- We had no problems regarding our safety or that of our
property.
- We were careful in that we did not wear jewelry or watches
that were worth stealing and carried nothing with us that we thought
would
tempt anyone.
- Friends of ours, traveling by rental car in Costa Rica,
lost their passports and wallets when they left them in plain view in
the back of the car while they went swimming at the beach.
Thieves are opportunists and will take advantage if it is given.
Keep valuables hidden and locked away. Carry your wallet in your
front pocket. If you have a handbag have a good grip on it,
particularly in markets. These are some common sense precautions
anywhere.
- The cash we had on us we were prepared to give up should
someone demand it from us. With that in mind we also had our cash in
the
motorhome stashed in various places. You need a fair bit of cash, as
you need
it to buy virtually everything, most notably gas. We had about a
thousand dollars
hidden in such spots as the traditional hollowed out book, in an empty
carton
in the freezer, and in a peanut and an oatmeal container. The idea was
that if
anyone nasty demanded money, reaching for one of these and handing over
a
couple hundred dollars would make them happy. We never needed to put
this to
the test.
- Once I was annoyed with a man who climbed up the ladder on
back
of the RV and
looked in the window. I got out and told him in flaming English to get
lost.
He understood perfectly, and left. No one else tried it.
Mordida
- On a couple of occasions we did pay mordida. John crossed a
solid white line and was pulled over in Veracruz. The motorcycle cop
demanded
money
and this being our first experience he handed it over. Later we learned
to negotiate.
- I was pulled over and told there was a fine for having the
bikes on the front. I just said that it was legal and that I was paying
nothing. All that and I hardly speak a work of Spanish. In the end the policia
gave up and told us that we must pull over and put the bikes inside. I
retrieved
our papers and nodded and we continued on our way. We never moved the
bikes.
- Another RV couple we know play dumb, speak no Spanish and
don’t pay.
- Just be very careful, especially around Veracruz, and be
sure that you don’t break any local laws.
- In general avoid big cities.
- We believe our dog was a deterrent to anyone who might have
wanted to investigate the vehicle.
- Whatever you do, don’t take any kind of gun south
of the U.S. border, and don’t carry illegal drugs. Time in jail would
not
be fun.
- Most officials we met were friendly people who made us
welcome.
- Honduras has recently been noted as the worst country, be
prepared. See Update#74.
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