"But I don’t live in and visit Mexico the country - I live in and visit particular spots in Mexico - I’m sure if I lived in or visited particular other spots, I might not get the same vibe."
This is very true. I often hear people talking about what Mexico is like after visiting just one city. They even often try to correct my understanding of Mexico when I voice something that's different. But I've spent a good amount of time in Mazatlán, Mexico City, and now my new home in Las Margaritas. All of these places have extremely different energy!
Still, there are some general truths about Mexican culture as a whole, and I'll take just about any Mexican city over what I've seen in the US. I also very much resonate with whatever energy Mexico puts out. Although I definitely prefer rural areas like where I am now over the big cities. haha
I'm going to "same" Nadine's same. Of the places I've visited in Mexico (a lot, not enough), I've always pretty much got a good vibe. There are some neighborhoods where this wasn't the case.
I also like rural areas, but tend to end up in larger towns. I wonder what that's all about...
You had me at the image of the pyramid! The energy of your story connects to my inner energy. Really. I am not being facetious. Case in point....I could not get past the first paragraph of one of your prior stories. I felt protective of my energy on that day. Allow me to digress... (or maybe everything is connected by some form of energy). A favorite poet of mine once quipped that values are energy words connected by grammar. I guess I am pondering on the energy of writing itself. He also talked about how human values priorities created a shield that edits the flow of energy word ... coming and going. We create stories about us and places and filter out what we do not want to hear. Could your dad simply awaken what was already in you? There were extraordinary qualities in my mother that never (sadly) rubbed off on me. Ok....I recognize my thinking energies are somewhat scattered, so I will close by noting how your energy story touched us all in many ways. Wonderful to resonate with you!
Those pyramid ideas always fascinated me too but I never did the experiments. Energy! Energies and vibes. It is too bad Silicon Valley techies and guess Hollywood jaded CA. Mostly I know the north state and the tech influence. But every time something comes down up north, there's instant reactions down south. A PM friend/photographer already had someone yell Gringo go home (he's German btw). But he was cool and had a conversation w/ the guy who said he was frustrated by the Gulf of America madness (who isn't?) and all the recent comments from pols with power. Sigh. Here we go again. Great post!
Oh yeah. Gulf of America. Geez. I haven't faced any anti-US sentiment yet post the new administration shenanigans, but I suppose that it is inevitable that I will. Not looking forward to it. Sigh.
Once upon a time in the United States of America (as it is still known at least for now), I went to Costco every couple of weeks where I would look at people as they passed. They didn't look back.
One day someone did. We actually made eye contact and maybe even a little nod. I mention this because it stands out in stark contrast to the other hundreds of times nothing at all connected.
Here in Mexico, (and I agree with your point that I'm in a particular part of Mexico, not in the whole country so your km may be different), it happens every time I go out somewhere.
So yeah, a different energy for sure. And I really appreciate it. I like to talk with people or make even a small connection. It's one of the reasons we're here.
Agreed! I get grumpy about my dusty underserved pueblo in a "not that part" of Mexico but there's always a buen dia in there for me. Even in larger cities in Mexico I get a little bummed that the buenas tardes aren't as freely shared but they're in there! I get offended in the US that people are so guarded, but can sometimes connect after a while. Just need an ice breaker and also I have the face of a bartender.
Completely relatable. I also shy away from overly welcoming energy, it's intimidating and makes me feel like it's fake, but there's a bare minimum level of kindness that I look for.
It’s great you have those sensitivities and intuitions. There is so much more than we can see, if we just listen for it. I’m glad you are listening and sharing what you hear. I feel a lot of go - go energy in the US that I don’t feel in Mexico and I’m sure I’d feel a lot more if I listened more intently.
I enjoyed that story. I recently returned from nearly four months in Mexico, and while I would have liked to have gotten some natural energy or even magic from the places I visited, I would have been looking in the wrong place.
Parked in the farmland southwest of Morelia, I walked daily into Tirio or Santiago Undameo. I found the real magic is with the people themselves who opened their doors and their hearts to me as the friendly gringo with knowledge of Spanish.
Yes, I have climbed the Mayan temples at Palenque and walked on unspoiled beaches near the Playa Azul, near Lazaro Cardenas, but it was the local Mexican people that always made the fun, or the energy, happen for me. One could even gather the same from funny, upbeat dinner parties in the strange, winterish cold east of Morelia, where a group of adults would be sitting around by a warming fireplace while eating Pozole and sipping a fine reposado tequila.
Thanks for the comment, Rich. I too find the "energy" of the Mexican people I interact with. I am definitely attracted to the warmth and humor of this culture, and I find it uniquely soothing. I don't write about it so much, because I'm such an introvert that I shy away from discussion human interactions! But they of course exist, and I welcome them.
I've found the energy in Mexico to change from block to block, town to town. State to state for sure. But as a whole, it's WAY more agreeable and suits me better than the USA which is yes, angry mobs of people fighting over parking spaces. (imagine having parking) Great essay, as always.
Thank you, Shelter Lola. Yes, fighting over parking spaces is a pastime that I've gladly given up. Now I just fight over the urge to have a 3rd cup of coffee.
"But I don’t live in and visit Mexico the country - I live in and visit particular spots in Mexico - I’m sure if I lived in or visited particular other spots, I might not get the same vibe."
This is very true. I often hear people talking about what Mexico is like after visiting just one city. They even often try to correct my understanding of Mexico when I voice something that's different. But I've spent a good amount of time in Mazatlán, Mexico City, and now my new home in Las Margaritas. All of these places have extremely different energy!
