Veracruz

After a month in the capital, I went to the historical city of Vercaruz. It’s on the Gulf of Mexico and it’s where Hernan Cortez landed to then march to what is now Mexico City and conquer the Aztecs and consequently all of this region. I was a little disappointed. It was smaller than expected. And a little more busy than a ghost town. It didn’t seem very historical. For example Cartagena, Colombia really looks like a historical city. It’s got the whole nine. Forts, walls, cannons, medieval buildings and seedy Caribbean pirate bars.

The Blue Oyster
I was in Veracruz for about a week, staying at a hostel, The Blue Oyster, where I shared a room with 9 other people. It was a small hostel but overall it was a good. I met a German girl and a Japanese guy in the kitchen/dinging room/ TV room and we drank and had a conversation about the world and culture. And older American dude showed up and he said some weird stuff. We got into a heated discussion. All good, though. Yet I became bored with the town so I went to Xalapa.

Xalapa, Mountain Town

Years ago I had visited Xalapa. It’s a medium-sized city in the mountains between Mexico City and the Gulf of Mexico. I had been here with my old friend Richard and his then girlfriend, Claudia, who is from Xalapa. I fell in love with the city and always wanted to come back. Sourrounded by green mountains, you can se a snow covered mountain, and green biomatter invading the town. There, I found an awesome hostel in the center of town, the old colonial part. There’s lot’s of stores, cafe’s, restaurants, and night-life all right here close to the hostel. I wish there was revolution in the air and…..you get the point.

Party at The Lake

It was fabulous. I hung out a lake in town. There were outdoor concerts and lot of street vendors and people walking the streets and lakeside. I ducked in to a bar to do some editing and have a beer. I hadn’t drank in 4 days, but I really wanted a beer. Life was getting boring and I needed a little reality-changer.

The Cross I Bear

Lately editing video has been slow and difficult. I’ve been working a one video for a long time and frankly never satisfied with the result. So I keep on making changes to it hoping I’ll like it.

I think I’ll be here for awhile. If I find my wife I’ll stay, but if not, it’s on to Brazil.

I saw a girl walking in the opposite direction. We locked eyes. And I kept walking. Another missed opportunity. How long will I not face the facts? Come on! I need to talk to a girl and ask her out someday.

Absent of Tourism

Mexico is right next door to the United States and the United States has 350 million people and I’m the only American here!? Perhaps the only foreigner. Why? The outdoor concert is rocking! Why isn’t there tourists. It blows my mind. You’d think with all the Americans next door, 350 million, a few would trickle through. At a similar outdoor concert in the USA, you would hear many different languages in the crowd. You would see many different nationalities walking down the street and in the park. But here, as far as I can see and as far as I can hear, it’s only Mexicans. And this event is totally awesome!

Zaira Lopez

I was walking down the street and it began to rain and I ducked under an awning to find refuge. A girl did the same. We struck up a conversation and when it stopped raining I walked with her to the city center because it was where I was heading and it was on her way home. She was walking from her job because her work hadn’t paid her yet and she didn’t have money for the bus. We exchanged Instagrams and agreed to go out later. A few days later we had dinner at a Chinese restaurant. The conversation was good and she’s attractive. She invited me to attend a religious procession that started from her church to go around the neighborhood for 2 hours then end up back at the church. The procession was in honor of a Catholic holiday called “Christ is King” celebrated every November 21st. After the procession was a mass. I didn’t expect that but it was a wonderful cultural experience and I met lots of people. A few days later we hung out, went to the movies, saw the film Venom. It was dubbed in Spanish and I didn’t understand everything but enjoyed the challenge of trying to get the gist utilizing body language and facial expression. I had a hunch she was attracted to me but I didn’t feel the same way. But I’m very happy to have gone out on a date. I need to go out on more dates.

Old Sports Injury

My knee is still not 100%. I hurt it running six months ago in May of 2021 in the city of Santos, Brazil. I think it’s a meniscus tear, which is common for middle aged people like myself. I didn’t see a doctor hoping that it would heal on it’s own. Now I think I should see a doctor. Well, I’ll wait until I stop traveling when I return to the United States and see a doctor then.

Conclusion

Don’t put your eggs in one basket. Spread them around.