Shifting Gears Journey: Weeks 3 & 4 in Mexico
It’s been a few weeks since my first update and I’m realizing how quickly time passes with travel. I thought that travel would provide me with more time to read, reflect, and write, but the array of possibilities makes it feel like there is always something to do. I’m currently in Mexico City, but I feel there is too much for a single update so I’ll play catch-up on the depth and richness of Mexico’s capital in my next update.
After some time in Guadalajara, I continued to move through the interior of Mexico to Tlaquepaque, León, and Guanajuato. In all, I visited 8 cities in my first month and have realized that moving quickly is a recipe for burnout. It’s been great to see the diversity of Mexico, but I’ve since taken a deliberate step to slower travel.
One thing I’ve been surprised by in Mexico is my lack of culture shock. I’ve realized that still being in the Americas and knowing some of the language provides a sense of familiarity – especially when compared to my whirlwind month in India last year. Despite what we’re told about Mexico outside of resorts, it’s been a friendly, lively, and (relatively) safe place to visit. Many of the traveller I’ve met agree that Mexico is a top destination for backpackers.
Reflections From a Backpack
Traveling for a month has given me time to reflect on my intentions behind this journey. It’s easy to get pulled into typical tourist activities, but there’s so much more to each place than the “5 must-see sights” touted by travel blogs. Mexico is a vast country with many faces: beach resorts, city centers, regular Mexican life, and border realities, to name a few. My goal has been to explore these nuances, hoping to gain a deeper understanding than what a news headline might offer.
I’ve found that there are countless ways to travel, each offering a unique experience. Each traveller I meet is on their own journey. My friend John Lyne’s article on “Travel without Travel” prompted me to question what it truly means to travel. We often conflate travel with vacation, as we frequently try to do both simultaneously. However, vacation typically involves a passive approach where we “sip, snack, stare, and scroll,” as John puts it, while travel is an active process of engaging with the world around us. Neither is inherently better, but this reflection calls for radical honesty with ourselves about our intentions.
It’s tempting to stay in our comfort zone while traveling. This manifests in our surroundings. While traveling itself is often a step into the unfamiliar, hostels, tourist zones, and familiar fast food can pull us back into comfort. I’ve realized it takes conscious, repeated effort to fully immerse myself in a new place. Modern travel tools like Hostelworld, Google Maps, and travel blogs make journeying easier, but they can also create an illusion of authentic travel while our mindset remains unchanged.
Are we truly experiencing another culture if we merely hop from hotel to coffee shop to museum? Am I really traveling if my experiences mirror those I could have at home? While the surrounding culture may still influence us, I believe that to truly learn from where we are, we need to venture off the beaten path. This could mean avoiding places with menus in English or actively seeking out local experiences.
I’ve caught myself slipping into passivity and hedonism without realizing it. I’ve learned it’s important to take breaks from the fatigue that travel can bring, but what’s crucial is maintaining awareness of where I am and why I’m there. This journey is teaching me that travel to me is about engaging with the unfamiliar, challenging my perspectives, and actively seeking to understand the world in all its complexity.Discovering New Places
Discovering New Places
Tlaquepaque
Tlaquepaque is in the same metro area as Guadalajara, and offered a change of pace as I stayed here for a week to learn at the Guadalajara Language Center. Houses here are painted in vibrant colours and life feels slower than in Guadalajara. The streets were populated with simple houses and family owned shops where I bought my groceries. While here, I was able to take in a Lucha Libre match, leave the city for a hike to hot springs, and explore markets in the area.
León
León, the largest city in Guanajuato state, isn’t a typical tourist hotspot due to its limited attractions. However, I was lucky enough to be hosted by a friend I’d met in Sayulita who offered to show me around. León’s booming industry (particularly its leather sector) has led to rapid population growth. This expansion has resulted in dense housing and a few parks. Walking through the city, I gained yet another fascinating glimpse into Mexican life. I’m especially thankful to my friend Guillermo, who took me around the city to hit up some of the best food spots.
