I've been reading about violent crimes against US tourists in Mexico. I've been invited to attend a friend's wedding on a cruise from Long Beach to Ensenada in February. We will be spending one day in Ensenada. Is it safe for a woman to go around sightseeing there? What about transportation - are the cabs safe? How do you negotiate the fare?

Please advise - I'm worried!

You'll be fine. I did a similar cruise and never once felt threatened in Ensenada. I recommend seeing the blowhole if possible. Several tours of Ensenada will be offered by the cruise, but if you want to go on your own simply find a cabbie and ask the going rate. If you don't like what you hear, move on to another cabbie.

But if you are still going to be worried, just take the excursion offered by the ship. I did the ship's blowhole excursion and had a blast.

P.S. I've been on many, many trips to Mexico, probably 35 trips or more. I am a blonde female and although I do get some attention in Mexico, I have never felt threatened. Please stop believing the media, they are full of crap.

I'm curious how the trip went?

I love Ensenada, and as someone who has for a long time dated a local, and traveled between the US and there many times (alone - female - blonde) I feel very at home in the city.

The press says lots of bad things about Juarez too, and after many trips, I feel just as comfortable there as I do in El Paso