Chicago Tribune article about GTO

[doncoulter]

Thank you, philyrossy, for returning this thread to the topic at hand. I know little of the Chapala area so won't attempt comparisons. But I would say that common sense, as you suggest, goes a long way in Guanajuato.

To begin with, don't live in a "Gringo neighborhood." Since there are none here, that's easy. There is certainly no need for Tasers or guns here, and their possession could land one in jail. Window bars and good locks are also common sense, but I think razor wire and electrified wire might be more enticing than protective; they're like a sign that says, "Rich People Live Here." As for muggings, they do seem to be on the rise, but, again, reasonable precautions can prevent most of them: take taxis at night, and stay the hell out of the dicier neighborhoods, such as Cerro del Cuarto and Cerro de los Leones. Comparing Guanajuato with cities NOB, I don't know of any NOB city of similar size that doesn't have a few muggings and burglaries. Also, it seems half the people up there are packing heat these days; that doesn't comfort me at all.

My biggest fear when I'm out and about in Guanajuato is not that I'll be mugged but that I'll be attacked by a pack of street dogs. Sometimes I wish there were a Cervantino every month, as it seems the only time of year when the dogcatchers do their job.

Don