My First Day Alone in Mexico-Solo Travel

August 24, 2014: Day one in Mexico for my first solo travel.

Leaving my kiddos at the airport yesterday was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. I hugged the little ones as they clung to me until Chenoa, my oldest, asked me “Are you going to cry?” and of course I did. She seemed surprised and hugged me, the child comforting the parent. I had to say my goodbyes fast and run away before I completely fell apart or lost my ability to leave. Even now I’m tearing up thinking about them.

Two planes, a bus and a taxi later here I am in a hostel in Mexico. I got in too late to catch the last bus to Palenque, so I bought a ticket for the next day (today) and checked into Haina Hostel for 170 pesos (about $13 US.) It’s clean and reminds me of summer camp with its wooden bunk beds and shared bathroom. There was only one other girl in the dorm, a traveler from Germany who had also just arrived and went right to sleep after we introduced ourselves. She has a huge, more traditional “backpacker” bag that makes mine look tiny. I can’t imagine carrying it.

The hostel includes “continental breakfast” which consists of toast or a roll, strawberry jelly and butter, juice and of course coffee. I didn’t eat much while traveling yesterday, so a couple of rolls with jelly aren’t going to be enough, but it’s a start. I was glad to be able to fill my water bottles in the kitchen, saving me from buying bottles of water. I’d like to fill my camelback but I’m not sure I’d be able to fit it back into the backpack, something I’ll have to work out because I’m going to need to stay hydrated.

It’s so humid here. I am afraid the heat is going to be debilitating to me after such a cool summer at home, I don’t feel acclimated at all. I took a nice cold shower when I got in to rinse off the sweat, but I was sticky and hot again in less than half an hour. The hostel turns on the air conditioning in the dorm room from 10pm to 6am, and it helped a lot. I don’t think I could have slept otherwise, which makes me wonder how I’ll do in Palenque where there is no a/c, just fans.

I’m not sure what I’m going to do today. After being uber-connected all the time in the U.S. it’s strangely isolating to have to depend on public wifi to communicate with anyone. Wifi in the airports was surprisingly difficult and limited so I didn’t get to have a long chat with Jason until I got here. I feel cut off and alone. My first goal will be to see if I can put a sim card in my phone so it’s more useable, maybe that will help.

On the up side, the bus that I took from the airport was the same one that we took as a family when we were here last year and rode the bus to Playa del Carmen to cross into Cozumel. I remembered how my girls loved the tropical plants around the outside of the airport, how excited they were just to be in Mexico. It suddenly seemed familiar then, and I remembered how much I love Mexico. Even here in Cancun where I’ve never been, the people, the look of things, the language is all recognizable to me. I’m holding onto that right now and making my way, one day at a time.

See you soon.

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