El Paso/Juarez Metro-Borderplex — Thousands of Mexican soldiers have been sent to CD. Juarez, after many pleas for help from the Juárez Mayor José Reyes Ferriz. The Mexican troops and federal Mexican police are patrolling the city with gunship helicopters, troop personal carries, pickups and Humvees with mounted .50-caliber machine guns. These Mexican troop convoys are currently operating throughout the city. As reported in the Laguna Journal the Mexican soldiers are armed with combat M-16 fully automatic rifles. This latest action by Mexican President Calderon now places Mexican armed soldiers on the U.S. Border with Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

A convoy of newly arrived Mexican soldiers in a variety of military vehicles traveled along Barranca Azul street to a military installation in South of Juarez Friday.

This latest Mexican troop movement places more than 30,000 Mexican troops combating the Mexican cartels throughout the country. This operation, dubbed Operación Conjunta Chihuahua, by the Mexican army is expected to provoke a violent response from Mexican drug cartels, officials said.

“We are not going to give in,” Public Safety Secretary Genaro Garcia Luna said. “In the states where there is most violence, we will be right there to confront the phenomenon.”

Dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped, held hostage and killed by their captors in Mexico and many cases remain unsolved. Moreover, new cases of disappearances and kidnap-for-ransom continue to be reported.

An alarming number of Americans are vanishing in Mexico where there has been a dramatic increase in the numbers of U.S. citizens who have recently been reported missing or kidnapped along the border with Mexico, reports the Washington Post. Many who have vanished from U.S. cities are still missing and it is feared they will turn up in the mass graves that have been discovered lately in Mexico.

Mexican federal police guard the home where authorities discovered 36 bodies buried beneath a patio. The tallest building stands on the same property where the remains were found.

The U.S. Government has not issued a new travel warning or even an up-grade on its existing alert. Even though many Mexican cities on the U.S. Border and elsewhere in Mexico is under siege. The question is why not. Mexico is now one of the most dangerous countries in the world. And it is our neighbors to the south with a population nearing 100 million people.

Fort Bliss bans soldiers from visiting Juarez because of increasing violence there, Fort Bliss officials say they’ve discontinued issuing passes to soldiers who want to travel across the border to Juarez. If its not safe for U.S. Soldiers, than it is unsafe for other Americans. Said, John Lutes who was born in El Paso and served in the military.

The Maverick Conservative Public Journal reported recently that citizens in both El Paso Texas and Juarez Mexico woke up to the news that thousands of Mexican troops are now patrolling the streets of Juarez according to flash radio and TV reports. The troops are there according to Mexican President Filipe Caldron because of the ongoing violence” in the DRUG WAR going on along the Mexican border (especially in Mexican cities bordering the U.S. like Juarez.

Juan Diaz a resident of Juarez said “he awoke recently to a radio report about another gunshot victim being rushed to an AMERICAN hospital from Columbus, Mexico–the place, I believe, where the POLICE CHIEF sought asylum in the U.S. from about two weeks ago.” The El Paso Times has even begun carrying stories about it being DANGEROUS for people to go to Juarez. You know things are BAD when they start to be warnings about going into Mexico. Both economies depend a good deal on tourist, and El Paso hardly wants people to get the idea that Juarez is a DANGEROUS place to visit. People visiting Juarez generally go through El Paso. To me, this DETERIORATION along the Mexican border I have never seen it this bad in the 40 years I have lived in the region.” At a recent news conference in Juárez , Gen. Guillermo Galván Galván, Mexico’s defense secretary, said 100 soldiers would also be sent to Palomas, across the border from Columbus, N.M. See Mexican Police Chief Requests US Asylum

Meanwhile, even the national mainstream media is pretty much ignoring the deteriorating situation along the Mexican border even as it has become daily news, as they continue their propaganda against any effective action to control illegal immigration or to secure the Mexican border.

The most dangerous city in the world status is the one where there is a war zone, where killings, kidnappings, torture, muggings or any number of other criteria could be used to claim the “most dangerous” title. Mexico meets all that criteria and more, yet the U.S. Government seems to be doing nothing.

Many critics claim that the relationship between Washington and Mexico City is to cozy.

Since President Bush took office he has been reluctant to criticize Mexico. Critic’s of NAFTA say the President does not want to do anything to upset the Mexican Government as he courts their membership in the U.S. Canadian, Mexico reliance program referred to as “The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America” (SPP). Critic’s of the war on drugs and terror say for what ever reasons the Bush administration wants the border between Mexico and the U.S. to remain open at all costs. The U.S. ambassador to Mexico said the United States is considering issuing a heightened travel alert in the coming days. “While there is little doubt in my mind that the travel alert should be reissued, it may also be necessary to heighten the alert to better reflect the increasing insecurity in the state of Chihuahua,” U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza said.

