09.12.20
In life, everything has a season and as I write post #100 and reflect on the last 100 entries, I find its time for a new direction. The ORIGINAL direction of Travel Younger, which began Feb 19, 2019, was to travel the world and stay for six weeks at different locations. That was our path until COVID…
I published the first 51 entries as Volume I of “Traveling the World Six Weeks at a Time,” and these last 50 will be volume II and the end of that series. The new title of our journey will be Travel Younger Chronicles since it will be more focused on the living aspects of worldwide travel, as well as the lodging for six weeks at a time. And our travels are NOT over yet!
We have been in Mexico for almost six months and being stationary for that long does have its advantages, though Kathleen and I have itchy feet to move on sometimes. When we started, travel was our PASSION and it still is. I was reminded about passion a few days ago as we finally were able to take a boat ride to the small, just seven miles long, island of Isla Mujeres. It is eight miles northeast of Cancun, and a very comfortable 18-minute ferry ride away, and the island is truly magical. From our hotel room we were able to look east from the balcony and see the wide open Caribbean Sea, and in the opposite direction see Cancun and the channel in between. Here’s a great video for you!
Our ride out was courtesy of Pedro Vega, captain of Shut Up and Fish, an interesting sounding company name for a Cancun-based tour company that offers fishing along with more sedate rides to the island, plus stops to snorkel. Which we did. Twice. That was also magical as the water was as clear as glass, and maybe 30 feet deep. Pedro’s crew member enticed fish over to us with food, and we had them rubbing against our bodies, plus viewed several barracudas, a baby octopus, and the underwater museum, with statues dropped in for dramatic effect. Along the way Pedro shared his story, forty five years in the making, and his realization when he was just a kid that he wanted to provide tour guides back and forth to the island.
He had passion. And he made it happen.
Leaving Mexico while in his teens, he traveled throughout the area, including a dozen years in America, saving money to execute his plan. Many of us wish that we had a dream that early in our lives, and some never ever do have dreams and goals that make life worth living…
After we arrived at the island, he took us to a beach club where we had a magnificent lunch of fish (grouper) and chicken, along with the side dishes. His love and commitment to customer service was obvious and it was clear he wanted Kathleen and I to be well fed and happy.
Those of you reading this blog run across all ages and generations and live in many countries. Some of you were born in one place and later moved to another, for whatever your reasons. One of Frank Sinatra’s most popular songs, “My Way”, says: “Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention.” I wish I could say the same, but truthfully I regret not finding MY passion much earlier, though it was not from lack of seeking.
And the other regret is that I wished I traveled more, and at a much younger age.
When I started these blogs 18 months ago, my commitment to you was to share our experiences of worldwide travel, and help you maybe step outside your comfort zone and learn from our journey. To be motivated and inspired by our journey.
I hope I have succeeded.
