Mexico's Unknowns
Friday, April 3, 2009
Mexico... The place to party. It's the perfect destination to relax on the beach, barter with locals, drink tequila, and get a tan. For the most part, Mexico is considered a fairly safe place to visit if you will be in the safety of an all inclusive resort. This was the attitude of Pamela Woods, just 3 months ago, on her trip to Mexico which was drastically different than she expected.
I dont want to be costing the resort all kinds of money and give them a bad reputation, so I will keep the name of the resort confidential. But what I will tell you is the story of Pamela Woods.
Pam is a family girl, as she is married to a nice doctor, and has 2 wonderful daughters. Her life went in a spin 3 months ago, during her visit to an all inclusive resort in http://www.mymexicotravelguide.com mexico. One of her daughers, and her husband, drove down from canada, to meet the other daughter and herself at the resort. All was well when the family was together again, but the second evening of mexico wasn't so spectacular.
Pamela Woods, mother of 2, was beaten and raped on the shores of the resort, by a local mexican around 7:30pm. She left her sandals at the beach that afternoon, and remembered to go and get them after dinner. When she didn't come back to the room, the kids and husband began to panic.
The threesome set out in search for her, and found her lying on the beach, bloody, bruised, and naked. This was a devistating trip for the Woods family.
This story is not supposed to be a scary or disgusting, it is intended to inform you tourists of the threats that are there, even in a 5 star resort. I'm not saying "Stay away from mexico", because it can be a fun time just take into consideration that the worst CAN happen, and it did to Pam Woods. Travel together, and never go out alone.
I dont want to be costing the resort all kinds of money and give them a bad reputation, so I will keep the name of the resort confidential. But what I will tell you is the story of Pamela Woods.
Pam is a family girl, as she is married to a nice doctor, and has 2 wonderful daughters. Her life went in a spin 3 months ago, during her visit to an all inclusive resort in http://www.mymexicotravelguide.com mexico. One of her daughers, and her husband, drove down from canada, to meet the other daughter and herself at the resort. All was well when the family was together again, but the second evening of mexico wasn't so spectacular.
Pamela Woods, mother of 2, was beaten and raped on the shores of the resort, by a local mexican around 7:30pm. She left her sandals at the beach that afternoon, and remembered to go and get them after dinner. When she didn't come back to the room, the kids and husband began to panic.
The threesome set out in search for her, and found her lying on the beach, bloody, bruised, and naked. This was a devistating trip for the Woods family.
This story is not supposed to be a scary or disgusting, it is intended to inform you tourists of the threats that are there, even in a 5 star resort. I'm not saying "Stay away from mexico", because it can be a fun time just take into consideration that the worst CAN happen, and it did to Pam Woods. Travel together, and never go out alone.
Mexico's Unknowns
Mexico... The place to party. It's the perfect destination to relax on the beach, barter with locals, drink tequila, and get a tan. For the most part, Mexico is considered a fairly safe place to visit if you will be in the safety of an all inclusive resort. This was the attitude of Pamela Woods, just 3 months ago, on her trip to Mexico which was drastically different than she expected.
I dont want to be costing the resort all kinds of money and give them a bad reputation, so I will keep the name of the resort confidential. But what I will tell you is the story of Pamela Woods.
Pam is a family girl, as she is married to a nice doctor, and has 2 wonderful daughters. Her life went in a spin 3 months ago, during her visit to an all inclusive resort in http://www.mymexicotravelguide.com mexico. One of her daughers, and her husband, drove down from canada, to meet the other daughter and herself at the resort. All was well when the family was together again, but the second evening of mexico wasn't so spectacular.
Pamela Woods, mother of 2, was beaten and raped on the shores of the resort, by a local mexican around 7:30pm. She left her sandals at the beach that afternoon, and remembered to go and get them after dinner. When she didn't come back to the room, the kids and husband began to panic.
The threesome set out in search for her, and found her lying on the beach, bloody, bruised, and naked. This was a devistating trip for the Woods family.
This story is not supposed to be a scary or disgusting, it is intended to inform you tourists of the threats that are there, even in a 5 star resort. I'm not saying "Stay away from mexico", because it can be a fun time just take into consideration that the worst CAN happen, and it did to Pam Woods. Travel together, and never go out alone.
I dont want to be costing the resort all kinds of money and give them a bad reputation, so I will keep the name of the resort confidential. But what I will tell you is the story of Pamela Woods.
Pam is a family girl, as she is married to a nice doctor, and has 2 wonderful daughters. Her life went in a spin 3 months ago, during her visit to an all inclusive resort in http://www.mymexicotravelguide.com mexico. One of her daughers, and her husband, drove down from canada, to meet the other daughter and herself at the resort. All was well when the family was together again, but the second evening of mexico wasn't so spectacular.
Pamela Woods, mother of 2, was beaten and raped on the shores of the resort, by a local mexican around 7:30pm. She left her sandals at the beach that afternoon, and remembered to go and get them after dinner. When she didn't come back to the room, the kids and husband began to panic.
The threesome set out in search for her, and found her lying on the beach, bloody, bruised, and naked. This was a devistating trip for the Woods family.
This story is not supposed to be a scary or disgusting, it is intended to inform you tourists of the threats that are there, even in a 5 star resort. I'm not saying "Stay away from mexico", because it can be a fun time just take into consideration that the worst CAN happen, and it did to Pam Woods. Travel together, and never go out alone.
