This is just a simple quick video I made for fun and to encourage any of you out there who want to travel in Mexico, who hear nothing but bad news, that there are plenty of good reasons to explore Mexico if you want to and you’re from another country, like me.

We will be leaving the STATE of Mexico soon and Here in Villa del Carbon I’ve felt like I’m just living a normal life as part of the community, more than anywhere else we’ve visited. Maybe because it’s not as much of a tourist town, or maybe just from walking, shopping, and living here like a resident for 3+ whole weeks. I’ve only taken the car out a couple of times to explore the surrounding area, and my days are usually spent exploring on foot.

I like Villa del Carbon. It feels like a no nonsense, hard working little town, in a very beautiful part of Mexico.

These are the 6 best things that have happened to me in my 4.5 months in Mexico, and some of them are very personal, and some of them are surprising to some people, and some of them could happen to you too, if you’re making a move to Mexico, like me.

Sometimes the best things that happen are the things that don’t happen to you at all! In this category I’d say one of the biggest things I’m grateful for is:

Being Waved through check points in Sonora and Sinaloa. After hearing of others’ torturous experiences. Being searched, patted down, having their vehicles turned inside out during inspection, or being harassed by corrupt police or OTHERS.

Another thing is that I have not gotten sick in any way, and really neither has Olive. There’s always a chance your body could react badly to a new environment, especially with stress and long days of travel. Or you could eat something that doesn’t agree with you and get Montezuma’s revenge. But that has not happened and I’m so glad!

There are a million bad things that COULD happen, and I choose not to dwell on all that. I just know I’m grateful for the wonderful time we’ve had.

As for the good things, let me start with simple and obvious pleasures:

1. All the beauty we’ve seen in Mexico, from Mazatlan, and the Pacific coast at La Manzanilla, all the way to Tequisquiapan.

In 4.5 months we’ve traveled from Oregon in the US down the Pacific coast and then inland to see some places I’ve always wanted.

Mazatlán’s old town, also known as Centro Histórico, is a treasure trove of charm and history. Colorful, colonial-era buildings with ornate facades and wrought-iron balconies lining cobblestone streets. The area exudes a vibrant, relaxed atmosphere that seemed happy to me. But maybe that’s because it was the first stop I was really looking forward to.

Guanajuato was my favorite mid sized city. Stroll through the labyrinthine streets, with vibrant houses in pink, orange, and yellow cascade down the hillsides. The narrow alleyways, often lined with artisan shops and cafes, invite wandering and discovery. The city’s unique underground tunnels, once used for mining and now functioning as roads, add a distinctive charm to the fairytale like town. If I was going to choose a city to live in, it would probably be Guanajuato.

Tequisquiapan. The lovely small town with the beautiful pink church. Tequis is known for lively festivals and friendly people. With the great city of Queretaro close by, delicious cheese and wineries, and hot springs, I loved this little town! When we were there the weather was perfect!

These are just a few of the beautiful place Mexico has to explore! I’ve been thrilled to be able to take my time and experience them.

2. The vet in La Manzanilla making 3 house calls for Viggo when we needed help. Maybe it was the assistance of a new friend named Dorothy who has been a resident there for decades, but I was touched at how easy the Vet Abraham made getting Viggo some healthcare when he was sick.  As I said in the video I made then, I would have gone bankrupt in the states for services like that, but it was very affordable in La Manzanilla. And he really helped Viggo!

3. Our good luck with rentals! All of the rentals we’ve stayed at have been decent, if not wonderful, and the owners have been nice and have given me good deals!  I had a dream once that the airbnb I was stuck in was infested with giant rats! When you’re invested in a rental for a period of time, you depend on the decency of the space and location. If there really was a problem with rats, or say security or something important like that, it could cost a lot of money to change accommodations, not to mention the stress of moving last minute under bad circumstances. I’ve been super lucky with my rentals and it’s been mainly very good experiences. I’ve met some very kind people!

4. The young man at Los Mochis who helped me with my car. We had been traveling quickly, many miles in just a few days. The dogs were stressed and so was I. We had just spent a bad night in a hotel and I was anxious to get out of there when my car’s trunk would not latch. The car, filled to the brim with my things (and dogs) would not stay shut at the trunk, and we still had many miles of highway driving left to do. The truth is I probably could have buckled up the car by myself, but I was not in a good state of mind, and having the kind assistance of the Auto Zone guy really helped.

