U.S. journalist resident in Mexico Jeremy Schwartz provides a refreshingly clear and insightful view of the reality of traveling in Mexico in a recent post on his Uncovering Mexico Blog. 

He writes: “While there are certainly some failed cities – I would never tell loved ones to go anywhere near Ciudad Juarez or Tijuana or Culiacan – most of the country is still stable and peaceful.  As violent as the drug war has become, its victims are still overwhelmingly connected to the cartels.  Few innocents are caught in the cross-fire.  I wouldn’t necessarily recommend a sightseeing trip to certain border towns or through the remote mountains of the Sierra Madre, but tourists should feel comfortable booking a trip to places like Puerto Vallarta or Oaxaca or Veracruz.

…

Viewing Mexico as an ungovernable chaos is to make a caricature of this vast, complex country.  As I told my friends and family, it can prevent you from enjoying the magic that still courses through Mexico’s veins.”

Amen.