Long day! Very surreal being finished with all the projects to complete before traveling. This morning, no more projects, simply sitting on the patio one more time in the morning warmth with breakfast and a coffee!
Flowing day!
Intentional travel! Before going on a trip, I imagine things unfolding as I would like. Friends express concerns that “Mexico isn’t safe” but have never been here. If I’m not careful, collective ideas like that creep in and then I have to deal with that unintentional intention.
Being clear, I choose the experience ahead of my departure. For days I’ve been saying and feeling, “Wow! Wasn’t that an awesome trip to Mexico I had next week!” Imagining flow, ease, perfect connections, things working out and meeting wonderful people!
With first class transport to the airport this morning (thanks Sis’s) and even getting there early, check in was a breeze! A very helpful agent took care of me and then told me which security line was moving fastest. I arrived around 9:00 am. By 9:30, I was checked in, through security and in line for a coffee.
Before I put my order in, I met two people in line…one in front of me (from Brazil) and the other behind me (coming from Hawaii and heading to Minneapolis). We had a great connection and stood talking to each other well after our drinks were served. Genuine enthusiastic connection, first person sharing and connecting, such good food for my Soul!
The flight to Mexico City actually arrived about 25 minutes early! Once again, I left a new friend I sat by who is working in Denver (visiting family in Mexico City) and walked through the airports to customs and baggage claim with Evelyn. I helped put her backpack up and that was all it took for connection. Especially when she went way out of her way to get my attention and make sure I heard her say “Thank You”! I noticed the book she was reading, “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz in the Spanish version. As we were departing, I commented on that. Don Miguel Ruiz received his vision for writing that work while visiting Teotihuican! I mentioned that to her. She whipped out her phone and scrolled through her photo’s showing me a photo of her and her mother at those ruins!
Lovely lady and lovely connection!!
Timeline and transportation: we arrived early. Baggage arrival took a long time. Even with that, I was through customs, through immigration, through baggage claim, at an ATM for money and finished getting a Telcel (Mexico) sim card in my phone in 45 minutes.
Danger....blog warnings!
Once again, I am reminded of the old Sufi saying, “Only a fool trusts another’s word over their own experience.” Making sense of traveler’s advice is challenging. They are all over the place, can be extreme, and are based completely on personal experience. And that is formed by personal attitude!
Concerned by several postings that rush hour is ALWAYS crowded! DON’T ride the metro then. Feeling into it, I knew taxi’s can be expensive. Uber is about half that cost. And at rush hour, they both have to contend with packed roadways. Feeling that riding the metro was the “lighter and more flowing” option, I walked through the terminal to the metro stop.
If it was crazy crowded, I would go back up to the street and call Uber. Not only was it NOT crowded, staff and other travelers were most helpful! I purchased my ticket for 5 pesos, about 25¢ and the ticket agent told me which line and what sign to look for.
The gate wasn’t working. Simultaneously, two passengers walking through and a transit guard helped me out. In 20 minutes, I was getting off at my stop: Central Autobus del Norte. I saw no gringo’s on the metro. I went into the huge bus station to get oriented for the morning. Then, walking five minutes, I was at my hotel by 5:30!
The hotel is nice, the staff great and they offered me some tips for when I get to Oaxaca. I went walking with my camera to the bus station again and to look for something to eat. WOW…this really feels like the authentic experience I was looking forward to. And it feels like I’ve been gone much longer than only one day!