The U.S. State Department reluctantly issued an alert last year warning Americans about travel in areas of Mexico where foreigners have been targeted. The alert is due to expire April 15. 2008. Mexico has suffered a wave of organized crime and drug-related violence that killed more than 2,500 people last year.

According to the U.S. State Department “Travel Warnings” are issued when the State Department decides, based on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Countries where avoidance of travel is recommended will have Travel Warnings as well as Country Specific Information. No travel warning is in place for the country of Mexico

Travel Warning should provide updated information on the security situation in Mexico. The security threat to all American citizens in Mexico remains critical.

The Department of State continues to strongly warn U.S. citizens against travel to Afghanistan. And other countries but not Mexico. U.S. Mexican border Drug War kills more than War on Terror in Afghanistan The State dept. says that no part of Afghanistan should be considered immune from violence, and the potential exists throughout the country for hostile acts, either targeted or random, against American and other western nationals at any time. That is also true of Mexico. There is an on-going threat to kidnap and assassinate U.S. citizens. Mexican authorities have a limited ability to maintain order and ensure the security of citizens and visitors.

Travel in all areas of Mexico, including border cities, is unsafe due to military operations, armed rivalries among numerous Drug Cartels, Gangs and other drug war activity, kidnappings for ransom and kidnappings for revenge killings, banditry, and the possibility of terrorist attacks, including attacks using vehicular or other improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The security environment remains volatile and unpredictable.

Foreigners throughout the country continued to be targeted for violent attacks and kidnappings, motivated by Mexican criminals.

Riots and incidents of civil disturbance can and do occur, often without warning. American citizens should avoid rallies and demonstrations; even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.

Carjackings, robberies, and violent crime remain a problem. Americans who find themselves in such situations cannot assume that either local law enforcement or the U.S. Embassy will be able to assist them.

Travel Alerts are a means to disseminate information about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term and/or trans-national conditions posing significant risks to the security of American travelers. The TAs are made when there is a specific threat that cannot be countered. In the past, Travel Alerts have been issued to deal with short-term coups, violence by terrorists and anniversary dates of specific terrorist events.

The legendary Rocky Mountains stretch from New Mexico up through
the United States and into Canada. The Rocky Mountains are over
3000 miles long, spanning parts of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho,
Montana, and Wyoming before continuing into Canada. Stories of
early adventurers like Lewis and Clark exploring the Rocky
Mountains are legendary.

The majestic Rocky Mountains are a major tourist destination in
the western United States. Visitors can participate in a number
of activities, including hiking, skiing, snowboarding, mountain
biking, and many more. The Rockies are home to several
campgrounds, ghost towns, gold prospecting sites, and national
parks. Some of the biggest tourist attractions in the Rockies
are Pike’s Peak and Royal Gorge. There are several world famous
national parks in the Rockies, including Yellowstone, Rocky
Mountain, Grand Teton, and Glacier.

The Rockies are a tourist attraction all year round. The summer
months are fairly warm, with the average temperature reaching 82
degrees Fahrenheit. January is the coldest month, with an
average temperature of 7 degrees Fahrenheit. The year-round
average temperature is a brisk 43 degrees, a perfect temperature
for many outdoor activities.

Just about everyone will find something to enjoy on a Rocky
Mountain vacation. Aside from all of the great outdoor
activities, the Rockies have a number of other attractions as
well. The Telluride Film Festival is a prestigious yearly event
that attracts some of the biggest stars in Hollywood to a small
Colorado town. Many Smoky Mountain resorts offer spa treatments
and other relaxing diversions.

There is a plethora of lodging options in the Rocky Mountains.
Travelers can camp, visit RV parks, stay in hotels or ski
resorts, or lodge in unique cabins and chalets. Vacationers on
any type of budget will be able to find an affordable place to
stay.

A Rocky Mountain vacation is a perfect getaway from everyday
life. Travelers can find a wide range of activities to suit
their desires in the Rockies

Just like traveling to other countries and cities, one needs enough information to be able to maximize the experience of staying in Mexico.

Here are some tips to help one prepare for an exciting trip to one of the culturally-rich countries, Mexico.

