That is so opposite to our experience in Merida. Not the presence ... we were constantly inundated with Federales, State Police, and the Army, all loaded up with weapons (no pun intended). And yet, we were always treated with respect and kindness and courtesy, often helped in situations where U.S. police would never have intervened. As a result, the city always felt safe as safe could be. Except maybe for those bottle rockets we thought were a Revolution in the making .....