I was on a little trip lately, a combination of business and pleasure. Those are usually the best trips. Pure pleasure tends to get distracting to me and I need something solid for my brain to work with. Not something that is easy to do in a hot tub or during a full body massage.
I was out of contact for days at a time while traveling, missed a lot of important news and have been asked to develop a current update on the Mumbai situation and its implications for one of the entities in my region. I will post that once I finish it and turn it in. It is only fair to allow the guy paying for it to have the first look.
During my trip I can honestly say that I learned a few things. Mexico is dangerous in many places, but it seems that the tourist areas are safe from the war. I need to find a way to carry a weapon if I go back in the next year or two, however, because I saw little security things that worried me. Anyone have suggestions on how to do that? The US-Mexican border is pretty tight for things like that.
I also learned that Jamaica is getting scary. The tourist areas are beautiful and fairly secure, but to get to those enclaves, one has to fight his way past some really scary crowds of people. If people is a good word for them. Within minutes of arriving, one can be offered most major types of drugs. The police patrols just make the dealers hide the bags behind their backs for a few minutes and then they return to normal. Only one of the police patrols seemed interested in stopping the drugs and I will not mention the guys name because I want him to keep up the good work without any undue interference from his more lackadaisical brethren. I am going to try to avoid any contact with Jamaica until they crack down on the drugs and crime and suggest you do the same. I heard that some cruise lines are going to avoid the island starting next year because of the crime committed against their passengers.
My rest was in Grand Cayman, which was a wonderful and relaxing place. Medical care is up to Western European standards, which are not American, but close enough to trust. If I ever get sick in the Caribbean I will find a way to get there for my care.
To sum up, avoid most of Mexico and all of Jamaica! They are not nice places anymore. The drugs and crime are getting completely out of hand. If you want to head to the islands for a vacation, there are plenty of other places to go and I can personally recommend Cayman. I will return there soon.
