Great article, however, Mexico did not lose Texas to the US in the 1848 war. It already split off as an indepenent country in 1836, before eventually choosing to become part of the US. Mexico did lose in 1848 most of the other land that today forms the US's southwestern states, except for the southern parts of New Mexico and Arizona, which were purchased from Mexico years later. Why? Because it provided a better path for a railroad.
I've been on a hundred or so trips exploring and surfing the northern half of Baja(which is so thin you can see the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific from certain mountains in the middle of the peninsula). Even so there's still so much more to explore, so many roads not yet taken. Mexico is huge!
I´ve lived in Ensenada for several years now. Never had a problem. Of course I haven´t been camping in remote areas either -- that may well be dangerous. But hanging out here in the urban center of Ensenada I feel as safe as I would anywhere in the US.
Similarly, San Quintín, where the author of the article you linked resides (that was a great read, thanks for sharing) is in Baja North.
Sad to hear that he feels it is getting even more unsafe in his specific region.
Given it is such a gringo hotspot these days the crime in Baja Sur is not as analogous to that of Baja Norte, and particular Tijuana.
Todos Santos and Cabo have no reputation of such horrific crimes (that me or my Mexican friends or my Mexican girlfriend are aware of), beyond the typical petty crime you get everywhere in Latin America.
The western news sensationalises those horrific murders too. Statistically it is still incredibly uncommon.
Appreciate you sharing the article though. I wouldn't want to drive at night in Baja North after reading that article. Hope the situation improves over the next decade 😞
I do agree about the media, and it’s not stopping me heading to Baja next week with my kids, but I’m glad to be informed, and have decided against my previous plan of a camping road trip solo with my kids. I think us Australians are so used to seeking out those empty remote places.
We’ve had an amazing time here so far, under the guidance of a good Mexican friend. Thanks for the blog Tom, it was on point.
Nice list of facts. Just two clarifications: 1. The "Camino Real" or"Camino Real de Tierra Adentro" ran from Mexico City all the way to San Juan Pueblo in what today is the state of New Mexico. It goes through the cities of Ciudad Juárez in Mexico and El Paso in the US, in what is known as "Paso del Norte."(You can see the lights on the map, though not as bright as in the Mexico-Zacatecas segment). It was in use even before the Spaniards arrived to America. It was also known as the Silver Route because it happened to connect mining towns. There were three other "caminos reales," which connected Mexico City to Veracruz, Acapulco and Guatemala. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camino_Real_de_Tierra_Adentro.
Fantastic job! I will note this in my newsletter for Mexico’s Republic Day and I would like to Link to it on LEEP Calendar for dia del Tourismo and a few other events as a recommended source for more info on Mexico. How accessible is this article to non- subscribers? To add the links on LEEP, it needs to be openly available. Let me know. Well done.
Fantastic. I am finalizing the 15,000 events/dates for 2025. It will be featured as a source on several related to Mexico beginning with that year’s events. We will upload them in September. :)
Sheila continue on your way, remember these words, how many Mexicans are there in the United States of America? 50 million, without counting the other Latin Americans from Central and South America. Today Trump will win, tomorrow I promise you the first US president of Mexican descent will emerge.
I believe that your comments imply that the land that your British ancestors inhabited are those who plundered and murdered the true founders of North America, I am referring to the Apaches, Cherokees and Sioux, and among the lesser known are the Iroquois, the Inuit and Mississippi culture.
I believe that your comments imply that the land that your British ancestors inhabited are those who plundered and murdered the true founders of North America, I am referring to the Apaches, Cherokees and Sioux, and among the lesser known are the Iroquois, the Inuit and Mississippi culture.
Great article and fantastic pictures of Mexico. I’m most fascinated by how many people live in such a small part of the country. I had no idea how much more populated it was than the Boston to DC region!
I'm a Mexican engineer actually and there's a correction here about the city sinking.
Since the soil is so filled with water the soil is compressing I all the áreas that are build on top of Tenochtitlan lake.
So the streets are sinking too. The landing strip in the airport is actually meterea and meters deep of layer over later of concrete because it keeps sinking.