Guanajuato
A quick 1 hour bus ride took me to Guanajuato, the capital of the state with the same name. Guanajuato is a gem in Mexico, with its colonial architecture nestled into the surrounding mountains. It’s easy to hike up to a lookout for a breathtaking view of this colorful city and its winding roads. A popular attraction here is the mummy museum, where naturally preserved bodies are on display (I’ve refrained from showing these pictures unless asked). I also got to experience the start of the Cervantina festival—a two-week celebration with music and parades featuring performances from different Mexican states and Latin American countries.
Unfortunately, the hostel I was at in here was robbed while I was there. Some guests checked in with a fake ID and stole some credit cards and cash from people sharing my room. Fortunately, the backpack I had out was untouched. This was a reminder that things are often fine until they’re not.
The Faces of Travel
Throughout my travels, the people I meet have been a constant highlight of my journey—both in Mexico and past travels. When solo travelling, strangers can quickly become friends and can make any place feel more like home.
Wouter
Wouter, a smiling Dutchman, runs the Guadalajara Language Center in Tlaquepaque. On a trip to tour the world, Wouter fell in love with Mexico and decided to stay for a bit longer (that was 20 years ago). On top of owning the best Spanish school in the area, Wouter offers tours and sights for students in the evening. Pictured above, a few of us were heading out of the city for a hike to nearby hot springs.
Guillermo
I met Guillermo while staying at the same hostel in the beach town of Sayulita. After a few chats (and bonding over a similar haircut) Guillermo offered to host me if I was ever in the area of León. Not wanting to miss this opportunity, I took him up and stayed four days with him. Guillermo cleared out his office and bought an air mattress with bedding for my stay. He showed my his favourite food spots and gave me recommendations for the city. I reciprocated in a small way by making a meal of curry which turned out okay when I had to improvise some ingredients.
Dan
Dan is a bartender from Colorado who is biking through Latin America. A seasoned traveller himself, Dan had many stories he was happy to share on our nights out. Everyone at our hostel agreed that biking through Mexico is impressive! I left a few things behind when I left Guanajuato and Dan was kind enough to bring them to me when we met up in Mexico City.
One Interesting Story…
On a Tuesday evening after our Spanish class, a few of us from the school were recommended to take in the Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling) match. While I was familiar with the concept from Nacho Libre, I wasn’t expecting such a big show. a friend from the city joined us and we found our seats. it reminded me of a rodeo back home with the cement seats, chanting, and smell of beer. We sat in the upper (poor) section while those closer to the ring were in the ‘rich’ section.
Even knowing it was a performance, the backflips, body slams, and slaps all felt real. While the wresters fought, the rich and poor section exchanged provocative chants. “Estás en quiebra” (”you’re broke”) the lower section would yell. “Puta madre” (”motherf***er”) the upper section would return with a brass band playing behind. The wrestling was fun, but the engagement of the crowd made the show.
What I’ve Been Eating
Guacamaya This dish is popular in León and is made from Chicharron (fried pork skin) in a bun with avocado and salsa. Though not my favourite, it’s fun to try everything. |
Tortas These sandwiches are made from crunchy bread with a variety of ingredients. Though simple, they are cheap (under $4) and delicious. |
Pulque This lightly alcoholic drink (2-6%) is made fresh from fermented agave. It has a slimy texture and is a cheap drink found throughout southern Mexico. |
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Final Thoughts
I’m incredibly grateful to have this time in my life to take a break from a career to experience more of the world. The more I see, the more I realize I will probably never get everything I want to. I continue to alternate between periods of presence and overhwelm from the uncertainty of the future. It feels like there are countless paths of potential in front of me and I have no idea where I will be in a few months or a year. I have been using my meditation and journalling practices to remain ceintered and to listen to my heart. With long term travel, I find I’ve had to continually find a balance between enjoying the present and planning for the future.
I expect that there will be many chances to how I travel in the coming months, including how I send out these updates. I appreciate your time to read this as you join me in a small way on this journey of adventure and self-discovery.
“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
With love,
Adam