Mexico is safe!

I spent two weeks in February 2012 in Mexico in Mexico City and in Chiapas. Never at any time did I feel threatened or even unwelcome. Quite the contrary. We (www.mymexicotours.com) were in Mexico City for five days and spent our time in local markets, Chapultepec Park, floating on the canals (a revelation! I didn't know Mexico City had canals, rather like San Antonio's River Walk) and downtown. We hailed taxis on the street and also took the subway--safe and clean and efficient. In San Cristobal, Chiapas, we wandered at will, and visited outlying villages: San Juan Chamula, Chenalo, and another whose name escapes me. it was Carnaval, and each village celebrated differently (and totally unlike Rio or New Orleans). Our small group of gringos was tolerated in Chamula, welcomed in Chenalo, and in the third, we were greeted with hugs and offers of beer with salt and chili and liberally covered with talcum powder, a local custom, adding to the general hilarity. Undoubtedly there are places in Mexico that are not safe, but to stay away from the entire country because there is trouble hundreds of miles to the north is like not visiting St. Louis because there is trouble in Arizona.