Reaction to Renewed Mexican Violence

While it isn't the focus of conversation here, at least not yet, there is without a doubt some concern that has arisen with the sudden increase of drug violence here in Mexico. Seventeen people were murdered Saturday in Acapulco, just down the the coast. And in Ciudad Juarez, just south of El Paso, three U.S. Embassy workers were gunned down the same day. Because of that, those of us who live here received a lengthy email today from the U.S. Consulate advising us of the potential danger. For some parts of Mexico, it included a recommendation that travel be limited, and residents stay in their homes.

The timing of the escalation is particularly troubling. It comes as thousands of North Americans are set to converge on Mexico's coastal resort towns for the upcoming spring break. Today, as we drove some friends to the airport here in Puerto Vallarta for their flight back to Canada, tour buses were lined up, row after row, presumably to take arriving vacationers to their prepaid packaged resorts. It was just one year ago when tourism here totally vanished with the triple hit of swine flu, a depressed economy, and emerging drug wars. While it has rebounded significantly, the rebound could be seriously jeopardized with the reports of violence.

So far, there has not been any reports of increased violence during the past few weeks in Puerto Vallarta. That being said, earlier this year, there was a shootout at one of the most popular nightclubs here which left several dead. Suspected drug dealers were captured, but as the police were taking them to the local prison, the convoy was ambushed by the dealers' associates. More were killed in that ambush on the highway leading out of town. We have also heard of other killings and abductions in some of the neighborhoods outside the central area of Puerto Vallarta.

In general, we still feel safe here. But we are also vigilant. We don't go out late at night, and we don't venture into questionable areas. And while the U.S. today issued that advisory for travel to Mexico, Puerto Vallarta was not one of the many cities singled out as being a hot spot for cartel violence.