Still, there are some general truths about Mexican culture as a whole, and I'll take just about any Mexican city over what I've seen in the US. I also very much resonate with whatever energy Mexico puts out. Although I definitely prefer rural areas like where I am now over the big cities. haha
I'm going to "same" Nadine's same. Of the places I've visited in Mexico (a lot, not enough), I've always pretty much got a good vibe. There are some neighborhoods where this wasn't the case.
I also like rural areas, but tend to end up in larger towns. I wonder what that's all about...
SAME. All of this.
You had me at the image of the pyramid! The energy of your story connects to my inner energy. Really. I am not being facetious. Case in point....I could not get past the first paragraph of one of your prior stories. I felt protective of my energy on that day. Allow me to digress... (or maybe everything is connected by some form of energy). A favorite poet of mine once quipped that values are energy words connected by grammar. I guess I am pondering on the energy of writing itself. He also talked about how human values priorities created a shield that edits the flow of energy word ... coming and going. We create stories about us and places and filter out what we do not want to hear. Could your dad simply awaken what was already in you? There were extraordinary qualities in my mother that never (sadly) rubbed off on me. Ok....I recognize my thinking energies are somewhat scattered, so I will close by noting how your energy story touched us all in many ways. Wonderful to resonate with you!
Thank you, Elva. You seem to have some good energy going on - I'm going to hook you up to my laptop so I can type longer 😁
Those pyramid ideas always fascinated me too but I never did the experiments. Energy! Energies and vibes. It is too bad Silicon Valley techies and guess Hollywood jaded CA. Mostly I know the north state and the tech influence. But every time something comes down up north, there's instant reactions down south. A PM friend/photographer already had someone yell Gringo go home (he's German btw). But he was cool and had a conversation w/ the guy who said he was frustrated by the Gulf of America madness (who isn't?) and all the recent comments from pols with power. Sigh. Here we go again. Great post!
Oh yeah. Gulf of America. Geez. I haven't faced any anti-US sentiment yet post the new administration shenanigans, but I suppose that it is inevitable that I will. Not looking forward to it. Sigh.
Maybe you won’t Mike. The Riv Maya is gringo central.
Once upon a time in the United States of America (as it is still known at least for now), I went to Costco every couple of weeks where I would look at people as they passed. They didn't look back.
One day someone did. We actually made eye contact and maybe even a little nod. I mention this because it stands out in stark contrast to the other hundreds of times nothing at all connected.
Here in Mexico, (and I agree with your point that I'm in a particular part of Mexico, not in the whole country so your km may be different), it happens every time I go out somewhere.
So yeah, a different energy for sure. And I really appreciate it. I like to talk with people or make even a small connection. It's one of the reasons we're here.
Lovely article, Mike. And Happy New Year!
Nice anecdote, Victor - thanks for that. And so good to hear from you again, it's been a while, friend. Happy New Year to you as well!
Agreed! I get grumpy about my dusty underserved pueblo in a "not that part" of Mexico but there's always a buen dia in there for me. Even in larger cities in Mexico I get a little bummed that the buenas tardes aren't as freely shared but they're in there! I get offended in the US that people are so guarded, but can sometimes connect after a while. Just need an ice breaker and also I have the face of a bartender.
Bourbon. Rocks.
Completely relatable. I also shy away from overly welcoming energy, it's intimidating and makes me feel like it's fake, but there's a bare minimum level of kindness that I look for.
Por supuesto. I generally don't like the overly welcoming energy when I'm running late for the coffee shop.
They need to tone it down so early in the morning...
lol
It’s great you have those sensitivities and intuitions. There is so much more than we can see, if we just listen for it. I’m glad you are listening and sharing what you hear. I feel a lot of go - go energy in the US that I don’t feel in Mexico and I’m sure I’d feel a lot more if I listened more intently.
Go - go energy is only useful in clubs. In the 1960s. I'm guessing you're not in either of those places 😄.
I enjoyed that story. I recently returned from nearly four months in Mexico, and while I would have liked to have gotten some natural energy or even magic from the places I visited, I would have been looking in the wrong place.
Parked in the farmland southwest of Morelia, I walked daily into Tirio or Santiago Undameo. I found the real magic is with the people themselves who opened their doors and their hearts to me as the friendly gringo with knowledge of Spanish.
Yes, I have climbed the Mayan temples at Palenque and walked on unspoiled beaches near the Playa Azul, near Lazaro Cardenas, but it was the local Mexican people that always made the fun, or the energy, happen for me. One could even gather the same from funny, upbeat dinner parties in the strange, winterish cold east of Morelia, where a group of adults would be sitting around by a warming fireplace while eating Pozole and sipping a fine reposado tequila.
Thanks for the comment, Rich. I too find the "energy" of the Mexican people I interact with. I am definitely attracted to the warmth and humor of this culture, and I find it uniquely soothing. I don't write about it so much, because I'm such an introvert that I shy away from discussion human interactions! But they of course exist, and I welcome them.
I've found the energy in Mexico to change from block to block, town to town. State to state for sure. But as a whole, it's WAY more agreeable and suits me better than the USA which is yes, angry mobs of people fighting over parking spaces. (imagine having parking) Great essay, as always.
Thank you, Shelter Lola. Yes, fighting over parking spaces is a pastime that I've gladly given up. Now I just fight over the urge to have a 3rd cup of coffee.
Imagine having coffee. hahahahahaha.