#10 hours but one thing about mexicans is they’ll be at the airport early as fuck

[wayvtual]

i’m getting on a plane for the first time in 5 years in 10 hours who else is scared

[tannertravelslife]

Oaxaca, Oaxaca !

Two weeks spent backpacking through Mexico.

I started my trip flying from Los Angeles to Mexico City. When I arrived in Mexico, I stayed overnight in a pod hotel. They’re super convenient and cost effective, but they obviously lack most of the amenities you would find in a regular hotel or hostel. All I needed was a place to sleep that wasn’t an airport bench, and early the next morning I was on my way to Puerto Escondido. The Koffi Boys were already staying at a hostel within walking distance from the airport, called La Escondida. Definitely a step up from the simple design of the pod hotel, costing only 170 pesos (10 USD) for a night’s stay. Like most hostels, the sleeping situation is a bunkhouse-style shared dorm, (we opted for no air conditioning). In the mornings the hostel provides a small breakfast, and guests have access to two kitchens for cooking their own meals. Hostels are great if you’re up for socializing, plus you can experience the cooking and cultures of all those just passing through. Overall the vibe was very relaxed. There are other spaces besides the kitchens to hang around with fellow hostel-stayers, like the terrace and bar area. Venturing out of the hostel, downtown Puerto Escondido is less congested with fancy restaurants and bars, and more home-y in a way that feels “authentic”. La Punta and Zicatela are trendier and popular with transient visitors, and likely for a good reason, but to me they also seemed more commoditized. I generally prefer to travel a bit more immersively, but if a hip atmosphere appeals to you, check it out. 

Highlights in Puerto -

Vegetarian eats at Cocofam

This little restaurant is family-run, located right in the backyard. The food was incredible, the drinks were delicious. The menu is limited, but it’s absolutely worth checking out if you have a restricted diet (or even if you don’t)

Jugo across from the hostel

The juice spot nearby was only open until early afternoon each day and was always packed. My buddies and I would grab a drink in the morning (about 32 ounces) before we got on with our day. I recommend the “Surf Juice”.

Playa Coral

This is a “secret” beach, meaning you have to climb under a fence and hike down a trail to access it, or at least that’s how we got there. When you get down to the water, you’ll find it’s a cool and secluded spot without many people, right in front of an abandoned water park. Because it’s a bit isolated, there aren’t any options for food along the beach, so bring a picnic and watch the sunset. Just be out before it gets too dark, as the pathway down is not lit. 

Playa Carazillo

If you’re not up for making your way down an unpaved trail to get to a beach, this is a more popular and easily accessible spot. If you’re into surfing, there’s usually some decent ankle busters for beginners (the locals can be a bit territorial with their spots, so don’t expect to catch the best ever waves). Snorkeling near the shore was pretty sweet-- I even saw a few sea turtles. Playa Carazillo has the bluest waters, and is definitely a good place to spend a day. You can even rent a chair with some shade for a few bucks, and grab some grub too.

The Road to San Jose del Pacifico

After 4 days on the beaches of Puerto Escondido, we started heading towards the more mountainous San Jose del Pacifico. The town is about halfway between Puerto and Oaxaca City, tucked away in the Sierra Madre del Sur. It’s often called “magical”, both because of its beauty and because of the wild psychedelic mushrooms that grow there. These ‘shrooms are essentially decriminalized, and are sold basically everywhere, commonly preserved in honey. 

In Puerto, we left La Escondida to catch a local bus to Pochutla, about an hour and a half’s ride. The price was ~20 pesos each. ( 1 USD )  A very easy trip. The next leg of the journey was a slightly different story. From Pochutla, we bought tickets for a colectivo bus for about 150 pesos. This vehicle was absolutely nuts. The odometer read 9999999, the dash was lit up like a Christmas tree, and our driver did a quick sign of the cross as we departed. The ride up is a would-be nightmare for anyone who might be even a little hungover; the road twists and turns and winds around the mountains with very little space between the edge of the pavement and the edge of the cliff. Mads and I were practically sitting in the driver’s lap-- we kept joking that I could have grabbed the wheel and steered us off the mountain if I had wanted to. Despite sitting in the front and NOT being hungover, we still experienced a bit of carsickness. All in all, we nearly crashed only a handful of times in this uphill battle, and made it to our destination in a little over 4 stomach-churning hours. No shade directed at the bus driver; this man was truly a hero with nerves of absolute steel, steering us to victory. On arriving in San Jose del Pacifico, we walked about a half mile to our “hostel”, La Cumbre. I put “hostel” in heavy quotes, because for 150 pesos each we were treated to a private room with two queen sized beds and a desk. 

