First of all, happy birthday! Hope you had a lovely day and would enjoy hearing more about it.

Your story was very tense and well-written. It's amazing that you are so brave to do all the traveling on your own! In this case you had a companion, but still it was very dangerous. I have never been to Mexico and can't even imagine a country where the gangs are cooperating with the police, people are cut into pieces and nothing happens from the government side. That is crazy, please stay safe, especially as a woman.

But anyway, today is your Birthday, so keep celebrating and enjoying it. Hope you had some nice birthday cake :)