5. This one goes along with the Auto Zone guy.. The kindness of strangers.  It was just last week when I had taken Viggo out for a walk in the early afternoon. It started to rain as usual and we hurried back home. The long key to the door went in but wouldn’t turn. It usually turns twice to the right and unlocks the door. But it wouldn’t turn.I tried again. And again. I realized I hadn’t brought my phone or anything else but the keys.  I tried again. Have my hands gotten so weak?  I knew I needed help and looked around the busy street, for once glad that I wasn’t alone out in the countryside. I called out to a man walking on the other side, “Senior mi aiuda for favor?The man set down what he was carrying and tried the lock. I tried to explain that I was renting this airbnb. He asked if there was anyone inside. No. He asked me that twice again in the next 15 minutes. Soon the man saw someone he knew in the street and called him over. He explained my predicament and the new guy tried the lock. I said the owner’s name is Violeta. Do you know her? What’s her last name? Um, I don’t know. I explained that I didn’t have my phone on me. “hey! I can contact her through airbnb! Is there a public computer?” No, there wasn’tSoon the guy saw another guy he knew in the street and called him over and explained. I said ‘maybe I should talk to the police?’ NO, no no they said in unison. Clearly that’s not who you call for help around here. One of the guys went around the corner and spoke to the shops nearby. Someone knew Violeta’s sister worked up the block! Yay! To make a long story short, we got a hold of Violeta who came and could not get the door open either. It took a couple of hours but she found someone to climb up to the roof, break in to the house, and open the front door. Meanwhile this nice lady had me sit and wait at her house (turned out to be a block away) with Viggo while she figured it out in the rain. She got it done and when we went back to the open door, she showed me that the little knob on the inside had turned too far and kept the key from working. This is designed this way on purpose and I had never noticed. The knob got turned too far during my use the last few days and tightened the deadbolt. The whole thing was my fault. So because of the kindness of these four people me and Viggo didn’t need to sleep on the sidewalk that night! 

Not only did these three men I had never met go out of their way to help me, but Violeta, the owner, was kind and refused my money when it turned out the the door problem was my fault. I don’t know how much she spent getting someone to break into the house to get the door unlocked from the inside, but I would like to cover that. It was bad enough that she had to spend hours of her day helping me out.

6. This is the last of my list of great things that have happened to me in Mexico, although there are many more, and this one is very personal. I was deeply unhappy when I got laid off from my job in January.

I had been working as a nurse in the hospital for decades and had become quite burnt out and hated it, but I wouldn’t allow myself to make any other choice. I had to keep working.

I got surprised by the layoff in January and this forced me to think outside my own box. I could have gotten another job but I dreaded the thought, and after a careful look at my savings I decided to travel to Mexico!

This complete change in my lifestyle has made me so happy that I can’t even describe it! I think I was meant to be an explorer! I’ve loved the last four and a half months and I know I’m so lucky to be able to do this.

On the inside I’m more content than ever in my life, and on the outside this manifests in a change in my weight, among other things. I’ve lost 25 pounds since I got to Mexico, without trying. I tell my friends it’s just because I’m happy! In my miserable days at work, it took so much energy that I didn’t have any left for fun or fulfilling parts of life. I’d comfort myself with food too much. Now I don’t have that craving.

I’m glad I let myself make the change I needed to make. Life is short and to be that unhappy for years, is not good for the soul. Now everyday is a new adventure and I look forward to the days ahead. We weren’t meant to just work and pay bills, and though it’s a risk, I don’t regret not getting another awful job, and instead make this journey into the unknown.

So, as you can see, Mexico has been good for me! It’s not without challenges and bad things can happen, but I’m careful and grateful for the help of others when I need it. If you’re thinking about an adventure of your own, but your fears are holding you back, I hope I can encourage you. I just wanted to relay some of the good things that have happened to me while I’ve been in Mexico!

As you can tell from my little list, the nicest things have been the people. The kindness of strangers and their generosity has really made a difference to me in my time here.