We spent two days relaxing in this mountain haven, venturing into town to eat at a local restaurant. Most meals were in the range of 35-60 pesos (about 2-3 USD). Being so high in the mountains, the evenings can get cold, and we each had 2-3 hot chocolates in the evening to keep us warm and wind us down. San Jose del Pacifico is mellow, and the best way to enjoy the town is by wandering through the streets and enjoying the views. You can also opt to trip on shrooms, if that’s your style. Relax and enjoy yourself. Two nights reading on the terrace of La Cumbre sipping chocolate, overlooking the restaurant near the hostel was good. We had some joyful conversations with other travellers around a firepit, which for 50 pesos could be lit and maintained by the restaurant staff. When it was time to move on to Oaxaca City, we bought colectivo tickets through the same company as we did on the way up. We weren’t elbow to elbow with the driver this time, but the 4-hour trip down the mountain was not nearly as harrowing. 

Just as a side note, a two hour hike from San Jose is San Mateo, which we heard is an even smaller, hippier town. We attempted to hike there, but got twisted around and ended up turning back. If you end up making it there, let me know how it is. The folks we met from the area told us it’s an off-the-beaten path, off-the-grid, psychedelic experience. 

Oaxaca City

We arrived in the afternoon and walked leisurely from the bus stop to Hostal Chocolate. The woman at the front desk told us the only beds available were in the basement, 110 pesos a night. We checked them out, and she was definitely right to give us a heads up. We decided that it wouldn’t be the most questionable thing we’d done in Mexico though, and agreed to stay. After a night, we met up with the rest of our party of 7 and checked into an Airbnb, which we stayed in for 5 days and was much more pleasant. I spent my time in Oaxaca City wandering the market places, beautiful churches, museums , and art spaces that this city has to offer. The grass roots scene for press print style artwork is huge here, and any of the studios will be happy to explain the process to you in spanglish. We took a free 3 hour walking tour and that helped us kind of get a lay of the land, pointing out some local hot spots. I am always a fan of taking the walking tour just to see what you can get out of it, usually some local spots and at the end you feel like you have a grasp on the town.  

Things to see -

Ethnobotanical Garden and Santo Domingo Cultural Museum. 

These two are located directly next to each other and are some of the most iconic landmarks in the city. It takes about 2 hours to see the museum in its entirety, but don’t rush it. It’s chock full of history, including the discovery of Tomb 7 at Monte Alban. Plan ahead so you can experience the cultural museum before the White Mountain and understand the history of everything you’ll see. The Ethnobotanical Garden is full of native plant life that is endemic to the region, meaning many of the plants are not found anywhere else on Earth. They offer a guided tour for 50 pesos in Spanish, or 100 pesos in English. If you’re looking to take some pics for Instagram, this is a good place. 

Monte Alban

A round trip bus trip to the heritage site will cost 80 pesos, and can be purchased on the west side of the Zocalo. Meet the bus driver in the morning and they'll drop you off at 9 AM. Pick-up is at noon, so you have 3 hours to take it all in. The entry fee to the mountain is another 80 pesos, but I almost recommend spending some additional money on a tour guide. There is so much to see, and having someone to guide you through the rich history may have enriched our experience. Even without, it was a humbling and beautiful place, and amazing to see the architecture of the Zapoteca still standing after centuries. 