So the only correction is that buildings don't actually sink they mostly (seem to) emerge! Because buildings have foundations that go deep to the deep rocks. They stay in place and the street is sinking, so we keep building more stairs to reach the buildings entrance.
I hope this is clear and interesting as hell. If you ever come to Mexico City (and let me know) you'll sea great example of this.
Ps
Very interesting to you I think will be that the old lake is the reason why we have earthquakes so much more destructive than elsewhere in Mexico and the world. Since the old lake soil creates a rebound effect for seismic waves.
My daughter was teaching US history when one 8th grade Latino boy asked why America doesn’t give all the land back it got in the Mexican/American war; to which my daughter replied, “why doesn’t Mexico give back all the land got from the Aztecs/Indigenous people?” No response :)
In all cases like this, how far back do you want to go?
Also, TBF, Europe (especially western and central Europe) is small compared to everywhere. Africa, S. America, and especially Asia. Europe west of Russia is roughly the same size as the US/Brazil/China, and those countries occupy only a fraction of their respective continents. It does occupy about as much area as Australia, though.
Impressed, as always, with your posts. Sharing these with my grandson, who is a history buff, because of the geopolitical ramifications of geography in history. Keep up the good work! This material would be great for a middle school (or higher) geography/history class.
Great article, however, Mexico did not lose Texas to the US in the 1848 war. It already split off as an indepenent country in 1836, before eventually choosing to become part of the US. Mexico did lose in 1848 most of the other land that today forms the US's southwestern states, except for the southern parts of New Mexico and Arizona, which were purchased from Mexico years later. Why? Because it provided a better path for a railroad.
I don’t know about the railroad!
I've been on a hundred or so trips exploring and surfing the northern half of Baja(which is so thin you can see the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific from certain mountains in the middle of the peninsula). Even so there's still so much more to explore, so many roads not yet taken. Mexico is huge!
I am moving to Todos Santo next year! Excited to explore Baja!
Have fun!
You might want to read this before you go. A bit different to Tasmania!
https://talkbaja.com/to-mexico-and-the-rest-of-us-who-love-this-country/
Ugh
I´ve lived in Ensenada for several years now. Never had a problem. Of course I haven´t been camping in remote areas either -- that may well be dangerous. But hanging out here in the urban center of Ensenada I feel as safe as I would anywhere in the US.
Awful what happened to those lads.. 😞
Their murders happened in Ensenada en Baja Norte.
Similarly, San Quintín, where the author of the article you linked resides (that was a great read, thanks for sharing) is in Baja North.
Sad to hear that he feels it is getting even more unsafe in his specific region.
Given it is such a gringo hotspot these days the crime in Baja Sur is not as analogous to that of Baja Norte, and particular Tijuana.
Todos Santos and Cabo have no reputation of such horrific crimes (that me or my Mexican friends or my Mexican girlfriend are aware of), beyond the typical petty crime you get everywhere in Latin America.
The western news sensationalises those horrific murders too. Statistically it is still incredibly uncommon.
Appreciate you sharing the article though. I wouldn't want to drive at night in Baja North after reading that article. Hope the situation improves over the next decade 😞
I do agree about the media, and it’s not stopping me heading to Baja next week with my kids, but I’m glad to be informed, and have decided against my previous plan of a camping road trip solo with my kids. I think us Australians are so used to seeking out those empty remote places.
We’ve had an amazing time here so far, under the guidance of a good Mexican friend. Thanks for the blog Tom, it was on point.
So true (RE us Aussies being spoilt etc)! Love the comments/community here on Substack. Enjoy Baja, can't wait to get back later this year.
Nice list of facts. Just two clarifications: 1. The "Camino Real" or"Camino Real de Tierra Adentro" ran from Mexico City all the way to San Juan Pueblo in what today is the state of New Mexico. It goes through the cities of Ciudad Juárez in Mexico and El Paso in the US, in what is known as "Paso del Norte."(You can see the lights on the map, though not as bright as in the Mexico-Zacatecas segment). It was in use even before the Spaniards arrived to America. It was also known as the Silver Route because it happened to connect mining towns. There were three other "caminos reales," which connected Mexico City to Veracruz, Acapulco and Guatemala. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camino_Real_de_Tierra_Adentro.
