Mexico – The Low Down Adventure
71 countries later and México is still my all-time fave. Rome may be my home away from home but México? México is home despite not having a permanent address or havin’ one of those nightmare trips that you read about but hope never to experience. Morocco and the desert storm? A dream compared to this trip.
Was it all bad? Hellz no. The nonstop love-filled reunions full of so much rad far outweighed all the bad! From our first full day in México City with Maggie, to Puebla where I reunited with Marco and his entire family. I never had to ask, Marco and his family took care of everything. It’s like they knew exactly what I needed, what I wanted before I knew! Huntin’ down locally-made candy and art for the RAH Rock and Hard Piece subscription. Check. Eatin’ grubbin’ tacos la oriental. Yup. Gettin’ down with mariachi bands? (More about this AH-MAZING night later this month!) BOOM!
Marco and I didn’t miss a beat scorin’ supplies. We headed to my favorite papelaria to meet up with Juan (check out his "secret" museum of vintage office machinery!). I regretted not snatchin’ up Juan’s entire stash of vintage Scripto mechanical pencils during the last STMT x Mexico sourcing trip to Puebla. But you know what? Juan still had them! Minutes later, I secured every last bit of his vintage office supplies stash. BOOTYCLAPPIN’!
Next stop? We visited my homie Emilio at La Pasita and stocked up on pasita. We continued on… walkin’ familiar streets, gruppin’ on tasty treats… dreamin’ and schemin’ about my next trip to Puebla.
Then shit went up in smoke. The travel life be rad – but it’s all about the grind. You gotta turn and face the hard shit – the shit that ignites. I've dealt with a lot of crazy, but this was different. I had to navigate a situation so uncomfortable; it was like a rash breakin’ out all over my body. It started slow, and then grew so massive that I was burning up. And then? I broke down and cried.
In the end, it all worked out. No more tiptoeing around. No awkward flight home. Holy shit sometimes the world can feel so wrong. Then with a flip of the switch, so much love oozes out and life is back to rad. I was reminded that you gotta listen to your gut – especially when the signs are all there.
I love Mexico City but my love for Puebla? It’s some next-level shit. I was sad to go. Sad to leave my friends, old and new. Homeward bound, upside down. But you know what? Sometimes when shit goes wrong, you just gotta let it all burn to the ground. Burn, baby burn.
Out of the ashes, we come hard – slangin’ lo-fi office supplies and handin’ out hi-fives.
oxxo, Hen