Mercado 20 de Noviembre

It doesn’t actually have to be the 20th of November to visit this market; it’s named for the date of the Mexican Revolution. The market itself is a celebration of Mexican culture and cuisine, a deluge of smells and sights. It’s full of knick-knacks but the focus is really on the sizzling meat all around you. Everything you could ever want to eat all packed into the one market (as long as you like carne asada). 

Bolenc 

Sourdough bakery and restaurant-y deli-y place with awesome sandwiches and pizza.

Hierba Dulce

Vegetarian and vegan restaurant serving traditional Oaxacan dishes with a twist

Calle Porfirio Diaz

This bustling street is lined with hip restaurants and shops. 

Zocalo The city center square, full of shops and restaurants. 

La Cosecha

An organic harvest market filled with rich history, fresh juice, and many shops. 

Mexico, and more specifically the state of Oaxaca is a rich blast of culture waiting to be taken in. An assortment of indigenous culture paired with an array of bright primary colors everywhere you look make it hard not to have a smile on your face at all times. I reflected on my trip when I returned to my fast paced life in Los Angeles and quickly missed those cobblestone streets, siestas, and easy afternoons spent in Oaxaca. The emphasis on a happy life and much time spent with family and friends is infectiones, and I wish more people prioritized these things back here in the land of the 9-5. I look forward to returning to Oaxaca someday, and exploring the rest of what Mexico has to offer. 

Click here to receive a free copy of Oaxaca, Oaxaca ! A 16 page zine filled with 35mm photos from my trip. Just enter your name and address.

[renegadepilgrim]

A First-Timer Guide to Yelapa

I recently spent a glorious week in a tiny little hamlet south of Puerto Vallarta with my girlfriend, two good friends and my sister and her girlfriend. I want to share what I learned there so you can plan your own trip to a slice of paradise.

Where is Yelapa?

Yelapa is a 45 minute water taxi ride south of Puerto Vallarta.

See the red dot on the map below? That’s Yelapa.

Fun Facts About Yelapa You Need to Know:

There are no cars in Yelapa. The road stops about 2km from the pueblo. The only way to get there is via water taxi. Pretty cool, right?

Since there are no cars in Yelapa, they have to be creative with transport. Walking is the main form of transportation and the pueblo is easy to get around in, though the roads are a mix of dirt, concrete and cobblestone and the town is quite hilly too. Everything you want to do is within walking distance and no more than a 20-30 minute walk in any direction. You will also notice there are 4WD ATVs running around. For 50 pesos, you can have them take you pretty much anywhere in town. You will also see mules and horses. These are often used to transport goods around town. Be sure to give them right of way.

There are no ATMs in Yelapa. There are a few places that will take credit cards, but will add a service fee up to 5% onto the price to use the card. We also found a few of the jewelry vendors on the playa also took cards. That was pretty much it. Because of this, cash is king in Yelapa. You will want to bring enough cash for your trip, or plan a day trip to Puerto Vallarta to go to a bank to get more money. Do not plan on being able to use your credit cards. And do not bring USD. You are in Mexico. You will need to pay with Mexican pesos. If you do have USD, you will be able to exchange the money around town but the rate is not very good. I also recommend making sure you have bills smaller than the 500 peso ones the ATMs dispense. It helps you be a better guest to the people in town.

Cell service is spotty at best. Wifi is relatively fast, and most places have it but don’t have the password readily accessible so you need to ask for it. I use Verizon, and have their international plan that includes Mexico and Canada, so it was nice to have service when I could get it.

Electricity can come and go. This is normal. It will come back on. Don’t be alarmed and be prepared with a flashlight or a candle or two. Speaking of flashlights, bring one. Or a headlamp. The streets are not well lit at night and you will need one to avoid stepping in horse poop or tripping on a stone.

Life is much slower here. Food can take a while. Don’t worry about it. Good things come to those who wait. Take this time to speak with your friends or family who are with you and enjoy each other’s company. If you want to pay for your meal, you need to ask for the check by saying “la cuenta por favor”. They’ll bring it over and you can pay and go. Tipping of 10-15% on a meal is standard.

If you venture out of the pueblo to the river area, be prepared for bugs and a jungle experience. Why? Because you are in the jungle! Bring some bug spray too.

