Part I ~ Why I love Mexico ~ Magic, Beauty, Fear of Flying
- Michelle Premura
- Feb 1, 2016
- 6 min read
Part I ~ Why I love Mexico ~ Magic, Beauty, Fear of Flying
Traveling pushes us out of our comfort zone ~ we may be faced with many fears including not understanding a language or getting lost. When we decide to leave the comfort of our familiar lives and routines we also choose to grow ~ growth can only happen through change. Following growth comes JOY.
Part I (of a 3 part series)
LOVE
I recently returned from a visit to Mexico and would like to share just a few of the oh so many reasons why I truly love Mexico. Of course this is just a short list and honestly, I found as I was writing, it was very difficult to express the magic, connection, and joy that I feel when I am there.
Traveling in general always facilitates growth and evolution in many ways on many levels. It is one of the best ways to accelerate the development our senses. Opening and allowing yourself to be immersed in another culture, is life-changing. We can share words and pictures but nothing can truly compare to a first hand experience. Well with that being said, I’m still moving forward and sharing with you why I LOVE Mexico in hopes to inspire you to consider learning, exploring, and experiencing some aspect this amazing country that I know can be life changing for you. And if your ready, I am offering an opporutnity to join me on an amazing life-changing journey this April 2016 - see below for details.
THE FIRST TIME
My first experience traveling to Mexico was in the early 90’s. I visited a small town called Todos Santos. I immediately fell in love with everything! The little town mesmerized me with it’s sandy streets, ocean blue waters, and pink bougainvilleas contrasting against brightly colored turquoise buildings. What I saw were soft lines and rich colors reflecting the beauty and deep history of the culture - natural beauty - not contrived or manicured.
As years went by, I took a few trips back to explore other areas in Mexico; all unique and exciting in their own way. If you have not yet visited Mexico, I guarantee you will be mesmerized, as I was, by the energy, spirit, and authenticity of this country.
SOLO
In 1998, I decided to take a year long solo adventure to really get to know the country (and myself). Of course I wasn’t able to see everything; Mexico is a huge and very diverse country. I fell in love (again) not only with the culture, but with learning and experiencing new ways of eating, listening, communicating, and living ~ it was an amazing life changing experience I will never forget.
You don’t have to travel solo to experience a life changing event. In fact, touring with a group or someone who has experience, can offer the same results without having to spend hours of intense research and planning. And…..having other people to share your excitement when you see something or discover something new, is priceless. You create a bond when sharing and comparing your experiences and perspectives first-hand with someone else also seeing or feeling something for the first time; and it’s NOT the same as FB or Instagram sharing!
EXPERIENCE
In most places, when you walk along the streets in Mexico, you can see and feel the deep connection to a history of rich cultural roots and traditions that are incorporated in everyday life. This connection projects a deep vibrant energy that pulls you into the complex tapestry of this beautiful culture. It is an experience that will stay with you long after your visit and keep calling you back.
IN THE STREETS
The people I met were welcoming, friendly, family oriented, and always seemed to be smiling. The smell of fresh corn tortillas and burning wood; the sounds of happy children talking & laughing in the streets, music playing, roosters crowing, and dogs barking (yes - the barking dogs were are all part of the experience). What better way to learn and grow yourself than by meeting new people and developing friendships that will last a lifetime?
CONTRAST
I remember walking down a cobble stone street in the charming city of San Miguel de Allende and seeing a tiny old man coming down the from the mountains with his donkey and cart selling his wares. The contrast struck me as something very beautiful. Despite the fact that San Miguel is a somewhat cosmopolitan city, the preservation and authenticity of the culture is still pervasive. Fortunately, this contrast is still common even in some of the most touristy areas of Mexico. Imagine in the 21st century still having the opportunity to interact and engage with people who are still living traditionally despite all of our modern distractions. What a gift.
JOY
Of course there is so much more I can say (and I will in the next 2 series). I love sharing my experiences and the joy I feel when traveling here. Two years ago, I was able to share my love of Mexico with my son (who by the way is a 5star hotel kind of guy) and we had an amazing time.
During our stay we took a local bus and “talked” with 2 Mayan women dressed in traditional clothing on their way to sell their wares at the market; we visited Chichen Itza (one of the 7 wonders of the world); rented a golf cart and explored Isla Mujeres (Island of Women), visited churches, graveyards, the floating island, and the Ixchel Temple; we went to the beach, snorkeling, restaurants, shopping, and attended a professional soccer game. It was an amazing trip of experiences we will always cherish.
OPPORTUNITY
And this year, I am excited to be offering an opportunity to join me on a sensory adventure to Mexico in April 2016 where we will explore an area of the Mayan Riviera and Yucatan Peninsula. This trip will be similar to the one I took with my son. Although the itinerary will be slightly different, we will be in the Yucatan Peninsula and Mayan Riviera region of Mexico.
So are you ready to explore, learn, grow, and immerse yourself in an adventure of a lifetime?
Your adventure will be the perfect blend of relaxation and exploration - a combination retreat and tour. Traveling and attending a retreat both facilitate growth and evolution. All activities are designed to give you an opportunity to expand and develop mind, body and spirit on your own personal level.
Hope you can join us on this magical and exciting journey to one of the most beautiful, colorful, and traditionally rich countries on the planet ~ Mexico!
For more details and photos feel free to contact me.
This is Part I of a three part series ~ "Why I Love Mexico". Up Next:
Part II ~ Diversity: Language, Food, Tradition
Part III ~ Art, Nature, History Spirit, Beauty
A note about Safety Concerns:
I know some people are concerned with safety when considering travel in Mexico.
Mexico is a HUGE country, and just like anywhere else including the U.S., there are certain areas that are more dangerous than others (currently in Mexico these are mostly the border towns and the western part of the country - the opposite side of where we will be). Please be assured that we will not be near any of these locations. We are only traveling to very SAFE areas geared mainly for tourists. As with anywhere you travel, you just need to use common sense and take standard precautions, i.e. be aware of your surroundings, don't flash valuables around, and don't leave your wallet on the beach (seriously, people do that).
I have been making numerous trips to Mexico since 1992; including extensive traveling throughout Mexico and Central America for almost 1 year solo as a single woman and I never felt threatened. Last year in 2014, I traveled with my teenage son, a female friend and her teen son. We traveled to 3 different places by local bus and never felt afraid or uncomfortable. This is the same area that we will be going with our group. This area is very family oriented and SAFE. I would not risk bring my son or anyone (including myself) to a high risk area, I’m not that brave ; ) .
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