Pines and Palms

by Danica Hennig (Canada)

I didn't expect to find Mexico

I try to avoid my natural impatience when I travel, however this feeling is heightened when I arrive somewhere at nightfall. I feel anxious when I cannot clearly see my surroundings. I have spent months imagining the sights I will see when I arrive in charming Mazamitla, Mexico. Yet when I arrive, I am met by the unforgiving darkness that shrouds my view. I try to let the impatience go and I hold on to the anticipation of the morning light. Ever heard of Mazamitla? As a North American (Canadian to be exact) it’s not exactly a destination buzzword that attracts us Northerners to embark down south. Not like Puerto Vallarta, Cancún or Mexico City. Thus, I had never heard of it. Since I happen to be dating a resident Mexican, I had the privilege of exploring places that aren’t bombarded by other foreign tourists. Mazamitla is located approximately two hours north of Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. This state fills the visitor with fascination among its colourful vibrance, artistry and ecological diversity. Guadalajara, the state’s capital city, is no exception in its cultural richness. The region has birthed Mariachi music, tequila, and iconic hand-made ceramics. There is no shortage of amazing things to see and do around Guadalajara. Mazamitla also holds this delightful array of authentic Mexican culture. Ideally, we were to arrive in Mazamitla earlier in the day, but due to a vehicle incident the day before, we were delayed. This incident occurred after we had spent two hours strolling a hand-crafted ceramic market just outside of Guadalajara. We returned to where our car had been parked and stood in confusion when we saw it was not there. We panicked, but then found a local shopkeeper, who told us that he saw the car being towed 15 minutes earlier. Unfortunately, we had parked where the curb was painted yellow. Indicating that this was not a proper parking spot. It took us 24 hours, 2 long bus rides and many visits to multiple sites to get the car back. I was devastated when my boyfriend said he wasn’t sure if we would make our reservation for the weekend in Mazamitla. I had been looking forward to the trip for months. Contrary to tropical Puerto Vallarta, which is four hours away from Guadalajara, Mazamitla is situated in the Sierra del Tigre. A beautiful mountainous region, domestically known as a relaxing getaway for all the local city-dwellers. We thankfully got the car back in the late afternoon and began our two-hour drive to Mazamitla. This small Mexican town is essentially a self-described magical location. It has been deemed a ‘Pueblo Magico,’ a government selected small-town with charm and traditional culture that should be promoted and protected. This certainly proved to be true as I awoke to the crowing of roosters and the clip-clop of horse hooves. I made my coffee in the rustic cabaña that we were staying in and sauntered onto the balcony. Everyone stays in their own cabaña (wood cabin) and I was delighted to see these unique structures in every direction. I sleepily watched men topped with sombreros lead their steeds up the cobblestone hills below me. Since I was not able to detect the flora of Mazamitla the night before, what I drank in with my eyes was a delicious green delicacy. I was not expecting to see the coupling of gorgeous dark green pines, and luscious palm fronds. In my own naivety and northern ignorance, I would have never assumed that pine trees and palms could coexist in the same location. That unexpected slap in the face of such convergent beauty is what I needed. I was held under a spell while drinking my coffee and simultaneously inhaling the clear, fresh air. The trees created a wild refreshing atmosphere that conjured up the familiar feeling of home in Western Canada. Yet its uniqueness set itself apart and thrilled me. That is why I love to travel. I am grateful to Mazamitla for unravelling my expectations and allowing me to experience its magical diversity. The lesson of confronting assumptions, no matter how subtle, is worth learning every time.