YVR > MEX

Well here we are again. The last time I wrote this blog I was, what feels like, a whole different person living a different life. And I’ve been on a few trips, but none that made me feel compelled to bust out this old thing again. Today, I travelled to México, to visit a friend and his partner, to eat, drink, and be free of work for a little while.

The last time I wrote here I was a banker. Now, I run a vegan restaurant, and while the challenges of my role are far greater than I ever encountered at the bank, the passion, the dedication, the yearning to do better every day, and the excitement to go to work is 100% different than what I experienced at the bank. I guess I’m reflecting on this because this friend I’m visiting, I met him at the bank! And I was a whole different person. Thank goodness those days are over.

Ok, on to the here and now. I started my morning before 6am, wide awake, like a kid on Christmas. I spooned my dog knowing it would be the last time we woke up together for just 12 mornings, but that seems like forever to a dog mom. This is dramatic, but I’ll miss him so much… my goodness, he’s my heart on four legs.

I shared coffee with my love, talked about the week past, talked about what’s ahead. We walked Max, then got ready. I was ahead of all of my failsafe alarm goals.

I finished the pack with the last of my essentials; my bag felt like it was 60 lbs but it was only 30 and has plenty of room to spare for shopping. We brought it downstairs, made a coffee to go and left just 2 minutes after my alarm went off. Almost perfect! Max came for the ride. There’s something about him seeing me off that makes me think he won’t be waiting at the door for me for almost two weeks.

The ferry wasn’t busy, and I backed up my planning from excel to hard copy in my bullet journal. Had a minor scare when google maps didn’t suggest taking the bus-then-skytrain to the airport. Instead it suggested a $30 one way airport-linking bus. I see google has it’s priorities! I enjoyed this packed lunch sandwich, a BLT on ciabatta with tofu bacon, tomato, arugula, and vegan mayo.

On the bus I sat next to an older person. He asked if I was on my way to the airport, and when I said yes he said, “Good. That means I’m on the right bus!” He lives in Ladysmith, and is off to Amsterdam to visit his family for a month, for the first time in six years. His name is David and we had a great chat on the bus, and then on the skytrain too.

The airport felt quiet, I dropped off my bag and then waited at customs behind maybe a dozen people. I was close to 3 hours early for my flight, and I used that time to continue to plan. I had to grab some Subway; I was far hungrier than I planned to be and wanted to save my packed food for the plane.

As I sat on the plane, in the middle seat, in the actual last row, 36E, I watched and teared up to the Whitney Houston movie. I finished the last of my sandwiches as the plane officially entered Mexican territory. I got through two Ted Lasso’s as well. Best one liner, as Ted is asking Roy to squash his feelings for a mean reporter, “I’m gonna need you to lose the beef and order off the vegan menu for now”. I also related to Keely crying to Rebecca over her new business and saying, “I’m so busy I have to schedule in time just to cry at my desk.”

I landed, and getting bags took about 45 minutes, then I followed another Canadian couple to the Uber bays. The Weeknd played during the 25 minute, (with tip) $13CAD Uber ride from the airport to Misha’s. I’ve come to find out that traffic lights here are merely a suggestion, the city is very brightly coloured, noticeable even in the dark, and the power lines are aplenty. Different apartments seem to be built stacked on top of each other. Graffiti is everywhere! And gas is the same price as back home.

Arriving at Misha’s to a big hug, he took me up to the rooftop to show me the vast city. It was actually sparkling. The lights within the city smog were incredible. Glitter as far as I could see. I’ve settled in now, and I’m off to bed. Tomorrow we’ll see if my planning will be tossed out the window!