How do I get to Yelapa?

Such a good question! I am going to share the way we got there with step by step instructions. I will also share some travel tips that helped us along the way. Please note, there are two ways to get there via water taxi. We went with what was easiest. You can google the other one.

Get off your plane and follow the crowd to Immigration and Customs.

Be sure you have the form they give you on the plane COMPLETELY filled out, including the bottom portion (I learned this the hard way). You will give this to the Customs person and need to hold onto the bottom part to give at departure.

The first line is Immigration. This should go relatively quickly, and once you get your stamp, head on to baggage claim. I fly carryon only, so I immediately went to get into the Customs line. This one is a little bit longer. When you get to the front of the line, you’ll hand the form over to the Customs agent and then hit a button. If you get green, you go on through. If you get red, then you will have a secondary screening for organic material in your bag. They’re looking for anything that could allow foreign bugs to infiltrate their local flora and fauna. Leave those apples at home folks!

Once you get through Customs, the fun begins! You will now be subject to a barrage of timeshare sales people. They will do everything in their power to get you to stop and talk to them. They will lie about where the taxis are, they will tell you it’s closed, whatever it takes to talk to get you to talk to them. Put your head down, do not make eye contact and do not stop until you round the corner to where the car rental places are. You are almost out! Round another corner and you are now into the arrivals area. If you bust a hard right, you will see a row of ATMs.

Stop at the ATM and pull out as much money as you think you will need for your stay. Be sure to let your bank back home know you are going to be traveling so they don’t lock down your card. For one week and some some change I took out about 8000 pesos (approx $420 USD). This allowed me about a 1000 peso/day/person budget. This was more than enough for me. I was able to do about 500 peso/day which allowed me extras for souvenirs and other things we needed to buy. Please note: I did not drink alcohol on this trip, so if you choose to drink, your daily rate will go up accordingly.

Once you have pulled out enough cash, walk out the door to the official taxi stand and tell them you want to go to “Playa de los Muertos pier” to get the water taxi to Yelapa. They know where this is and they will ask you if you want to pay in pesos or USD. They will give you a sheet of paper with the price (approx 344 pesos as of March 2019) and where you are going written down on it. Wait for them to get you a taxi. You will hold onto the piece of paper. As you are leaving the airport, you will hand over the piece of paper and pay the 344 pesos. Your driver will help make this go smoothly.

The taxi driver will take you to the closest street to the Playa de los Muertos pier and you can leave him a tip of a couple of dollars (20-50 pesos is fine).

Walk towards the pier and you will see two water taxi offices. The first is one on the left and just past them on the right is the second one. It doesn’t matter which one you use. You can go in and pay. It’s up to you whether you want to get a roundtrip or one way ticket. Roundtrip was 380 pesos. If you are there early, they will watch your luggage for you and you can go to a bank to get the large bills broken down into smaller bills or go grab a bite. The last water taxi leaves at 5p, so don’t miss it!

When you get on the water taxi, there are some kids that will help with your bags. Let them do it and then tip them 20 pesos. Hand it to the kids. Don’t hand it to the adults. Take any help they offer for steadying you or grabbing a hand to help you get on the boat. Trust me. And take it slow and steady.

You’ve made it on the boat! There will be two stops when you arrive in Yelapa. The first is at the hotel pier and the second is at the town pier. Depending on where you are staying, they will tell you which pier to get off of. And most places will have someone there with a wheelbarrow to help you with your luggage. Be sure to tip this person 20-50 pesos as well.

I’ve arrived in Yelapa, now what?

Well, first off….relax. No, seriously. This is the place to relax. There isn’t a whole lot to do here. That’s why you are here, right? Okay, have we taken a few deep breaths? Is all that tension in your neck going away? Good. Here are some suggestions of things to do.

Food and Drink

We ate at a lot of great places. These are the standouts.

