Good to see that you are calming down, C.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

Funny. I was just getting ready to say that probably by now you feel worse, not better. Reading all these reports of how you could die today or get hit by the bus seems an odd way to cheer one up.

By the way, I've told this story before, but friends of ours were in France during 9/11. They cut their trip short to return home to Florida as they just felt it didn't seem safe to be traveling then. Within a week after returning home, she was crossing the street near her house and actually DID get hit by a bus which killed her. This goes in the stranger than fiction category. So I cringe every time I hear that "you could get hit by a bus" comment.

As a Canadian, I know how you are feeling. Living in Toronto, I am well aware of the incidents that you are talking about. People outside of our country (Toronto?) are probably not aware of how much publicity there has been over these events...as well as the Canadian girl who was killed in Bermuda, and whose parents have teamed up with Sherie Blair (wife of Tony) to try to overcome some amateurish policing and justice. Right now, Mexico, to me, is looking like a sketchy(ier) place to go.

That being said, I have no qualms about going to Europe or Asia. In Dec 05 I went to Ghana, West Africa. I had qualms about going to a 3rd world country, would I be pestered, robbed ( I would be an obvious tourist)...and yet, I had the time of my life and the people and country was amazing. I've been to Europe many times, including last November and am planning a trip to Turkey this summer. Turkey, where on the front pages of my paper they talk about massive rallies and protests.

So...I am still planning trips. The media will always be looking for the stories that will get people's attention. I am not naive, I know that every country has its problems, and that as a foreigner I must be aware...of my surroundings, of cultural differences,etc. I don't travel paranoid, but I aim to travel "smart".

That being said...tell us again where your next trip is going to be? :)

It's really a tragedy about your friend. You are understandably shaken and grieving for your friends.

If it helps, my daughter was in Greece last year and couldn't say enough about how warm and welcoming the Greek people were. The food was amazing, the prices low compared to Italy. You will be fine.
:)>-

It isn't just Canadians...

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p...a/pa_3028.html

"...Narcotics-Related Violence - U.S. citizens residing and traveling in Mexico should exercise caution when in unfamiliar areas and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Violence by criminal elements affects many parts of the country, urban and rural, including border areas. In recent months there have been execution-style murders of Mexican officials in Tamaulipas (particularly Nuevo Laredo), Michoacan, Baja California, Guerrero (particularly Acapulco), Nuevo Leon (especially in and around Monterrey) and other states......In recent years dozens of U.S. citizens have been kidnapped in Nuevo Laredo with more than two dozen cases still unresolved and new cases of kidnap for ransom continue to be reported. No one can be considered immune from kidnapping on the basis of occupation, nationality, or other factors. Drug cartel members have been known to follow and harass U.S. citizens traveling in their vehicles, particularly in border areas including Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros....."

For more detailed information on staying safe in Mexico, please see the Mexico Consular Information Sheet at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p...s/cis_970.html.

Allowing for the fact that bad things can happen anywhere, I've never felt safer or more relaxed that when I've been in Greece. We travelled to Greece a couple of weeks after 9/11 and that week helped me put the world back in perspective again.

Hope you have a truly relaxing holiday.

Michel_Paris,

Yes other people in Canada (and not just in Toronto) have heard the news stories about Canadians being hurt/murdered/run over/kidnapped in Mexico and I am kinda getting tired of hearing about it! I have to admit that the last time I was in Mexico (Loreto) I was a bit nervous when wandering outside of the resort area. I know most of the incidents happen ON the resort grounds...I wish I knew why it was happening.

Chopin - I am very sorry to hear about your friend. I just read the news about this yesterday and was thinking to myself "what's happening down there?". It is unfortunate that the policeman investigating this incident was also the officer who investigated the murder of the husband/wife in Cancun. They still haven't figured out what happened...except trying to pin it on two Canadian woman.

Regardless, I really do that your friends family will be able to bring him home safely and say their proper goodbyes.

I find it very frustrating that that the CDN government is "thinking" about issuing a warning to Canadians about travelling to Mexico. Don't know how many more people will have to be injured and killed before they finally do post a warning though.

Do have a wonderful trip and think of your friend fondly forever.