Adios, Mexico

Sorry for the long delay in blogging. I’ve been so busy with work and life I’ve barely had time to consume any media, let alone comment on it!

The story that’s upsetting me the most is this new swine flu outbreak coming out of Mexico. So far, according to NPR, there haven’t been any deaths in the US, but there have been an estimated 2,000 deaths due to swine flu in Mexico. The CDC is recommending people do not travel to Mexico and a British airline suspended its flights into the country.

With the recent drug-war violence taking place along the border, travel to Mexico is being strongly discouraged. This breaks my  heart – Mexico is my “first love,” so to speak. It was the first foreign country I ever visited, and I’ve returned twice since that first magical visit in 1997. Every year, I long to return – there is still so much of the country that I want to see. I find myself craving the taste of fresh juices, the sounds of street musicians and honking traffic, the drag-queen colors of the houses and shops, and even the smell of diesel fuel.

I know I probably won’t be able to afford to return this winter, but the fact that I cannot go, or should not go, doesn’t compute. I will continue to hold out hope that these recent events will be temporary, and my beloved Mexico will once again welcome visitors with open arms.