2. Yucatán has rivers, but they are underground, and they constitute a system that connects many of its cenotes. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20110518-mexicos-underground-rivers
Thank you!
Fantastic job! I will note this in my newsletter for Mexico’s Republic Day and I would like to Link to it on LEEP Calendar for dia del Tourismo and a few other events as a recommended source for more info on Mexico. How accessible is this article to non- subscribers? To add the links on LEEP, it needs to be openly available. Let me know. Well done.
It’s fully open!
Fantastic. I am finalizing the 15,000 events/dates for 2025. It will be featured as a source on several related to Mexico beginning with that year’s events. We will upload them in September. :)
Wow! Very cool!
That's way too much land to be run by narco-communist sympathisers.
I will write about that this weekend!
If you would like to talk about this or other issues, like AMLO's 37 dead political opponents, on my podcast - hit me up. I'll book you straight away.
Sheila continue on your way, remember these words, how many Mexicans are there in the United States of America? 50 million, without counting the other Latin Americans from Central and South America. Today Trump will win, tomorrow I promise you the first US president of Mexican descent will emerge.
I believe that your comments imply that the land that your British ancestors inhabited are those who plundered and murdered the true founders of North America, I am referring to the Apaches, Cherokees and Sioux, and among the lesser known are the Iroquois, the Inuit and Mississippi culture.
I believe that your comments imply that the land that your British ancestors inhabited are those who plundered and murdered the true founders of North America, I am referring to the Apaches, Cherokees and Sioux, and among the lesser known are the Iroquois, the Inuit and Mississippi culture.
Ivan is a commiebot who knows zero zero zero about this author.
More surprises from the Mercator map "Trading Places" - Mexico = Greenland!
Neverending source of insights!
Inspiring. Me encanta Mexico, and thought I knew it -- but some info was brand new, such as the shape of the cenote crescent crater rim.
That was the biggest novelty for me too!
I want to move to Mexico
Great article and fantastic pictures of Mexico. I’m most fascinated by how many people live in such a small part of the country. I had no idea how much more populated it was than the Boston to DC region!
Right?!
Thanks especially for the cenote/asteroid link!
That was crazy wasn’t it?!
Super interesting read 🙂
Good article!
I'm a Mexican engineer actually and there's a correction here about the city sinking.
Since the soil is so filled with water the soil is compressing I all the áreas that are build on top of Tenochtitlan lake.
So the streets are sinking too. The landing strip in the airport is actually meterea and meters deep of layer over later of concrete because it keeps sinking.
So the only correction is that buildings don't actually sink they mostly (seem to) emerge! Because buildings have foundations that go deep to the deep rocks. They stay in place and the street is sinking, so we keep building more stairs to reach the buildings entrance.
I hope this is clear and interesting as hell. If you ever come to Mexico City (and let me know) you'll sea great example of this.
Ps
Very interesting to you I think will be that the old lake is the reason why we have earthquakes so much more destructive than elsewhere in Mexico and the world. Since the old lake soil creates a rebound effect for seismic waves.
Thanks!
I didn’t know. Fascinating! Will add to my article on CDMX
Great article Tomas! The Copper Canyon train tour is on the bucket list for sure! https://www.coppercanyon.com/index.php
Nice!!
My daughter was teaching US history when one 8th grade Latino boy asked why America doesn’t give all the land back it got in the Mexican/American war; to which my daughter replied, “why doesn’t Mexico give back all the land got from the Aztecs/Indigenous people?” No response :)
In all cases like this, how far back do you want to go?
https://unchartedterritories.tomaspueyo.com/p/assholes-all-the-way-down
Also, TBF, Europe (especially western and central Europe) is small compared to everywhere. Africa, S. America, and especially Asia. Europe west of Russia is roughly the same size as the US/Brazil/China, and those countries occupy only a fraction of their respective continents. It does occupy about as much area as Australia, though.
True!
Impressed, as always, with your posts. Sharing these with my grandson, who is a history buff, because of the geopolitical ramifications of geography in history. Keep up the good work! This material would be great for a middle school (or higher) geography/history class.
Yes, you gotta cater to all ages!
These articles do extremely well with the broad-based population, and then I write more advanced stuff in others (esp premium)
Thank you!