Two months have flown by. As I near the day of my return flight, different thoughts and focus move in.
For example, I won’t wonder which dial in the shower to turn for hot water and if there is really “hot” water! No more wastebaskets by the toilet for used paper. I can drink any water I want!
No more groups of “penguino” tourist, traveling in a pack, following the one with the sign or umbrella.
Fewer smiling responsive faces! And leaving the hostal, a walk in any direction is immediately interesting, block after block. Not so at home.
No more taco stands where people serve awesome inexpensive food and remember me after my first visit.
Driving a car for the first time in two months!
Artistry and color is everywhere here! The photo above is of workmen covering the church spire with fresh mosaic by hand. Sidewalk repair, manual. Highway construction, manual. Primary attitude involved: patience!
No more pesos and mental conversion. And everything will cost much, much more. I’ll miss the taste of fresh avocado’s and tomato’s and salsa’s made fresh daily.
It’s been a great adventure!
Highlights of my two months!
Simple loving people! I stopped on a sidewalk to wait for a man with a walker coming up the drive. He gave me the biggest smile as he said thank you! I patted him on the shoulder reminding him “cuidarse”, be safe, take care. His entire family thanked me.
Gentler life here.
Visiting new places has been awesome! My first trip into any part of Mexico was to the Baja 34 years ago. Since then, I’ve been many times to different places.
Lots of changes but one thing has remained the same, the people here are “muy amable”, very friendly. Of course some of that is because I am and it reflects back to me.
Hot springs, mountains, colorful villages, largest pyramid ever built in the world, beaches of Oaxaca, cold highlands of Sierra del Norte, sampling new Mezcal’s and eating new foods. Simply awesome!
Seeing old friends, meeting new ones, having rich genuine conversation, talking about what purposeful and meaningful living is, listening to stories, encouraging and being encourages, the human part of travel is the most nourishing for me!
Highlights of my two months!
Priorities! Find what is important and do it!
The most common question here is “are you solo”??? This is a very family based culture so it’s strange to locals seeing someone traveling by themselves. However, I am in very good company!
I continue to meet two or three or four people traveling together who don’t every appear to talk with anyone else!?
I talk to everyone! The men at the street taco stand last night look up, recognized me and welcomed me back. Alone but connected!
Over and over that happens!
And how do I travel? I choose to! Live shows up to support whatever your intention is.
In one conversation in Spanish and English, a friend was explaining how he started his company. They had a vision about a running experience. So they put a few friends together and created an experience. They made video of the experience. The response on YouTube was shocking. Financing followed. More people wanted to be involved and things grew from thee. They have run in Bolivia, Peru and are headed to Israel.
How? What was important to helping that happen. He started explaining a concept from a book that is helpful and I realized what he was talking about. It is the most common book people refer to when I’m traveling around the world.
In “The Alchemist”, he writes essentially that the entire Universe conspires to help make your dreams come true! Stay clear on your dreams, stay out of the way, be receptive and watch what happens. That’s how his dream turn into reality. That’s how I travel!
I found the authors website with “Ten Powerful Life Lessons from The Alchemist”. Click the link to visit.
Awesome! Make yours an awesome life!
Thanks for your thoughts and documentatiom of your last 2 months
You inspire me. I travel solo also.
Safe travels home, and keep on traveling. Beth Guth
Thanks Beth! Traveling alone means I talk with everyone. I’ve met so many couples or groups of people who barely say hello to those around them. Whatever works I guess! Take care!
Hi Larry.
Thank you for sharing your photos and stories.
Although every journey contains a bit of everything (for balance), I so love hearing the warmth and love and joyful adventure that rises to the top and integrates into you and your life . May that warmth and those smiles sustain you when you get “home” and even appear there for real to nourish you in the in-between travel times.
Thank you Nancy! Every adventure is different. Apparently, that’s why they are called adventures. Compared to living in any sort of rut, this requires so much openness to what “is” and flexibility to adapt to everything, moment by moment. What an experience! Back in my first hostal, new friends I met the first time greeted me with such a warm embrace! That’s the part I miss back in the USA. And, I haven’t heard anyone here say they were “busy”!