Abuelos (great tacos)

Tacos y Mas (more great tacos, only open M-F in the evenings)

Cafe Bahia (best breakfast in the pueblo, closed on Thursdays)

Yelapa Yacht Club (they take credit cards and have large portions)

Ice cream, imported from Guadalajara and next to Tienda Yuri (I think that’s the name), usually open in the evenings. Look for the storefront that says “Helado” on it.

We also ate here:

Mimi���s Cafe

Cafe Eclipse

Gloria’s

Oasis by the River

If you want to cook, you can buy groceries at one of the tiendas and make your own breakfast or lunch. Honestly the food is cheap enough, I recommend at least eating one or two meals out a day. This is a small community that relies heavily on tourism, so share the love.

All the places in town use filtered water for their ice and where you stay should also provide one of those big bottles of water for you to use. I do not recommend drinking the water out of the tap, though it’s fine for brushing teeth and showering. One of my favorite non-alcoholic beverages was either a limonada or a naranjada.

Boat Trip

We found a few places offering a variety of boat trips from snorkeling to fishing. Here they are:

MiraMar Excursions: We met Super Amigo while walking one day. Great guy and would totally go out with them. They have a lot of options and their prices are very competitive. You can book ahead or when you get to Yelapa. They also have places to stay, on their website or on Airbnb.

Garcia Charters: We stayed in an Airbnb listing operated by the Garcia family. They also offer charters. They have more fishing options than other stuff, but I am sure could put something together for you if you asked.

Ultimately, we ended up meeting a guy named Frankie at Fanny’s on the playa and he took us out for about 6 hours, which included snorkeling, hanging out on a private beach, eating lobster in Chimo and getting to experience life as a local. Cost was $60/person (not including lunch in Chimo or tip). If you want to give Frankie a try, ask around town for him and tell him Heather sent ya.

The Playa

We spent a few days on the playa. There are a whole row of restaurants there where you can order some food and lay out on their beach chairs under their umbrellas. You can also rent kayaks, SUPs and try your hand at parasailing. The playa is easily accessible from town, or you can also take a water taxi from the town pier to the playa. Unsure of cost as we never tried it. Also of note: the sandy area at the beach drops off quickly if you go wading out there. Be careful!

Waterfalls

There are two waterfalls. One is in town, and the other is about a two hour hike outside of town. Unfortunately, we did not make it to either of them due to one of our group members having some ankle issues. This is on our list for next time.

Where to Stay

Airbnb is a great option if you are looking for a place with a kitchen. We ended up at a Garcia Rental that was posted on Airbnb. I would also look at MiraMar and Garcia Rentals (both have their spaces listed on Airbnb too) if you want to have your own “home” for your stay. There are hotels in Yelapa if that’s your thing too. For the upscale (or special occasion), you could try Verana. Otherwise, Hotel Lagunita is a popular option. Casa Bahia Bonita is another option.

Be sure to find out how many stairs you have to walk up and down to get to your place. Yelapa is quite hilly and most places are good about letting you know about stairs and how many there are to get where you are staying. You will most likely be right on the ocean, which is amazing for watching birds, iguanas, and other sea life (we saw crabs crawling around on rocks below our Airbnb!) and the views of all the boats in the bay every morning and night is something I always looked forward to. Word to the wise: you are right next to the ocean. As such, the ocean makes sounds. If you don’t like sounds of the ocean, maybe go stay at a resort with soundproof walls and windows instead. I actually read a review from someone who was disturbed by the sounds of the ocean!

If you’d like to see more pictures from our trip, I posted the highlights on my Instagram account, @renegadpilgrim. Check it out! Please leave comments below and ask any questions!

[wanderingaunt]

10 Things I Learned Traveling in Mexico

I'm leaving Mexico after my third trip here within 6 months. Each trip has been in a different region and with a unique intention for each place. And with each visit, I learned and appreciated more about this beautiful and often under-appreciated country. 

In March, I flew into Puerto Vallarta to attend a 7-day Wildhearted meditation retreat in the Jungle in San Pancho. It was during this trip that I was able to see an unexpecting and tranquil side to Mexico. There is magic that happens in the jungle, and only by visiting it can you truly experience and understand what it has to offer. After this experience, I realized that I didn't need clarity in life; I know what I want. I just don't commit. In this instance, it was taking the leap and committing to a location for my the start of my nomadic journey. Soon after my retreat, I committed and booked a oneway ticket to Thailand. 

