On traveling solo

When I told people that I was going to be traveling solo during part of this trip to Merida, some felt sad for me and many were concerned for my safety.   While I love traveling with my fish friend and would not trade one single experience traveling with her, I can honestly say that traveling solo has been a very unique experience.  I have loved every minute of it.  

First of all, when I am with Julie, I tend to depend on her for most communication in Spanish.  The five days we were together in Guatemala, I did a lot more listening than speaking.  In a way, this was good for me because I haven't really spoken Spanish full time in many years.  I found that I understood a lot, but the vocabulary I needed wasn't coming to me until I heard Julie use it.  Since I first arrived in Merida, I have been speaking and listening almost 100% of the time.  It's not easy, but there is already a big improvement.

Another great reason for traveling solo is that you meet people that you might not otherwise meet.  Some examples:

1. Vendors in the market - When I speak Spanish, they initiate conversations.  They ask a few questions like where I'm from and what do I do, but then they begin to tell me about themselves.  Many are from nearby villages and come to town to sell their produce.  One man told me all about the difference between Haas avocados and giant Yucatecan avocados as well as the best season for them.  There was a Mayan woman sitting on the floor with a basket of papaya, she was asking, "Who wants papaya?"  When I said, "Yo lo quiero. (I want some)." She gave me a big toothless smile and picked out the most amazing papaya for me.  Meridianos are also very proud of their city and want to know if you love it as much as they do.  

2. People in cafes - A woman near my table was coughing because the habanero sauce that is typical of the region was too caliente.  I checked to see if she was ok and a conversation ensued.  She was in Merida on vacation and is a preschool teacher from the neighboring state of Campeche.  We had a nice chat.  The next day after a little shopping, I stopped at an outdoor cafe for lunch.  The maitre'd separated a table from three older men having coffee so I could sit down.  The men welcomed me and asked a question or two.  Soon a fourth man arrived and the only place for him to sit was with me, so I offered him the seat.  It turns out three are retired and one still works as an actor.  They are old friends and meet every day at noon for coffee and talk.  A couple of them had worked in the US at one time, but said they prefer Mexico.  They joked with each other and told me about the changes in the city since I had last visited.  It was a fun time and I hope to run into them again before I leave.  

I will write about more observations in other posts.