Been here over a week

Well the police shot three people on Tuesday....GOOD they are doing their job.

I have seen no violence and most of my contacts tell me that things are quieter than August. Be vigilant, talking is good. BUT THE REALITY....YOU as a TOURIST are not likely to be involved or a target.

D

Right you are, except for tourists driving who have become frequent targets of car thieves, a problem we simply never really used to have except in remote areas. Now car thieves steal cars while their owners are driving them practically in front of the police in broad daylight anywhere they want. But the mayor so far refuses to require the municipal police to do anything other than report for work, sit around all day doing mostly nothing, and collect their paychecks. Oh, and of course provide security for the mayor and his family.

Yes the car jacking thing could spill onto tourists. It also may show a greater underlying problem. But I have seen numerous very polished looking patrols both by the military and Marines and check points this week. Some of these "summer skirmishes" seem to disappear by tourist high season. I think the same will happen this year.

D