thinking in my head "she's hot, but I'm not going to fucking Tijuana for anyone!!!"

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Tejeringo says on Oct 21, 2008, 13:57:

Any pics ?

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RUV says on Oct 21, 2008, 23:28:

Feld,

There is a story that he had some innocent kid wacked, because he went out with his son's ex.

New Yorker I go to TJ every two months or so. If you do a low profile and watch where you go, you should be fine. To be honest, I feel safer in Medellin then TJ. Send me her contact info, ja ja ja.

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nueva york bombero says on Oct 22, 2008, 04:53:

I just might do that!!! I don't see myself going to Tijuana anytime soon. Especially when it might be a set-up!
You still want that number?

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RUV says on Nov 15, 2008, 17:16:

Sure send it over.

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utopiacowboy says on Nov 16, 2008, 10:48:

"On a different topic, I recieved an email from a very attractive Mexicana in Tijuana. She doesn't speak English, but sounds intelligent. We exchanged a few emails and photos. Now, she wants me to visit. I'm thinking in my head "she's hot, but I'm not going to fucking Tijuana for anyone!!!"

Come on, dude. I went to see my now wife in Medellin when it was not "muy tranquilo". Best thing I ever did.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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BillBigD says on Nov 16, 2008, 11:12:

Mexico bordertowns stay away right now.

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