Thumbing a ride in Mexico
Monday, April 23, 2012
Since my last entry I have hitchhiked over 1500 km, and started learning how to sail. It’s amazing how much your life can change in such a short period of time.
I spent a week with my gypsy clan before heading down to the tiny pueblo of Barra de la Cruz, about 25km south of Huatulco. I went there to meet up with my friends Fernando and Akasha, who have been traveling around Mexico on a bus, educating children about permaculture. My plan was to help Akasha start an organic farm and seed bank with a friend who lives there, and has a good plot of land.Barra de la Cruz is as close to paradise as you can imagine. There is a river that flows out into the ocean creating lush wetlands, and a lagoon that is perfect to swim in. Then there is a long white beach with world-famous waves, and giant boulders at the end that glow orange at sunset. There are fruit trees everywhere. I was fortunate enough to find accommodations in a palapa that was surrounded by coconut trees full of coconuts. I literally walked outside and grabbed one right off the tree. Then after about 20 minutes of hacking at it wildly with a machete, I was able to drink its sweet, delicious water (you know, always good to work up a thirst). On my way to the beach I stopped by a mango tree that had recently shed it’s fruit all over the ground. Perfect, food for the rest of the day!
I would have been happy to stay here for months, just gardening and surfing. Akasha seemed a little unsure about the status of the farm, though, and I had an opportunity to learn how to sail up in Puerto Vallarta. I waited a few days to feel it out, but my gut told me to go to Puerto Vallarta. The only problem was that Puerto Vallarta was over 1500km away, and I had about 30 pesos in my pocket. I decided to trust in the Universe and thumb my way up the coast.The Universe did not disappoint. It took me 4 days, but I made it with spare change in my pocket. People are so amazing. One man gave me a free ride in his collectivo (basically a taxi-van), drove me further than his route, and then flagged down another ride for me before he left. One person actually offered me a job, but it was in the opposite direction of where I was headed. Maybe next time ☺
Sometimes I got to practice my Spanish, sometimes I got to help someone with their English, and sometimes I spoke fluent Spanglish. I saw where our mangos, papayas, and coconuts are grown, and hundreds of miles of beautiful coastline. Two nights I spent on the floors of bus stations, but one night I spent in a breezy hotel room overlooking the ocean, with the sounds of the waves crashing below me.
Sound scary? It’s true; I am at the mercy of people. But I am learning to trust, and it feels great to experience real abundance. Not the abundance that I have to fight tooth and nail for, give up my dreams and settle for a life of drudgery, but the abundance that flows naturally through the universe.When I finally made it to Puerto Vallarta I was met by Joe, a good-natured guy who offers people the chance to sail on his boat through FindaCrew.net. Actually, Joe is always sending out good vibes and generosity wherever he goes. For the past week we have been sailing around the bay and visiting cool spots and amazing restaurants around PV. He has been patiently teaching the ropes of sailing, and helping me figure out what to do next.
As far as that goes, I’m stilling waiting to see. As usual I have a variety of fantastic options to choose from. We will have to see what happens, or as they say in Spanish, ‘A ver!’