1. Learn the language.

Spanish is the main language spoken in Mexico. Although some residents can communicate in and understand English, Spanish is still the language spoken in commerce. Spanish is easy to learn and once one has been familiarized with sentence construction, he or she can go far just using an English/Spanish dictionary.

2. Make sure you have an ID with a photo (such as a passport or a driver’s license), your tourist card (which is proof of your permission to visit Mexico) and your proof of citizenship.

These are the documents that need to be presented before entering Mexico.

3. Take note of the following items as these are allowed to be brought to Mexico:

Personal clothing, footwear and toiletries in practical quantities Magazines and books Personal medicines and prescriptions Used sporting equipment One portable TV and VCR and one typewriter Cassette and records, not exceeding 20 Musical instrument A set of skiing equipment, fishing equipment and tennis rackets Alcohol-containing beverage, not exceeding three liters, and 50 cigars or 400 cigarettes, if tourist is over eighteen years old One still camera and movie camera, with not more than twelve rolls of film

4. Before entering Mexico, there are two forms to be filled out. It is better to prepare a black pen for these. These are usually distributed at the airline ticket counter or while on the plane. The first one is the temporary visa. The second form is for the Customs and Taxation called Hacienda.

5. Although there are businesses that accept foreign currency, make sure that you still have some of your dollars exchanged for the Mexican peso. Credit cards, particularly, those with MasterCard, Visa and AmEx logo are also accepted. Bringing traveler’s checks are also preferred.

6. Drink bottled water or sufficiently boiled water. Never drink tap water even if the place in which you are staying claim to have a water purifying system. Before eating fruits and vegetable, wash these in a purifying solution, peel them and cook them.

7. In a location different from that of the originals, store photocopies of tickets and a list of traveler’s checks.

With this information, your trip to Mexico will be a safe and enjoyable one.

Probably the most frequently asked question I receive on a daily basis is whether someone can travel to the U.S. with a criminal record in Canada.

If you have been pondering this question for yourself or for a family member, the answer depends on a couple of key issues.

Most criminal offences, but not all, will get you denied entry into the United States

For the most part, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents (those not-entirely friendly Americans tasked with protecting the U.S. borders) frown on anyone entering the U.S. with a criminal past. However, whether your past crimes get you outright denied, or just hassled unnecessarily, depends on the type of conviction(s) you have.

Not all criminal offences are considered grounds for inadmissibility according to U.S. Immigration law. The U.S. considers any crime that involved “Moral Turpitude” to be grounds for inadmissibility. A crime of “Moral Turpitude” is a crime which demonstrates the potential lack of moral character of the person who commits such an offence. 

Generally speaking, a minor crime of passion or poor decision making, such as a domestic assault or drinking and driving, will not constitute Moral Turpitude. 

Crimes of theft and fraud, crimes of a sexual nature, crimes involving significant physical violence and any crimes involving drugs, all constitute grounds for inadmissibility into the United States.

 But what if I have been traveling to the U.S. for years without being denied?

Many Canadians I deal with on a daily basis have been traveling to the United States for years with their criminal record and assumed that meant their criminal record was not an issue.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Although it has long been the policy of the U.S. to forbid entry by Canadians with criminal records, U.S border guards would rarely check. When they did see a record, they would often make a personal judgment about the traveler in question, and would waive them through, usually not even bringing the matter to the attention of the traveler.

However, everything changed with 9/11. After the September 11th terrorist attacks, the focus on border security increased dramatically, and many Canadians with old criminal records have suffered the consequences.

Do I need a Pardon or U.S. Entry Waiver?

If you have a criminal record and intend on traveling to the United States, you need to apply for either a pardon or a U.S. entry waiver.

Which one you require, depends on your circumstances.

The first thing you need to know is that the U.S.  Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) does not recognize a Canadian Pardon. If they are already aware of your criminal record, you must apply for an entry waiver, specifically known as an I-192 Application for Advanced Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant.

You should always apply for a pardon for your criminal record in Canada, for many reasons, but it will not get you into the U.S. once you have been denied entry. Why? Because when the U.S. sees your criminal record on CPIC (Canadian Police Information Centre), to which they have negotiated access, they will copy your record to their system. If you then apply for a pardon and remove your record from CPIC, the U.S. will still have a copy of your criminal record on the CBP system, and will continue to deny you entry. If you have been denied entry to the U.S., you must apply for a U.S. Entry Waiver before attempting re-entry.

I have not yet been denied entry to the U.S. due to my criminal record?