After returning from 7 weeks abroad in Australia and Thailand, I spent some time in the states before heading out again. I was looking into places to go and chose to go back to Mexico. I booked a oneway ticket to Mexico City (oneway tickets seem to be my jam these days). At the time, I wasn't quite sure where I would go from there. A friend of mine had lived in San Miguel de Allende a couple years ago and suggested I check it out as an option. I had never heard of San Miguel, and all it took was seeing one photo of this city for me to venture there. I initially was using Mexico City as a gateway to get to other places and ended up falling in love with it. It often gets a bad rap for being a large over-populated city with "drugs and crime". Mexico City ended up being a highlight of my time in Mexico. Yes, it is a large and bustling city and one that offers many cultures, personality, incredible food, and beautiful people. 

San Miguel de Allende (SMA as locals refer to it), is a hidden gem. This city spoke to me so much. When I saw how vibrant and colorful this city is, I knew I wanted to do a photoshoot here. I found the perfect red lace romper from Nordstrom prior to leaving. I hired a local photographer and got my nails and makeup done. I felt like a real model. It was so fun to see the city from this perspective and carry these photos with me for years to come. Check out some of my photos here!

I set an intention prior to going to SMA to step into my power and own who I am. I embodied this the whole trip. I felt like I was living on cloud 9. I got myself (intentionally) lost among the cobblestone streets and alleyways, ate incredible food, danced in the rain, and found my true power and radiance. It was here that I knew I was truly living my dream and stepping into my power. 

After SMA, I went back to Mexico City for a couple of days and then headed back to the states for a week. I then found myself back in Mexico (it's hard to stay away!). This time around I found myself in the Yucatan. I flew into Cancun, rented a car and ventured off 3.5 hours away to Merida. Just like SMA, I had never heard of Merida prior to coming. I found it solely by researching Hyatt hotels in Mexico. I'm a travel hacker and on a mission to get another free night for any Hyatt in the world. So I ventured off to Merida. Merida ended up being a complete surprise to me. It felt like meeting a new friend. Sometimes you meet people and immediately feel a connection (that was San Miguel de Allende for me), while other times you meet someone and it takes a bit to get to know them and whether or not they'll be in your life. It took some time for me to get to know and like Merida. After a couple days there, I found an appreciation for this colonial city. I found myself visiting Mayan ruins, eating traditional Yucatan food, and soaking in the heart of this town. Merida was of a time of solitude, reflection, and healing for me. I spent time on my own processing and working through recent experiences and turn of events that happened prior to arriving. 

From Merida, I went to Playa del Carmen where I visited in 2016 on my first trip to Mexico. I connected with dear friends and found my routine again with yoga, work, and self-care. It was the perfect way to end my last stent (for now) in Mexico. 

Mexico has so much to offer. During my 3 recent visits here, I learned so much and hope to put to bed some of the misconceptions about this beautiful country. 

10 Things I learned during my time in Mexico

It's not a scary or dangerous place to visit. The number one question I got asked when people saw that I was in Mexico is, "Is it safe?" The media (especially conservative American media) portrays Mexico as a place to fear and stay away from--especially if traveling alone. Yes, Mexico has some turmoil, but it's like any other place. No matter where you go, be mindful of your surroundings and use caution as you would in any big city or country. And be open-minded and embrace where you are rather than walking on eggshells or around in constant fear that something bad is going to happen. 

English is not widely spoken. Unless you are in a touristy area, don't assume that everyone automatically knows English. I was actually surprised to find in Mexico City how little English is spoken unless you're in an American owned hotel chain or tourist attraction. I, unfortunately, know very little Spanish (and want to learn); however, I did not let this lack of knowledge stop me from visiting Mexico. Don't know Spanish? That's okay. It's good to step outside of your comfort zone and go anyway. There is still much to experience and learn. 

