July 31, 2026 by Cassandra Johnson
Paseo de Montejo proved to be my favorite street. When I could find an excuse to end up there, I would. For half of 2024, I often did.
Paseo de Montejo proved to be my favorite street. When I could find an excuse to end up there, I would. For half of 2024, I often did.
Also, notably, the reason could be just because and especially because.
I found myself doing what I wanted, even when I should have been doing what I didn’t want to do. Postponing my responsibilities or pretending they were a part of me exploring, wandering, and eating my favorite foods in the sun in Merida was my full-time job with work in between. My first year as a digital nomad arriving from mainly San Juan, Puerto Rico to this favorite street among many in Mexico was a test for my long freelancing weeks with random and/or no days off in between. I was sporadic but I had fun.
In between my pains.
I missed my family. I missed my friends. I missed my creature comforts. Friendships were hard to cultivate in the midst of so many travelers that I enjoyed getting to know but ultimately had to part with over and over again. Was Lord, Alfred Tennyson right? “Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all”. Maybe? Not love in this instance, but bonding, nonetheless. Friendships, community partnerships and then I flew out or they flew out or I took an intra-country bus somewhere back and forth or one-way. On and on. When I think of it….
Down this street, I knew I also wanted my favorite agua fresca and sometimes freshly squeezed juice at the restaurant, perfectly snuggled between several more tasty Mexican spots and not far from the expat Irish bar, tempted into featuring some U.S. cuisine, as well.
Across the street, almost directly, was the spot where we had silly sang along with the now-relocated singer who spotlighted there regularly. This upscale restaurant and bar was just a few feet down the way from Marago Coffee where I liked to do some of my document translation work, while enjoying the pastries and a savory pizzetta, sitting comfortably, devices charging. The staff was always so accommodating to me and my friend.
Is a trip okay? Is a journey worth it?
When I think of it…
Yes, it was worth it.
All the moments. All the lessons. Temporary connections interwoven with permanent ones. All that is worth a lifetime of experiences and lessons, gratitude and appreciation for others and resources and my circumstances.
Eventually we say goodbye to the world too.