If you haven’t been denied entry to the U.S., or if you are otherwise certain that the U.S. is not yet aware of your criminal record, you may choose to only apply for a Canadian pardon.

Although the U.S. does not recognize the pardon, they only have access to CPIC to search for criminal records of Canadians, and only upon their attempted entry into the U.S.

Consequently, if you obtain a pardon and remove your criminal record, and then enter the United States, they will not be able to see that you ever had a criminal record. In this case, unless you voluntarily disclose your criminal record to the U.S. border officials, they will not know to deny you entry.

Although the practice of concealing your criminal record from the U.S. border guards with a pardon is not condoned by this author, it is your choice to make and is very commonly practiced by Canadians who have the choice. Keep in mind, a pardon clears your criminal record for life, whereas an entry waiver is temporary, being granted for only 1 – 5 years at a time.

Follow this link if you would like more information on how to obtain a pardon in Canada.

The Phenomena of the Low Cost Budget Airline has certainly come of age in the last couple of decades and unless you happen to have been on the moon for the past 10 to 15 years you will have been aware of the rapid increase in the number of these travel operators.

Nowadays some air line brand names such as Easy Jet and Ryannair sit alongside the major brands such as British Airways and Air France.

The trouble in the past was that the majority of the low cost carriers only serviced the smaller domestic markets of Europe. Now they appear to be almost everywhere and the distinction between Travel Company and Airline has become distinctly blurred in recent years.

But alongside the likes of Southwest Airlines in the United States, other low cost airlines have begun to appear on a regional basis worldwide.

However it is in Europe that the Low Cost Budget Airline reigns supreme.

At the last count and when we carried out a quick survey recently we found that there were approximately fifty such airline operations throughout Europe flying to an ever increasing and varied range of destinations.

In Europe the main Low Cost Carriers an certainly the best known are Easy Jet and Ryannair. Easy Jet claim to be the most “webbed” airline in the world and no this doesn’t refer to strange aspects of the staffs feet (I am sure they are not webbed honestly) but rather that due to the fact that every Easy Jet plane has a massive web address “easyjet.com” plastered along its fuselage just in case you were one of the unfortunate ones and forgot their web address – as if? Apparently nearly 90% of its bookings come via their web site and this brings about it massive reduction in costs of scale.

The main routes that Easy Jet covers are from their main hubs at London Luton and Gatwick airports. Now here is an interesting if not slightly “anorakish” fact and that despite the size of the Airport, the amount of Traffic it handles, Easy Jet is, apparently the second largest Airline and London Gatwick Airport!

Easy Jet has hubs at Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Nottingham East Midlands, Liverpool, Newcastle, Bristol, Belfast, Berlin Schonefeld, Dortmund, Geneva and Paris Orly.

In Ryannairs case as well as now being quite dominant within their own Hub at Dublin, Ryannair now have hubs based at London Stansted and London Luton, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Nottingham East Midlands, Prestwick in SCOTLAND, Shannon in the Irish Republic, Brussels, Frankfurt Hahn, Stockholm, Bergamo (nr Milan) Rome and Girona (nr Barcelona).

It would appear that gone are the days when it was nothing more than a cross between a massive rugby scrum and a slightly contained riot trying to get onto a flight with one of the Low Cost Carriers.

Situations have improved and gone are the days (hopefully) when the likes of Ryannair would just hurl you out of the plane and then in an attempt to make up time, hurtle down the runway in search of the next airport……and forget to unload the existing material and content from the cold hold! This last part is based on a true story; a Ryannair aircraft did once hurtle out of an airport in an attempt to make up time etc only to discover that they had forgotten about the property and belongings for their recently disembarked passengers left in the hold!

Still as we have said, things are definitely improving (or so we hope) so perhaps we will no longer be hearing these sorts of stories any more.

Hope so!

The latest edition to my ongoing articles about travelling and map resources is about the north american continent.

North America and the USA – For a quick idea of how the USA is split into states then this map “mapofusa.biz” map of usa but for a much clearer picture of the north american continent “mapofnorthamerica.org” map of north america is a much better resource. It has the three main countries that make up the north american continent, The USA, Canada and Mexico. Another benefit is that the capitals and states are all shown on the initial map but then there are also links to each individual country. It also has a much more comprehnsive map of the USA.

The map of Canada and Mexico in particular good. Once again there is some info on each country but it is not that useful.

When I travelled through north america last I went through the northern parts of Canada and Alaska and I have to say a map that had more accurate information on roads and highways. I will endeavour to find one and do a review on it. A map with major highways and roads of mexico would also be a very handy map to have on hand.

mapofnorthamerica.org has some information on the continent itself. Whilst mildly interesting it can mostly be ignored, unless you are really into geographical statistics.

