It had been over a decade since I went down to have a look Joe.
I did it because I was in San Diego anyway and wanted to see what was up these days.
It seemed horrible down there. On the bus rides I did learn lots of people go down for two major reasons.
#1 Drugs: Your allowed to have a 3 month supply with you when you come back to America, so people go down there with empty bottles from a recent prescription, fill up there and come back.
#2 Dentistry: There are a few good ones down there and they are drastically cheaper.
When you go by bus, there is a lot less checking on you.
The Mexican official just comes on the bus before it goes in, probably takes a bribe from the company and leaves.
On the way back, at one point you exit the bus, go through the border where they check your ID. Quickly if you seem American.
Then back on the bus and you are back.
About $4 to ride both ways. Best thing to do, rather than drive in and be at risk more so.
My parents lived outside of Guaymas in the early 70s, so we went down fairly often, and no problems.
After they moved back stateside, about 5 years later, we didn't go down anymore until we drove to Mazatlan for the 1992 total eclipse.
At that time, the changes were striking. The toll booths on the hiways were sandbagged and fortified, with mounted & manned machineguns on the roofs, and platoon strength Federales with automatic weapons, and 6-bys and Jeeps with mounted .30's in defensive positions.
The new "freeway" had signs posted warning people NOT to use it without waiting for military escorts. The old hiway was safer.
Many of the haciendas were being fortified with new perimeter walls, and new watchtowers, with gunslits, built at the corners and entrances; and the ground between the walls and buildings was being cleared. Some looked like they were digging tunnels to the perimeter towers
Federale squad-strength foot patrols were everywhere along the roads.
Trash all over the place, and villagers dirtier than I had ever seen them.
Haven't been back since, and don't plan to.