One of the great things about backpacking is that once you land in a country, you are automatically part of a circuit. The circuit may run north-south or east-west and you can start in whichever direction you please. Along your way, you will meet people to give you expert advice on destinations they have already been. They will inspire you to completely change your itinerary. Along this circuit, you may even inadvertently run into the same people again. This helps create a sense of security and family among the backpacking community.
Friends
In Tulum, I had a roommate Artur. I met K at the day trip to Akumal, hosted by Hostel Che. K had told me that Isla Mujeres was more developed and if I wasn't into that sort of thing (I'm not), then I should perhaps choose a different destination like Bacalar. I ended up going to Bacalar with K and Artur... on the same bus. It totally seemed like I was stalking them. In any case, the morning after our arrival, four other people from Hostel Che were there as well. Alex was another guy from Tulum and Bacalar who I ended up meeting in Playa Del Carmen for dinner.
Let's go back to Tulum for a hot minute. I made another friend, Oren, on the day trip to Akumal. He is a computer programmer for computer vision. Computer vision is a fascinating new field meant to teach computers how to identify objects. We were able to bond over this. We also bonded over the state of our careers. He's been traveling for over a year and half! We traded Whatsapp contact information and said goodbye in Tulum.
Me, Tom and Oren at Chichen Itza.
Guess who I saw on the bus from Playa del Carmen to Valladolid? Well, it was my good friend Oren! We had text and shared that we were both planning on going to Valladolid. I didn't think we'd be on the same bus! I had told him to book the same hostel as me. When we checked in at the hostel, we met this guy who I had noticed at the bus station in Playa del Carmen. This was Tom. Tom, Oren and I spent the next day touring Chichen Itza. We clicked well and talked about all sorts of nasty topics.
Fast forward to Isla Holbox. (I just finished 3 days on Isla Holbox and arrived in Merida yesterday). I met these fabulous 21 year old girls, Romy and Charlotte my first night at Hostel Tribu. They were funny, sarcastic, critical and energetic. I could not get enough of them. We talked about everything!! At some point we were hanging out on the beach, talking about the cool people we've met on our trip and I mentioned I had a friend Tom. Romy and Charlotte said they also met a guy named Tom in Tulum and he was from Newcastle, UK. However, my Tom was also from the same place. We assumed there must be a whole bunch of Toms in Newcastle... traveling the Yucatan the same time as us. After a few texts, we realized it was the same Tom! He was planning on coming to Isla Holbox!
Romy, me and Charlotte on Isla Holbox.
We had a little reunion of sorts when Tom arrived. He surprised me on the beach. Came up behind me and did a little boogity-boo! It was really interesting hanging out with people who knew each other from different places. We had a chill night at the hostel bar, reflecting on what a small world it is.
Itinerary
Everyone keeps talking about Palenque. I'm hearing it pronounced in so many different accents: Dutch, German, Mexican Spanish, Argentinian Spanish, Hebrew, French, Australian English and Canadian English. At this point, I don't even hear the word Palenque any longer. I just hear the funny sounds that make it a word. I kinda hear some sort of Polish variation like Polenki. Have you ever tried to deconstruct the word yogurt? It really just sounds like the weirdest word to me.
How many more people need to tell me about Palenque before I find a way to add it to my trip? Here's the deal: Palenque is in the middle of the jungle. Most backpackers take some crazy mishagas 16 hour overnight busride from Merida to Palenque. I'm not doing that. Then everyone says once you do Palenque, you have to do San Cristobal De Las Cases. That's another 9 hour bus ride through the mountains. Then everyone says you have to go to Oaxaca because it has amazing food. That's another overnight bus ride. Then everyone says you have to do the beaches of Oaxaca like Puerto Escondido and Mazunte, and yes, another 6 hour bus ride through twisty-curvy mountains. Well, alas ladies and gents, I have created a very complicated itinerary from December 21 through December 27 that includes 4 flights, 4 hostels, 1 Airbnb, the 6 cities of Palenque, Villahermosa, San Cristobal De Las Casas, Tuxta Guttierez, Oaxaca and Huatulco and the beaches of Oaxaca. I will fly between these cities (Villahermosa is the airport city closest to Palenque, Huatulco is the airport city closest to Oaxaca's Playa Zipolite) in order to avoid overnight buses.
This is all because of feedback from fellow backpackers. How cool is that?
P.S. About 20 minutes after I published this, I was heading back into my room with my laptop and I bump into Dani, a guy from Barcelona who I met in Playa Del Carmen when I went to The Yak Hostel for dinner one night (to meet Alex, see above). Guess what? He's in Merida now and we are the same hostel and he is sitting right next to me. I really love this stuff.
