Many Americans, including visitors from the Bay Area, are stuck in Mexico after Sunday’s violence in Puerto Vallarta. Diane Hicks, a woman from the East Bay, is stranded at a resort south of the border, 20 minutes from the airport in Puerto Vallarta. She said she wants to come back home to Live rmore but can’t because many American airlines have canceled their flights to and from Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. Hicks, her husband, four friends and hundreds of other guests at the resort have been told to shelter in place. Even if the airport in Puerto Vallarta was open, she said she wouldn’t know how to get there since no taxis will come to the resort. Violence broke out on Sunday after the Mexican army killed a man known as El Mencho, the leader of one of the fastest-growing drug cartels in that country. There were shootings, fires and explosions throughout the region of Puerto Vallarta after his death. The U.S. State Department has told U.S. citizens to shelter in place, citing “ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity.” Hicks said no one, including workers, is coming in and out of the resort but still feels safe even though there doesn’t appear to be any armed security on site. She said the grocery store at the resort is already sold out. While there is still food in the restaurants, the wait is two to three hours because everyone is eating on the property. Hicks knew something was up on Sunday when the guide for their planned fishing trip texted that he couldn’t make it. “My husband said that he heard some explosions. I didn’t hear it… but he heard some explosions, and the beach is closed; you can’t go out on the beach,” Hicks said. “We were seeing, like, big black plumes of smoke around not too far from here.” Mexico 14 hours ago Security forces keep up fight with cartel gunmen a day after the Mexican military killed a drug lord Mexico 10 hours ago What to know about the killing of powerful cartel leader ‘El Mencho' in Mexico Mexico Feb 22 U.S. citizens in Mexico told to shelter in place after killing of cartel leader ‘El Mencho' Hicks said she is spending time at the pool, the restaurant when she can get in, and watching TV. Interestingly, she said the English-speaking channels are no longer available in her hotel room. When reflecting on the intended vacation, Hicks said wasn’t sure if she would make plans to do a trip like this again. “My husband and I haven’t had a vacation like this in 20 years,” Hicks said. “And we decided to go do something, and now I’m like, I don’t know if I want to do this again.” On Monday morning, the president of Mexico said the situation has calmed down and expects flights to resume in a few days. ...read more read less