Also for those of you who are that way inclined it shows the oceans and seas surrounding the three countries. Including the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean and all the relevant seas.

Rocky Mountain National Park is an attractive and fun destination for many people and families.  It covers 265,769 acres of land, rivers, streams, trials and glaciers, and was established in 1915 as a national park.  People and families can do things such as sightseeing, fishing, camping, skiing, lodging, wildlife watching, gold panning, rock hounding and other activities following the rules of the park.

There are plenty of information websites and the official park website online about the park, transportation, and accommodation information.  It will be advised to check out more traveling and park conditions about the park before actually taking the trip.  You will need to decide on the transportation to whether drive your car, take a flight to Denver Airport and then rent a car to the park. 

You should check the weather and road conditions if you are planning to drive to the park, particularly during winter.  You can plan for accommodations like staying in a hotel, lodging, or camping.  The park official website will be able to help you with the information.  There are also many useful tips for traveling at http://www.fidetips.com/travel for you to read.

There are many great places in the park for you to visit and plan your visit, like Trail Ridge Road, Longs Peak, Bear Lake, Wild Basin, Mummy Range, and Paradise Park are very popular.  Trial Ridge Road is connecting the Grand Lake from the west to town of Estes Park in the east, it is 12183 feet long.  There are many trails and pullouts along the road serve to help the visitors about the geography, life and history of the park.  The other attractions like Longs Peaks, Bear Lake, ild Basin to Paradise Park are very interesting places to visit.

You can see wild animals like elk, deer, bighorn sheep, moose, mountain lion, bobcat, bear, coyote, fox, marmots, picas, squirrels, and variety of birds.  Be cautious with the predator animals, and female animals with their cubs, because they can protect their cubs and will be wild if you are getting too near to them. 

You should prepare your cameras to capture the beautiful sceneries and wildlife.  If you do the adequate preparation and planning for the trip, it will be a wonderful experience for you and your family.  There are many useful sources of information about the Rocky Mountain Park about accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, dining and other activities from the Rocky Mountain National Park official website.

As a motorcyclist, the riding shirt you wear normally defines your individual style and personality. However, you should remember that style should be subordinate to safety when riding on your big bike. As a rule of thumb, you should choose riding apparel based on safety considerations first. After ensuring that your apparel can provide protection, then you can now confidently define your own individual clothing style.

You might want to go for Negro Mate or choose some of the best clothing items at West Coast Choppers. If you want a classic look, then you should go for Negro Mate or black matte T-shirts. You will certainly look like a serious and tough rider wearing black motorcycle apparel. Wearing black motorcyclist shirt is also safer especially if you ride during daytime. A black shirt will be very visible so you can avoid unfortunate collisions with other motorists.

Most motorcycle clubs also require members to wear black clothing especially during special events and large gatherings. If you want customized designs, then simply select the different designs and printed themes available at West Coast Choppers. You will surely find what you want at West Coast Choppers. On the other hand, if you want a hipper and more modern look, then white motorcycle T-shirts would be best for you. West Coast Choppers offer a complete line of white T-shirts with a wide range of design options.

Just choose what is best for you so you can define your own clothing style as a rider. White T-shirts are also functional just like the traditional Negro Mate or black T-shirts. If you intend to ride at night, then it would be safer to wear white T-shirts. You can also wear your motorcycle T-shirt on any occasion. Because the white apparel of West Coast Choppers is elegantly designed, you can use it as fashion clothing. So you will have more flexibility with your clothes if you have white motorcycle T-shirts. Weather conditions during your road trip can also define your choice of clothing.

If it is summer and you think that the weather outside will be humid and hot, then it is advisable to wear white T-shirts of West Coast Choppers. White clothing will reflect sunlight and will not absorb too much heat. So, you will feel more comfortable during your trip. On the other hand, if you will travel during colder months, then it is best to wear negro mate or black T-shirts. Black clothing can absorb heat and will keep you warm during your road trip. You should also wear added protection from the cold like motorcycle sweaters or sweatshirts.

When choosing the right kind of motorcycle T-shirt, the first thing that you have to consider is safety. Your motorcycle apparel should provide adequate protection for you so you will be safe while on the road. You must also consider the weather condition so you can wear clothes that would make you comfortable. Lastly, your apparel should be stylish enough so you will stand out among the bikers in your group.