We learned a lot in Mexico, and a lot of it was really small things that you wouldn’t think about.

When pushed, you can communicate. With less than a hundred words, no available translation methods, gestures, and a smile, you can make things happen.

Travel with ear plugs. You never know when you’ll be staying in the most beautiful place that just happens to have 5 dogs, a rooster and a lot of noisy neighbours nearby.

Driving in Mexico is scary. But it’s less scary than you think.

Many people in Mexico want to take your money as efficiently as they can. However, just like in your home country, there are genuine and amazing people out there if you keep your eyes, mind and heart open. We narrowly avoided a needless car rental bill because we’d met the right person, and our scooter rental guy was super nice. Both of these activities we were wary of, because you read so many bad things on the Internet.

Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet. But you can believe some of it. Everyone has a different need when they travel. I can appreciate that some people may not want to do what we do, but if you want to you can do it.

You haven’t actually eaten a mango until you’ve had one in Mexico.

We searched high and low for the Best Guacamole in Mexico, and we finally found it in Cancun. But you can still get the Second Best Guacamole in Mexico from Earls in Vancouver.

It is worth finding the right place to stay, and stretching your boundaries to learn something new. We stayed in Playa for 9 days and in Cancun for 1. Cancun is fake, with giant hotels and people who speak “perfect” English. Playa is a much more real place, that is still a safe experience.  Don’t trust the stereotypes that you may have.

You can buy anything on 5th Ave. Some stereotypes are true. I got offered blow and crack one night.

Sometimes the best experiences of your trip, will be the least expensive ones. But sometimes, you just have to fork out the @#$% cash.

The more you know up front, the better you’ll feel. We did a bunch of research beforehand, but mostly left our day-to-day unplanned. We took a Spanish class beforehand, which was really worth it. 

Double check all your reservations…

There may be a map nearby somewhere that will tell you everything you need. It’s not the end of the world if you miss it, because the experience is worthwhile regardless. But there may be a turtle oasis if you swim just a little further.

Get someone to hand you your scuba camera. Check all of your waterproof seals. Check them again. Get the sand out of the o-ring. Check the o-ring again. Check your pockets for electronics before you go in the water. Check them again.

There is no situation in which you should bring socks to the Caribbean. Even fewer situations where you should bring 5 pairs. >.<

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And that’s all we’ve got for this trip. Thanks for reading! Friends won’t be surprised, but we have another trip coming up in May… one of Miranda’s best friends is getting married in Hawaii, and we’re going. More turtles! 🙂