I recently returned from a two-week sojourn to Mexico. I always feel like I need to clarify that it was _Mexico_ not Cancun, because I'm a real traveler damn it. We planned the trip about a month and a half out and that's about as last-minute as I get (I'm working on it). We went to Puebla and the small towns surrounding it for most of the trip and spent the last two days in Mexico City.
It was perfect.
I have a very thick, very pink pair of rose-colored glasses for that trip and maybe Mexico in general.
Not to say that I want to move down there or that I didn't see problems that the cities and residents have, but my vacation was perfect.
Sure, we almost got robbed at gun point, but when you're a very pale, very blue-haired American at a bus stop in a little town with a lot of bags, what can you expect. We didn't _actually_ get robbed, so it doesn't count.
Upon returning and telling people where I went, I was surprised by people's reactions. There were a lot of "weren't you scared" and "you're so brave" responses. Which was strange to me. Maybe I'm just strolling along with a thick cloak of American privilege (I'm actually quite sure that I am), but it wasn't much of a consideration to be scared. I know that there is danger, but so what? I should have stayed home instead of having an incredible experience because people get robbed? People get robbed everywhere. Sure, maybe I have a higher chance of something happening in Mexico seeing as I was so clearly an extranjera, but I made a point to try to avoid walking about shady lanes late at night. At least while I was alone.
And you know what. I was fine. Nothing terrible happened, other than getting sick (it turns out that ice is part of the whole "don't drink the water" thing). I saw so many amazing things. Ate way too much. Marginally improved my Spanish. And I can't wait to go back.