by Emily Barr
Wed, 05/07/2014 - 1:10pm
First things first, I got engaged last night! That pretty much trumps anything else I could tell you about Mexico. This is the best place to be and I couldn’t be happier to share it with my new fiancé and family.
People only get to see the somewhat glamorous news stories of drug lords, and kidnappings, and the violent crimes done to law enforcement. Is all of that happening? Yes. Does it happen in the United States too? Yes.
I’m from Chicago, which a lot of people are now calling “Chi-raq.” There is murder there and it is sad and it is real, but it is all about location, location, location. Just because there are murders and gang-related issues in one part of Chicago should not prompt someone going on a business trip to get scared. Don’t walk down an unknown boulevard at three in the morning looking to buy drugs and I’m sure you’ll be fine. This mentality is the same anywhere. When Americans decide it’s too dangerous, they stop going. When they stop going, it hurts the Mexican economy. When it hurts the Mexican economy, it affects honest people’s lives. Come to Mexico. Stay in a safe place. Plan the taxi and services ahead of time and ask friends where they have been that they enjoyed.
I lived in Puerto Vallarta for a year, and Uruapan, Michoacan for another year. Uruapan has been known to be a very violent, drug-infested, gang-run city. I was the only white person I saw for that entire year. It is not a tourist town for obvious reasons. I was never out after dark by myself, and I took proper precautions to keep myself safe. Would I suggest a group of tourists go there? Probably not. It is not to be rude, but realistic. Patzcuaro is another city that is nearby that I’ve seen tourists stay. It is extremely beautiful and authentic. The Day of the Dead celebration is held there every November and Mexican people come from all over to celebrate around the lake. Gringos even retire there. Like I said, it really is about where you are staying. Most Americans and Canadians stick to the tourist places like Cozumel, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Playa del Carmen. Those places are so unbelievably safe, even at night. Police patrol, sometimes to Americans surprise, with guns. The cities are watched over and protected because so much of their income comes from tourism! There will always be crime all over the world because people are not perfect. Don’t let one area or one problem keep you from enjoying a beautiful country. I urge you, come visit your neighbors to the South and learn about a beautiful and rich culture that is worth enjoying.
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