Mexico ~ This Much I know Is True!

Sunday, 2026-02-22: a typical morning for tourists in Mexico—bars and restaurants opening early with Olympic hockey on every screen. But after the medals were won, an unexpected wave of chaos swept through Puerto Vallarta and its neighbouring communities, reminding visitors that life here is never dull and always full of stories.

As the news unfolded, some real, some not, we were advised to shelter in place. We could see black plumes of billowing smoke from vehicle fires close by and could hear explosions in the distance. We had no desire to become a headline.  We searched for reliable news sources hoping what was on social media was fake and trying to filter out true from imaginative drama. Sadly, some of it was true, roadblocks,  car jackings, and vehicle fires, stores and restaurants set on fire, flights cancelled and airports closed. There was no direct credible evidence that tourists were being targeted.

It was unnerving to think our bit of paradise could become unsafe. Where normally fisherman would be cleaning their overnight catch and farmers would be up before the stars fade,  their hands shaping the earth so neighbours and strangers alike could share a meal, the area was locked down.

Yes, there are cartels, who exercised their careful retaliation against the government, posturing as reminder they exist as an illicit organization linked to drug and arms trafficking. Yes, Mexico’s fabric has flaws—just as every country’s does. But violence is not the soul of this place. Community is.

Mexico refuses to be defined by a single story. This country is a mosaic of cultures, languages, and dreams: ancient traditions intertwined with modern ambition, contradictions nestled alongside vibrant beauty.

Too often, social media and fake news—paints Mexico with a single, fearful brushstroke. It chooses fear over curiosity, feeds stereotypes and privilege, and shrinks a dynamic nation into a silhouette of danger.

But those of us who have chosen to vacation or live in Mexico know better. We choose community, connection, and a place where greetings are still exchanged on the street, where gatherings fill town squares, and where kindness never goes out of style.

Mexico is not a cautionary tale. It’s a story waiting to be understood, respected, and celebrated—one of wild diversity, resilience, and humanity. This much I know is true: this country is not defined by danger, but by dignity, connection, and the relentless joy of living.

We will be back!