My daughter spent a couple of months travelling around Mexico and said she felt perfectly safe. Mind you, she did her research and stayed away from known trouble spots. She loved the people, the culture and their food.
I may have misled thinking by my remark about "power". When we lived in Phoenix, we travelled to Mexico, by car, perhaps twice annually, the distance requiring expenditure of a whole day there and back. Specifically, we entered Mexico west of Yuma, Arizona, entering the small border town of Algodones. There, one could find at least one Pharmacy in every city block's distance. I purchased my B.P. medicine for about 6 cents per dose, as opposed to the prescription price in Phoenix which exceeded a dollar. The medicine came sealed in the exact same containers as my prescription meds bought in Phoenix, manufactured in New Jersey. To say we realized then, the prescription drug rip-off mechanism, would be putting it mildly. Regulations officially stated that only 90 days supply be allowed to cross the border, and one's prescription be shown to the U.S. Border Guard. "Regulations" evidently were swayed in favor of American buyers, as we were never accosted, searched, or otherwise hindered in bringing back sufficient meds to last for years.
We always parked in U.S. territory, and walked across the border. Agents seemed most intent on "busting" big contraband shipments, truckloads, rather than harassing tourist-like individuals. Aside from all this, the town of Algodones appeared quaint, very old, but bleak. Kids begged for handouts. Few vehicles drove the streets. Hundreds of folks on foot were always present. We never witnessed any violence, nor saw any police other than the border guards. The Mexican people engaged in selling goods tried hard to appear friendly. Behind the façade, one could sense the envy, almost hostile, on many faces. Going there was always exciting, the old Spanish-style architecture beckoning closer scrutiny. But always, we heaved sighs of relief, when back on U.S. soil. imp
