U.K. Count Down - And - The Aftermath Statistics

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

We purchased our tickets last month.   We're taking an almost six-week trip to the U.K.  The plan is to spend a few days in London to get our bearings before picking up a car and heading out.  We will be visiting Wales, Scotland, and hopefully Ireland.  I'm sure it's not enough time, but none of us have enough of that anymore.  I've planned a southern route through Wales and then up the West coast of England to Scotland.  I need to check directly with the car rental, as there are many restrictions that require prior approval, plus a certificate for the ferry, along with additional fees.  

Some of the sights we plan on seeing in London, the first few days are Buckingham Palace, Picadilly Square, Harrods, to name a few, and when we return to London, the British Museum and the Natural History Museum.  We will be visiting two national parks, and hopefully, we will do some hiking there as well.  On our route, we hope to visit Stonehenge, take the ferry across the Mersey, and stop at Tiger Bay.  We're really excited about the trip.

Driving will be a learning curve, but they say it's best to start out in traffic and you can just follow along.  Makes sense until we get to a roundabout, that might be a challenge.  Food is another one.  Maybe I'll take off a few pounds.  Our trips to Spain and Italy proved to be healthy.  We were in the 14,000 to 22,000 step range.  I'm not sure what to expect when the fare includes beans on toast, bangers and mash, bubble and squeak, kidney pie, and so on.  I know we'll do well and we are anxious to try all the local fare.

Everyone is well aware by now of what went down with the cartels.  It was a complete disaster that could have been avoided had they never created Abrazos No Balazos.  Its affect has been devastating to both daily life as well as the economy.  

Stolen Cars

The economic impact of that one day:

$115,000,000 USD, 1 MILLION BUSINESSES AFFECTED, 4.8 MILLION EMPLOYEES (Businness adjusting their schedules, logistics routes slowing down, consumption postponed, and a perception of risk that makes everyday life more expensive)

Number of states affected in the 252 highway blocks that included burning commercial vehicles.

55 deaths (I believe it is as high as 70) that included soldiers from the Guardia Nacional.

In Puerto Vallarta alone, 200 cars were burned, 40 stores were destroyed, and this doesn't include the commercial vehicles and delivery trucks that were burned on highways.  In addition, there was looting not only by locals but by Americans and Canadians.  Be it a dozen or a hundred, it was an embarrassing display.

Insurance companies have announced that they will not provide new coverage for all vehicles in Jalisco, Michoacán, Colima, Guerrero, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Nayarit, and Zacatecas.  Good luck to those who may have a car in Mexico, be it on a TIP or plated in a Mexican state.  The rules are changing as the days pass.

Here at home, Operativo Gran Muralla (Great Wall) was implemented.  People were told to shelter in place.  Santiago was empty on what is usually a busy tourist day.  We had highway blockages in Linares, Allende, China, and General Bravo.  People were turned back as they entered the highways to Reynosa.  They were fools if they tried.

In the end, things have calmed down, but don't hold your breath.  As the cartels reorganize, renewed fighting will take place.  

The word on social media is that foreigners were never in danger, so many have continued their vacations.  These same people say how safe Mexico is if you are a foreigner.  I'm sure if it is a lack of morals or values, however, it shows very little respect for Mexican and the amount of death and damage that has occurred not only recently but over the last seven years.  The problem again is the language barrier.  Talk to local Mexicans, not those who cater to tourists, and ask them about disappearances, murders, and all the children buried out in rural areas.  The emotional and financial effects are devastating. 

Maybe tourists should spend a couple of weeks in Kyiv if they are so sure that they will not be in danger.