I have been a little worried about your safety based on your idea of a trip throughout Mexico using trains, instead of planes. So with that in mind, I did a google search for more on "Mexican Trains"
This is what came up...
This is one of the main stations: (mind you a little crowded due to rush hour) --otherwise is quite sleepy.
iteso.mx
At times, there are raids on the trains by bandidos, hoping to cash in on some tourist, using the old technique of kidnapping, so the railway has hired some security guards who ride along the trains, (I know, the trains are not very fast), just in case of kidnapping attempts. Here you can see them in action:
aspartametruth.com
aspartametruth.com
Ah, and here are the mercenary bast... er, no, excuse me, the entire security police, pictured in front of one of the passenger cabins:
aspartametruth.com
Sort of "find waldo" picture, no ? [you'd have to ! Sometimes, as it has been known to happen, the kidnappers turn out to be the guards themselves... oh well... what is one to do !] --pay up I guess.
Have you seen the movie: "proof of life" with Russell Crowe ?. btw... do you carry insurance?... well never mind, I am changing subjects here... on to trains...
I decided to call the railway commission, they sent me this picture and a nice letter: These are the President and Vice-President of the current railway commission. As you can see they are "all smiles", they guarantee your safety and welfare at all times. btw... The people you see around them are "advisors" --you know, "friends and family" that need jobs. It is called the sub-commission of railways affairs [--as a result of the extra marital ones]. I kind of wonder if the tips that are given to the bandidos from time to time, originate from these buzzards... you think so ? [given the hard economic times, kind of logical, no ?]
I spoke personally with them and they assured me that everything will be ok and no bandidos will rob you... [however, they explained to me that killing and kidnapping are not included in their guarantee]
rose-hulman.edu
To assist guarantee your safety, these friendly ticket collectors check your ticket before you get on the train, and check the bags of the more suspicious looking ones. Never mind the guns, that is in case of the remote possibility of a raid on the train station itself.
aspartametruth.com
Being a country keen on entrepreneurship, they decided that in order to travel in "primera clase” you will need these...
aspartametruth.com
...in order to get a a "primera" ticket --Panchopesos-- are called. (they only accept this type of currency *NO American Express*) the exchange rate? No sweat a mere 100 x 1 (that is 100 US for 1 Panchopesos) --you will need 500 Panchpesos for an "open season" ticket. You have to be mindful that the current commission does not lose its charter, as the new commission, will surely issue their OWN NEW currency. So pay attention to the news... (I hope you are fluent in Spanish, or whatever other dialect they decide to publish the official diary).
Of course the alternative is to bribe the ticket collector... but I would be careful about that, you saw his face and the gun he has. If you catch him in a bad mood, he could throw you in jail... [bad move --vacation in jail, no, no, no]
Otherwise, you will have to travel in second class, which at times... well, the trains do get a little full [but being that it gets really hot at this time of the year, perhaps you won't mind riding "open air".
aspartametruth.com
Sometimes, the train breaks down and so passengers take a brake themselves outside the cabins. Here you see the engineer and his mate waiting for the train parts to be delivered to the site: (the cigarette you see is NOT marihuana... [it is peyote]) and don't worry, by the time the spare parts arrive, the effect of peyote is all gone, the tequila does last a little longer.
aspartametruth.com
If you get lucky, sometimes the President of the railway himself will greet you personally. Here you see him smiling, (the one in the middle), with a couple of his arse-kissers... er, no I meant, vice president-assistants.
rose-hulman.edu
Finally, if you think you could be at risk, there is always the possibility of hiring your own "guardaespalda"...
like cousin Emiliano
rose-hulman.edu
or cousin Guido:
members.tripod.lycos.nl
The movie proof of life ... here you go... (according to them, 25,000 people are kidnapped every year.)
proofoflife.warnerbros.com
Anyway... I hope you enjoy your vacation... <g> |
