Cancun

Here I am!
Those days were full of ‘first time’ and it’s amazing how fast things go.
My flight was delayed and I arrived around 21h (local time) instead of 17h on the 26th of May. I wasn’t bothered too much but you’d be surprise how fast an airport empty itself at the end of the day. No buses; only cabs or “colectivos’ (big taxis) were available. As I still don’t speak Spanish so well I felt I was an easy prey to give my money away. And my stubbornness to not let that happen almost made me miss the last “cheap” way to go to Cancun. What a nice way would it have been to start my travel being trapped in an empty airport for 8 hours.
So, I’ve got myself in this big cab with 2 couples and a loner just like me but older and looking dangerous (that is: not being a shrimp size french).
As it was late and given you don’t know the city, walking from the city center to an unknown location to meet this Russian friend [Alex but everybody calls him Sasha and yes, I know why but no, I won’t explain that here] from couchsurfing.com looked a bit risky (Yes, i like adventure, but I’d rather like to not finish as an uncooked burrito acting stupid). Therefore, I took a room with the dangerous biker (no, really, he was nice), helping on the way 2 Russians [who don’t speak either English or Spanish (If it’s not courage, I don’t know what that is). Moreover the girl is 8 months pregnant! Please, try to keep up with the different Russians there.
So, the first night in Cancun looked like a HUGE stereotype with big cockroaches, blooded water, noisy fans, very high temperature, and so on.
Because of the 26 degrees in average at night, we woke up super early and got to drink some fresh orange juice from a lady going around with her trolley yelling “NARANJA!” (we obviously got ripped off in the process, but, but … it was a REALLY good orange juice).
Finally the couple and I arrived to the couchsurfing place to enjoy the company of more Russians (I promise I took the flight to Mexico!) and an inner swimming pool (the only way to survive for the moment).
Today, I’ll be flying to Guadalajara and I have already lots of contacts: Thanks couchsurfing!

Francois

ROLLER COASTER

Those days are full of mixed feelings. One day I feel able to do anything, and the other I just want to escape. Funnily, this travel arrived little by little.
So, you are dreaming of a world trip? That’s a perfectly reasonable dream.
You’d like to quit your job, everybody can think of that…
But then, you are engaging the steps. The first one? Putting money aside. Little by little. You don’t make any commitment just yet. You could use this money for something else you know.
Then, I started to learn Spanish; still nothing grievous in that. I could still use it in Madrid or Barcelona…
The first buys related to the trip: Vaccinations and medications. Mostly refund, so it wasn’t such big deal.
A big bag? I could hike with it in Europe.
A Reflex? I really needed another camera anyway.
Then I quit my job. Somehow, it wasn’t the biggest step. One meeting with my manager who took it very well, one letter, and it’s all over. Even this point wasn’t a non-retour one for me. I could find something else somewhere else.
But then, the ticket for Mexico. THIS is the first real commitment. From this point I felt the obligation. Being fair, it was the combination of that and the expectations of other people: “Are you ready?”, “Where are you starting?”. End of February, I KNEW I would be in Mexico next summer. Scary/Thrilling feeling.
Finally, everything just goes very fast. End of the things, goodbyes, cutting strings and dropping keys. Always these buzzing thoughts in your head (How many socks? Do I need this? Should I buy that?).
Today, I weighted my bag: not even 12 Kg.
This is what is left, that and a roller coaster mood.

François

Hello People of the Internet!

Well, I guess for the moment it's only friends I've threatened with death to read my blog and/or my family who desperately tries to read those words in English.
So, since you’re here, congratulations, I'll not send you parts of dead animals in tiny boxes. Don't enjoy it too much, you are still condemned to read the end of this post: there will be a questionnaire for the skivers...

I managed, by witty persuasion, to make people close to me write some words in my scrapbook.
I'm not so sure why I'm doing that but it seems to have stressed some of them. They better be, cos I'll read it publicly, saying names and so on! Nah, just kidding.
Mostly everybody was nice, even though there are some exceptions (as the one signing as Anonymous... I'll track you down!)

After saying goodbye to a lot of people, it's funny to see how some of them react to you saying you just dropped everything to travel.
Some kinda freak out and have the urge to explain to YOU why THEY don't travel. I used to stare at them till they feel too uncomfortable to still talk to me, ever, again.
Others, obviously caring for my safety, are throwing at me tons of advice going from vaccination to how to pilot a plane underwater with one hand. At the beginning I tried to reassure them, but the more I talk, the more they are scared.
I guess the best I could do for them is to make up facts like ‘the most dangerous animal in Mexico is the rabbit!’ or ‘In case of aggression, showing a French ID will create so much pity that the aggressor will give you peanut butter’

In general though, you guys were awesome [insert here slow music full of emotions and tears].
Thanks!

Now, my travel.
Everybody is asking me if I’m ready.
Technically: yes.
Mentally: I don’t know (I will know for sure when I’m over there... eventually).
Only 8 days from my flight now :)

François