I also live in Spain, but my partner is Mexican and I know a number of argentines including one who just spent months travelling in latin america.
She travelled mostly alone, spent many nights sleeping in a van on her own in Mexico and said she felt much safer than in the Buenos Aires area where she used to live before moving to Spain. And Buenos Aires is considered a safe city.
Last time I was in Mexico I never felt in danger[1] despite travelling in some hot areas. I was however told to only drive during daytime and using the main highways. I eructed at the face of a taxi driver who was cut me off while I was crossing a street in Yucatan, I wouldn't have done that in Guanajuato where I would have feared any driver could have pulled a gun.
The only conclusion I can do is that
- they are both very big countries full of contrasts
- there are objective statistical numbers
- but the perception of security/violence is very subjective
- these numbers can vary greatly over a specific time frame.
- the numbers can vary greatly geographically: Chiapas is not Michoacan or Sonora, Cancún is not Mexico City or Buenos Aires. And within big cities there can be a lot of contrasts between neighborhoods, sometimes even inside a single one.
[1] well I did felt in danger, but because of the general state of traffic. Huge trucks driven recklessly by drivers under influcence were my main concerns.
She travelled mostly alone, spent many nights sleeping in a van on her own in Mexico and said she felt much safer than in the Buenos Aires area where she used to live before moving to Spain. And Buenos Aires is considered a safe city.
Last time I was in Mexico I never felt in danger[1] despite travelling in some hot areas. I was however told to only drive during daytime and using the main highways. I eructed at the face of a taxi driver who was cut me off while I was crossing a street in Yucatan, I wouldn't have done that in Guanajuato where I would have feared any driver could have pulled a gun.
The only conclusion I can do is that
- they are both very big countries full of contrasts
- there are objective statistical numbers
- but the perception of security/violence is very subjective
- these numbers can vary greatly over a specific time frame.
- the numbers can vary greatly geographically: Chiapas is not Michoacan or Sonora, Cancún is not Mexico City or Buenos Aires. And within big cities there can be a lot of contrasts between neighborhoods, sometimes even inside a single one.
[1] well I did felt in danger, but because of the general state of traffic. Huge trucks driven recklessly by drivers under influcence were my main concerns.