I’m sitting in a lounge at Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City awaiting my flight home following an all-too-brief two-week trip that involved both volunteer duties and fun, both here in CDMX and in the state of Oaxaca. When I say that Mexico asked me to carry a message home with me, I’m not just using a figure of speech: three people here have literally asked me to bring back this message.

Mexico is beautiful. Mexico is fun and exciting and interesting. Mexico is a great place for a vacation, whether you seek beaches, mountains, art, history & archeology, architecture, food & drink, music, partying, etc.

But most importantly, Mexico is safe. As safe as most other countries. Like any other place in this world, if you go looking for trouble, you’ll have no problem finding some. But if you use common sense and do a little research beforehand, you’ll have an incredible time and never have need to worry beyond where to eat your next meal or whether you want pulque natural or pulque curado.

The news out of Mexico focuses so greatly on the country’s ills that a skewed picture has been created in the minds of many around the world. The Mexicans I spoke with and who asked that I share my positive experiences here know that the country faces many serious problems. But so do all other countries. The difference is that those issues seldom dominate the impression given of other countries to the degree that they have with Mexico.

I’ll have more detailed posts about my time here in Mexico, but for the sake of carrying this message to others outside, suffice it to say that I’ve enjoyed my time here, never felt anything other than safe whether walking alone or taking public transport or taxis or Uber, was almost always warmly greeted including at places far off the usual tourist routes, wish I could have stayed much longer and seen much more of the country, and intend to return as soon as possible. I hope more people do, too, especially first-timers!