Mexicans love their country. Like most natives to a country, Mexicans have so much love and pride in their home, and they celebrate it constantly. There are always festivals and celebrations happening. Just go to the town center of whichever city you're in and you're bound to find an event or celebration taking place. 

Fireworks happen regularly. Whether it be a celebration of someone's birthday, a holiday, or homage to a family member who has left this earth, they love to shoot fireworks no matter what the hour. There were several early mornings in SMA where I awoke to roosters crowing and fireworks blasting in the air. While it can be a disruption to sleep, it's still quite fun to hear them going off and wonder what they are commemorating. 

Cancun is a tourist trap. If visiting the Yucatan or gulf coast, Cancun is likely your entry into Mexico. If you have no arranged transportation, beware of exorbitant taxi fares from the airport to your destination. There are no uber or rideshare options available. I learned this the hard way. I flew in late in the evening and arranged my rental car pickup for the following morning. My hotel was less than 3 miles from the airport so I assumed it would be relatively inexpensive to get there. WRONG. It cost me $40 USD to go one way ($55 roundtrip...more than the cost of one night in my hotel)! Cancun is divided into neighborhoods and zones. Anything outside of the airport is considered in a different zone and will cost you anywhere from $25-50+ USD by taxi to get to your location. So no matter what, either arrange transportation through your resort or hotel, public bus, or rental car. Avoid taxis! 

Driving in Mexico will test your patience. I rented a car and drove 3.5 hours from Cancun to Merida and beyond. Driving can be quite a hectic experience while driving in a city. There are so many oneway streets, roundabouts, and intersections without stop signs or traffic lights. You learn to go with the flow and drive with the traffic. There are many bumpy cobblestone roads, and Google Maps or your GPS often don't know where you are. I cursed many times to myself while driving around, yet also took pride in knowing that I could drive here on my own. 

Make friends with locals. No matter where you go, always make it a point to get to know some of the locals living there. They love to hear why you are visiting their beautiful country and want to help you experience more of it. They have loads of resources to share and will give you great insider secrets and suggestions. I made friends with a local hairstylist in Mexico City, servers at restaurants where I visited, and even strangers on the beach. As a result, I learned of many places to visit (and avoid) that I otherwise would not have known. 

Food is better than any Tex-Mex you think is real Mexican food. From fresh tortillas to Masqueritas (hot rolled up crepes with banana and Nutella) to fresh fruit (jicama and mango!) with fresh chili pepper, street food is a must to try. There are also so many local dives that are incredible. I also recommend splurging on at least one fancy meal while visiting. I had a gourmet meal in SMA and Merida. In Merida, I had a traditional Yucatan meal that was so unique and unlike anything I've had before. I even tapped into my adventurous spirit while in Playa del Carmen, and tried fried grasshopper! There's even a hilarious video to prove it. I can't say I recommend it nor would do it again, but do recommend stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something different! 

They love--more like obsess--over Frida Kahlo. Frida is...everywhere. Literally. She seems to be more important and cared for than any President past or present. She is an icon for women's empowerment and had a huge impact and influence on Mexican art. Wherever I stayed, whether in an Airbnb, hotel, or friend's condo, Frida and her art were there. Walking around the city you will find murals of Frida. You can tour her house in Mexico City. I did not make it there on this trip and will next time I'm in CDMX!

Mexico is a massive country with so much to do and experience! It's pretty obvious looking on a map that Mexico is large. But until I started hopping around, I had no idea just how big it is. And there is so much beauty to its landscape. From the rocky coast on the Pacific to the mountains and rolling hills in Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende to the dessert and cenotes and ruins spread all throughout the Yucatan. It's a beautiful country to experience. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my visits to Mexico this year. I was a bit wary of coming back in August since I had already been. I am a nomad after all, so why not go somewhere new? Yet, I am glad that I got to explore more of this country and learn so much about it. I highly recommend going off the beaten path (aka away from the resort!) and visiting some different places in Mexico. Each place has its own personality and flavor. 

If you have any questions about traveling to Mexico, let me know! I would love to share some of the amazing places I stayed and dined at.