I woke this morning with ideas of traveling. However, that didn’t feel right so I checked with the front desk and was able to extend my stay one more night. I was in Tapachula, Mexico, and wanted to explore for one more day.
I’d asked several people for a recommendation for a good, economical local place to eat? And I received a recommendation. I forgot how varied each person’s interpretation of “local” can be! This was upscale local, not my kind of place. However, I was hungry!
CLUE: When asking several people and they all give only one recommendation and it’s the same one as the others, they just might have a relation to the restaurant!! I knew this but since it was Sunday and most places were closed, I decided to give it a whirl.
CORRECT ASSUMPTION: Yesterday I had lunch and dinner, with a beer, for $77 pesos. Breakfast this morning, tiny as it was, with coffee, was $140 pesos.
At my hostel in, I was referred to two or three different places by Kika and more by other staff! Clue!
That was when I went on a slow Sunday morning walk. No rain, lots of sun, no people out. Sleepy Sunday morning. I went to the bus station to see exactly what my options were. After asking several questions, and learning about schedules and costs, I was able to use their WiFi and look at options.
The weather was the same everywhere I considered. Oaxaca was a possibility but I would be there in a couple of weeks. So I asked which one felt better. Immediately, I realized that even with the rain, I’d prefer to be at the beach! So I listened to that and headed that direction!
I went back to purchase my ticket and learned that it was $400 pesos less today than it would have been to purchase it tomorrow. And then I wrote to Daniel at Posada Brisas Marina. I stayed there before so this would be reliving great old memories. And, they have a lot of hammocks in front!
Since writing to Daniel before my trip, the prices have changed. They have basic wood bungalows with shared baths or private rooms with bath. For the low season, they have lowered the price $100 pesos so the private room is $250 pesos ($13) per night.
This afternoon I asked for a recommendation for where to purchase a SIM card for my phone? Here, they are called “chips”. Yes, that is very important to know!
The first place recommended a second place. The second place was completely confused although it was a big electronics store. So I let it go and went walking.
Behind the church near the central plaza is a local market. I wandered through there and turned left to head back toward my hotel. One block later, I was standing in front of the Telcel Company, huge cell phone company in Mexico. And yes, they are open on Sunday.
Uncertain of how to proceed, I simply walked up to a window. No one was waiting. The man suggested I go back to reception and get a number. When I explained what I wanted, he showed me a computer screen, I selected an option, he turned me over to someone else, and in 15 minutes, I was out the door with a SIM card…excuse me…a new CHIP for my phone! The cost for one month of service, 200 pesos or only slightly more than breakfast.
This evening, I said hello to a man sitting in his wheelchair near the front desk. Asking how he was doing turned into an hour-long conversation about his amputation 6 months ago (via train), his ensuing therapy and rehab, and his decision to be clearer on what a meaningful life is to him. He’s learned how important focus is! Awesome conversation!
Yes, I am happy I listened!
