The obvious answer is yes and no. While the U.S. government (aside from Vice President Biden’s refreshingly honest statement that he would advise family members not only to avoid Mexico, but also confined spaces such as subways and airplanes) has stopped short of advising U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Mexico, the general unspoken message is just that.
You can bet that references to swine flu risks will be piled on top of a nod to the economy in upcoming articles from newspaper travel sections (what’s left of them) and glossy magazines. Now, they say, “8 ways to satisfy your wanderlust without breaking the bank.” Soon, it’ll be simply, “Staying away from influenza outbreaks? 8 places to see closer to home.”
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
But there’s an interesting piece from the Associated Press via MSNBC today, about Mexico City’s suddenly clear air, quiet streets, and plummeting crime rates . In fact, aside from your risk of catching a possibly deadly illness, Mexico City has never looked so good. (Although, with so many businesses and cultural centers closed and few people out and about, you might be at a loss for something to do.)
Admittedly, as attractive as it sounds, I won’t be going to Mexico City right now. I don’t have the time, or the money, and, yes, I do not want to expose my toddler to the swine flu.
But that last argument is a bit nonsensical. For any of us, the chances of dying in a car accident any day of the week are exponentially higher than catching swine flu. Almost nobody considers staying home for that reason. And I could take my son to any number of countries where he’s more likely to catch some wretched illness.
So today, even if a visit to Mexico City is hypothetical for me, I fall back on my advice to travelers and writers alike: learn to listen to your instincts, and then trust them. And above all, never make a choice in response to fear. Fear makes us powerless, and almost always backfires. Use your brain: weigh options, try to look objectively at the facts, but never trust fear to lead you.
From Perceptive Travel webzine: Unbalanced in the Sinking City
