INPORTANT WARDEN MESSAGE

[meroberts]

Early in the morning of December 22, several vehicles, including three ordinary passenger buses, were attacked with gunfire in northern Veracruz state, resulting in several deaths. One of these buses was traveling on Highway 105 between the municipalities of Panuco and Tempoal. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City reminds American citizens to exercise caution and remain vigilant when traveling in the State of Veracruz. American citizens residing in, visiting, or traveling through the northern portion of Veracruz that borders Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosi should maintain a heightened sense of alert. Americans in this area should monitor local news and information to stay informed about situations that could affect their security. The Embassy also reminds American citizens to avoid intercity road travel at night. For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's internet web site at http://travel.state.gov/ where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada, or, for callers from Mexico, a regular toll line at 001-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). American citizens traveling or residing overseas are encouraged to register with the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the State Department's travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov/. For any emergencies involving U.S. citizens in Mexico, please contact the U.S. Embassy or the closest U.S. Consulate. The numbers provided below for the Embassy and Consulates are available around the clock. The U.S. Embassy is located in Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, telephone from the United States: 011-52-55-5080-2000; telephone within Mexico City: 5080-2000; telephone long distance within Mexico 01-55-5080-2000. You may also contact the Embassy by e-mail at: ACSMexicoCity@state.gov The Embassy's internet address is http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/. U.S. citizens in other areas of Mexico should seek the assistance of the U.S. Consulates or Consular agencies located throughout the country. Click on the following to find a directory of Consulates and Consular Agencies.

[The Duck]

This is of course a shocking and tragic event but some context is needed.

Highway 105* is not the main route between Veracruz and Tampico - that would be Fed Highway 180 [hand on the map] so it would an unlikely route for tourists to take.

To read or view a full story on this incident see CNN/Mexico here:


*Hwy 105 as you can see here on an SCT map is a small rural highway passing through the mountains

[colleen]

Thanks for the clarification. I suppose Martha is required to post this stuff. In the past I have checked the US warnings about other countries. Well, there was a warning that you car might be stolen in Australia so don't take your car from the US to Australia with you. That was entertaining. But it is a shame that there is so much making it seem as if Mexican violence is something that we have to put up with everywhere and on a daily basis. Too bad that it would take an essay to explain where to travel and where not to travel. We can't overcome the reports on CNN or others, but I for one, don't like to see this posted here. Either the readers already live here and know what precautions to take, or people are thinking of coming down and reading the forum. Now they see things that aren't a part of our life in Gto. So thanks for taking the time to get more info and post the maps.

[meroberts]

You are right Colleen. That's part of the job. Editing on my part would be wrong. I happen to agree with you guys that it sounds alarming and it is not even pertinent for the "normal" tourist to take those routes.

Perhaps, it might be a good idea to suggest a poll to the Admin. If the majority of the community would prefer not to have these messages posted on this board, I would gladly cease. Everyone is only trying to do a job for the community but it can hurt us. Nothing really happens in Guanajuato...

I feel the same way you do. All I do, really, is cut and paste the announcements I receive from the Embassy in DF.

Best to you both,

Martha