About two months ago, I purchased plane tickets for a one-week getaway to Mexico … Isla Mujeres to be exact. I would be flying to Cancun and taking the ferry to the small and beautiful island off the Pacific Coast.
My boyfriend would already be there for a week as he is taking a group of his students on a field trip to Cancun. What a great getaway to look forward to, right? Well …
Since I booked my flight, reports of drug wars began to inundate all media news. Murders, kidnappings, more murders. Border cities have become increasingly dangerous. Security efforts are on the rise. Visits to Mexico from President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton promised aid from the United States.
No worries, though. Cancun is safe. It’s a tourist city. Officials go out of their way to make sure their guests are safe and secure. Just use common sense. Don’t trek outside tourist boundaries. Don’t trust anyone outside legitimate tourist organizations.
Advice I received from a well-informed friend: If you’re traveling in a group, take a picture of each person on your cell phones in case someone goes missing. Leave any valuables at home. Create a safe word all will recognize if danger seems near.
I began to have my reservations about going on this particular “vacation.”
Now, the swine flu has emerged. The epicenter: Mexico City. Okay, well, it hasn’t hit the coastal resorts yet. Wait a minute, yes it has. Some eight girls from New York are reported to have picked up the bug after a holiday in, you guessed it, Cancun.
Travel advisories are in place. The World Health Organization says the flu can’t be contained. I’ve read some airports are taking temperatures of passengers who land in their country. People with flu-like symptoms are being quarantined. The WHO has raised the alert level to four out of six – two points away from a global pandemic.
Should I stay or should I go?
Yesterday, I made the decision to cancel my trip. Most airlines are offering refunds or credits. I can use that money for a trip elsewhere, most likely London this summer, where my boyfriend will also be in June. His reaction to my choice, however, was nothing short of disappointment. He listed statistics and the unlikely chance that we would be affected by this rising epidemic.
Yet, how can I enjoy myself in a country full of turmoil and sickness? Am I overreacting? Some may think so. I’ve asked the opinion of both men and women. It’s interesting to hear the various responses. Nonetheless, I have to go with what’s most comfortable for me. I have one week of vacation left for this year. I need to choose where I’d like to “get away” wisely.
As for the people of Mexico, my heart goes out to them. I certainly hope the troubles they have endured in recent months will come to an abrupt end. While I realize that’s next to impossible, I still can’t help but pray that peace may soon follow.
