Tag: Merida Mexico

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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.

Solo Together

October 29, 2024 by Cassandra Johnson

I have learned not to give too much to my introversion as I do also love community. I have also learned to recognize my solo needs, to be better to myself.

I do enjoy bonding when I am not feeling inexplicably self-conscious. Alternately, I also acknowledge my resilience to regroup and revitalize myself.

What has been most interesting to me lately, however, is how I have come to notice similar solo needs in a number of other people. The number is larger than I would have expected, and realizing this has made me more empathetic, so apart from hanging out with them, dancing with them, chatting with them, drinking with them (some flirting)… I have felt another type of connection.

By collecting my thoughts and tranquility when I am alone, I remind myself of what I really want and need, and I remind myself of the fact that I need to try much more of this out before I can be certain if what I need or want still stands. Minds may change. Therefore, I need that alone time, good for such thinking and also for clearing my mind (not overthinking and just being still).

Sometimes I need more of the quietness than others, but I have recently taken note that I am not so alone in this. Ironically, in the simile of needing those inward moments, I suspect other people may need this too.  After almost a year of countless accommodations and interactions as a digital nomad, I do not think I have just coincidentally been vicinity booking along with a large number of other introverts. I do not think so, because in other instances, I notice what seems real extroversion on the part of a number of outgoing people who naturally seem to receive energy from interacting with others. Yet, I have caught them “escaping” too. I have caught them escaping the noise, whether it be very literal or figurative. I have caught them in a variety of ways in their own quests for solitude.

Adalia Aborisade’s video on how to travel as an Introvert really spoke to me and what we may do or feel from going inward. Me being someone who also likes hanging out, seeing the world and meeting people, she and the other viewers reiterated for me that sometimes we get away from who we truly are because our true selves are not accepted or expected, especially when we are out there exploring our overall dreams. It is not uncommon to be told you need to participate in the group at all times. They also reminded me it is not uncommon to be misinterpreted and cajoled. I think I just judged myself too strictly thinking I could no longer carry the introverted label, when a part of this actually seems to be welcomed by most people to varying levels. I am also reclaiming some of my shyness, though it may appear differently now. My nature has not changed at the core.

I see people looking for their solo spaces and moments as I especially spend my traveling time between hotels and hostels. People were looking for moments and spaces on the terrace, in the kitchen, in an extra room, in their own room or a shared room in their bunk bed while others were out touring or in other parts of the hostel or hotel. People were even randomly hoping for a moment at breakfast or in front of a large screen community television.

Someone reading. Someone gazing and thinking (seemingly daydreaming) while reclining. Someone listening, laughing  to videos on their phone. Someone delving into work on their computer, but as they would in their own private office with no boss.

I see the people. I see us. Moments apart and common bonds in solitude. These are the moments we recollect ourselves, maybe even forget the pending issues or worries of our days, maybe even finally come up with a solution after we have had some time to relax away from what has to be done or decided.

Perhaps, this is just a much needed mental break or another moment to help us be honest with ourselves and to be ourselves.

Imagined This

June 18, 2024 by Cassandra Johnson

Surprising clarity about my preference for living in Peru strikes me repeatedly. It hits in different ways. Beginning as a feeling of belonging when I first stayed for months in parts of 2010 and 2011, staying with me when I returned to the US, played with when I revisited in 2019 and here again as I experience the main city instead of the others I was in before.

I could live elsewhere, yet the current decision has seemed to narrow down to choosing between Lima and Cusco. I picture myself enjoying both long-term. The key may mean trying both again, but this time, just as a digital nomad rather than a volunteer. 

I was trying to consider Mexico. I enjoyed Merida, but perhaps more to visit. I enjoyed Oaxaca, yet my mindset was very much wrapped around touring and relaxing there. I was momentarily considering relocating to other Mexican cities (not Guadalajara) as well, but being back in Peru has reiterated my initial desires of living here. 

With further thought: This also does not have to be final, but very possibly some part of my final choices (living in 1 or more countries, including the US).

I am reminded I can change my mind. I can also still try what I am drawn to, what I was dreaming of, mark one experience off the list, fine tune this one or the next one, or set it aside altogether.

Experimenting brings some fear but less daunting vibes, knowing I have been here before and even what I have not done is just a compass for what to try.