Any travel article or blog about Mexico these days has to start with the drug cartel problem. There’s just no way around that, and to ignore that issue is disingenuous at best, and journalistically irresponsible at worst. So let’s get that out of the way rig ht off before I tell you why y ou shouldn’t be dissuaded from visiting the great country of Mexico. I don’t need to describe what’s been going on for the past five years since President Calderon took office,immediately declaring war against the brutal cartels. The traditional news providers headline their accounts every time someone gets whacked, as the gruesome details of mass graves, torture and innocent bystanders serve 
to frighten the frijoles out of a public that is way too eager to believe whatever is spoon-fed them in print. But nowadays we have the internet, where we can actually “talk” to people who travel Mexico frequently. And they will tell you that you have nothing to fear as long as you or your family members aren’t working drug deals or gun running. The guys, the drug assassins, hit people who are messing with their business. They have no interest in random killing or robbery of tourists, opening up that messy can of worms. They have enough to handle fighting the Mexican feds; they don’t need the foreign governments and embassies in the mix. Yes, of course, there is some crime in Mexico, but it ranks #39 in the world for crimes per capita. By the way, the U.S. ranks #8 (#1 is the worse). Some people say to stay away from border towns, but I cross over to Tijuana from San Diego with no hesitation, as I have for years.Where else am I going to get a mesquite-fired street taco and a cold beer for a couple of bucks? Don’t think you can’t go to Mexico because it is unsafe. It is not. I know many gringos who live throughout Mexico, and many more who travel there frequently. I talk to these people daily, and to a person, they say that Mexico is as safe as it has ever been. Most of them feel safer there than they do in their U.S. hometowns. And they always tell me what I’ve known to be true for my decades of Mexico travel – there are no nicer, friendlier people in the world. So, now that you know you can go to Mexico, where do you go? It is such an amazingly diverse country, you need to identify what you like. Do you want to sit on a beach? If so, do you want waves or calm water? Desert or jungle? How about mountains? They have the Sierra Madres populated with cobble-stoned colonial towns that date back 500 years. Pre-Columbian ruins are everywhere. You want a cosmopolitan city? Try Mexico City, Guadalajara, or Monterrey. Or how about that quaint fishing village with the hammock tied between pal m trees? There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, to choose from. I’ve been to most of them and have left a little piece of me in each. Now that you have found the place you want to visit, you need to book a flight. Mexico is easy to get to, and with its proximity to the U.S. you can usually find a great deal. When you settle into a hotel, I suggest renting a car and exploring the area. Or take public transportation. Either way, g 
et out and see the country – eat the local food – interact with the people. You’ll discover what I have always known: Mexico is a wonderful place – the amigo country. David Simmonds published The Mexico File for 11 years, is the co-founder of MexicoPremiere.co m, and founded the non-profit One Town At A Time, aimed at helping villages in Mexico become sustainable.
David Simmonds published The Mexico File for 11 years, is the co-founder of MexicoPremiere.com, and founded the non-profit One Town At A Time, aimed at helping villages in Mexico become sustainable.