Budget travel to Beautiful Paris:
My first draft of this article began something like, “here are the top ten things to do and see when you travel to Paris.” My plan was to show how to plan a cheap travel excursion to Europe in general and France in particular. But three drafts later, I finally realized that the entire City of Paris is a stunning and unforgettable attraction.
Sure, there are a few places you have to see when you go there, or else one of your coworkers will make you feel like a dope because you traveled to Paris and didn’t see the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower.
But the point is, the entire City of Paris is one of the most beautiful travel destinations on the planet. You can travel to Paris on a budget without sacrificing any of its romance and excitement. Even if you wander off of the well-worn tourist paths, the charm and elegance of the city just seems to seep into your very pores. (Think of it as something like the anti-Detroit.)
Parisians, of course, have a reputation for being just a teensy bit boastful about their city, (“how dare you even speak of [insert your hometown here] in the same breath as Paris, you swine! I will spit on your toes.”) But it is hard to argue that their pride is not justified.
But if you insist on knowing my list of top things to do or see in Paris (particularly for travel on a budget), here it is:
· --The Louvre was first opened to the public in 1793 after the French Revolution and now houses the most enormous art collection in the world. If you are dead set upon seeing every exhibit, be sure to set aside the most convenient decade of your trip in order to do so.
· --The Palace of Versailles, is a fine example of what one man (King Louis XIV) can do with a Home Depot credit and the ability to impose crushing taxes on the French peasants.
· --The Eiffel Tower was originally built as an attraction for the 1889 Universal Exhibition. The tower was considered by many Parisians to be an eyesore, but they have since come to terms with it and merely hang sheets over it when visitors come to town. It was the tallest structure in the world until the Empire State Building was completed in 1931. But at least it can claim it has never had a giant ape climb to its top.
· --The Seine River. Here is where you can see and do it all without spending a bundle. Spend as much time as you can either walking along its banks or taking boat tours up and down the waterway itself. It is probably the most beguiling river in the world, and you will find almost every building of interest in Paris is on or near the Seine.
· --The Parisian cafes. Here again you can take in the sights and experience the essence of romantic Paris without great expense. Particularly visit the cafes in the St. Germain-des-pres district, so you can follow in the steps of Ernest Hemingway, Victor Hugo, Ezra Pound and F. Scott Fitzgerald. You may or may not develop the ability to write as well as these artists, but you be able to brag to your friends when you return home. Assuming of course that your kind of friends know that Hemmingway, Hugo, Pound and Fitgerald were writers and not a law firm.
OK I failed. I have touched only a very few of the highlights of travel to Paris. But when you go, be sure to take your time and stroll through the streets with the eye of a wanderer. Be sure to taste the foods and sample the wines. This is one city that organized walking tours are often worth your time, but you can also take your own walking tour with a guidebook in hand and a heart to behold its beauty.
Sure, there are a few places you have to see when you go there, or else one of your coworkers will make you feel like a dope because you traveled to Paris and didn’t see the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower.
But the point is, the entire City of Paris is one of the most beautiful travel destinations on the planet. You can travel to Paris on a budget without sacrificing any of its romance and excitement. Even if you wander off of the well-worn tourist paths, the charm and elegance of the city just seems to seep into your very pores. (Think of it as something like the anti-Detroit.)
Parisians, of course, have a reputation for being just a teensy bit boastful about their city, (“how dare you even speak of [insert your hometown here] in the same breath as Paris, you swine! I will spit on your toes.”) But it is hard to argue that their pride is not justified.
But if you insist on knowing my list of top things to do or see in Paris (particularly for travel on a budget), here it is:
· --The Louvre was first opened to the public in 1793 after the French Revolution and now houses the most enormous art collection in the world. If you are dead set upon seeing every exhibit, be sure to set aside the most convenient decade of your trip in order to do so.
· --The Palace of Versailles, is a fine example of what one man (King Louis XIV) can do with a Home Depot credit and the ability to impose crushing taxes on the French peasants.
· --The Eiffel Tower was originally built as an attraction for the 1889 Universal Exhibition. The tower was considered by many Parisians to be an eyesore, but they have since come to terms with it and merely hang sheets over it when visitors come to town. It was the tallest structure in the world until the Empire State Building was completed in 1931. But at least it can claim it has never had a giant ape climb to its top.
· --The Seine River. Here is where you can see and do it all without spending a bundle. Spend as much time as you can either walking along its banks or taking boat tours up and down the waterway itself. It is probably the most beguiling river in the world, and you will find almost every building of interest in Paris is on or near the Seine.
· --The Parisian cafes. Here again you can take in the sights and experience the essence of romantic Paris without great expense. Particularly visit the cafes in the St. Germain-des-pres district, so you can follow in the steps of Ernest Hemingway, Victor Hugo, Ezra Pound and F. Scott Fitzgerald. You may or may not develop the ability to write as well as these artists, but you be able to brag to your friends when you return home. Assuming of course that your kind of friends know that Hemmingway, Hugo, Pound and Fitgerald were writers and not a law firm.
OK I failed. I have touched only a very few of the highlights of travel to Paris. But when you go, be sure to take your time and stroll through the streets with the eye of a wanderer. Be sure to taste the foods and sample the wines. This is one city that organized walking tours are often worth your time, but you can also take your own walking tour with a guidebook in hand and a heart to behold its beauty.
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