Maria Dolores Aguirre’s family corner store has lived off tourism that has flowed into her charming cobblestoned town of Tapalpa, tucked away in the mountains of Jalisco state.

Around 10,000 troops have been deployed to restore order after violence spread across 20 of Mexico’s 32 states.

By Raul Cortes, Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Sarah Morland MEXICO CITY, Feb 23 (Reuters) - A tip about drug lord Nemesio Oseguera's romantic liaisons led Mexican authorities to the cartel leader's hideout in a small town of Jalisco state where he was killed,

Authorities used the location of a woman who was with Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the drug kingpin known as "El Mencho," to find him.

Chicagoans visiting Mexico described the tense moments they spent hiding or running away from men carrying guns. Others with roots in western Mexico said the violence hits close to home.

Meanwhile, heavily armed Mexican security forces kept up their battle with cartel gunmen following the killing that sparked a surge in violence and put the country on edge. Cartel fighters continued to block roads as smoke rose on the outskirts of the town in the state of Jalisco.

RIU Hotels & Resorts, which operates 23 hotels in Mexico, eased the restriction a day after the death of a notorious cartel boss.

Travelers stranded and airlines cancel flights after violence spreads in western Mexico. Here's what officials are advising Texans.