Safe Travel in Mexico

I visited the state of Michoacan (Morelia, Patzcuaro, Zitaquero), Mexico, last month (March 2013). Our small group went to view the wintering Monarch butterflies, to cook with Diana Kennedy, and to visit the workshops of many superb craftspeople. We had a wonderful time, with never an untoward incident. I want to tell anyone who is hesitant to visit Mexico that I saw absolutely nothing to cause alarm. On the contrary, I found a peaceful, welcoming people whose main worry is the falloff of American tourism due to the bad press Mexico has received. This was my 6th trip to Mexico in the past 5 years--Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Merida and the Yucatan, two trips to Chiapas and this one to Michoacan. Not once did I feel threatened in any way.