The journey is half the fun

After three layovers one of which in Hermosillo I finally arrived in one piece to Mexico. I was the only one going out of the country for spring break, let alone quite a random place and to be honest I didn't even know where Culiacan was. If you told me to point out where I was going on a map, I couldn't. Of course I like to embark on these adventures alone. I think that's what makes it more interesting though. The Hermosillo airport was... well... small. When I got off the plane I got off right from the airplane outside, I've never had to do that before. I felt so important, like I should be waving to my loyal fans, below... but there were done, so I didn't. The Hermosillo landscape was flat as could be with random rock formations emerging from the ground. I don't know a lick of Spanish so I had no idea in hell what was going on around me. The airport had 4 or 5 doors leading out to the runways. The cities were listed in their Spanish names and go figure, my flight was delayed. I found one English speaking couple who helped me understand when my flight was going to take off, I had no way to reach my brother, no English reading material, so I spent the next few hours sitting in this tiny, hot airport people watching, and trying to explain "no hablo espanol" when people would ask me something. When everyone started lining up to get on the planes I had no idea how to figure out where the plane was headed so I walked out the doors guessed which plane to get on and hoped for the best. No one was taking tickets are pointing to the correct location, so it was all pure guessing. Well apparently luck was on my side that day because I did make it to Culiacan... 4 hours later. It's weird to go somewhere and have absolutely no idea what is going on around you. We ventured to the Mexican market a few times to get food. That is something everyone should experience. Dead animals hanging, blood, and guts all over. The smell mixed with the heat is enough to make anyone nausous. The city itself is pretty nice, it's not a huge tourist mecca, but that's why I enjoyed it. It is real Mexico, nothing Americanized like Cancun or Acapulco. We ate at little restaurants right off the road, it looks as though the restaurant is in someone's backyard. My brother lives in a gated community and there are random family owned restaurants right on their front lawn. I love the food here! I'm not use to people approaching you at red lights to wash your car or sell random things... anything from broken pencils to used air freshners... it was weird. The mall was very nice, the cleanest mall I have ever seen. I could live here, but I can adapt to almost anywhere. It's pretty fun because all the signs for my brother's community have pictures of very white, blue-eyed, blonde people promoting these houses. It's pretty ironic considering everyone living in the development are Mexican except for hand full or so European and American teachers and their families. The people here are all so friendly though, that is what I have always loved about Mexico. You are always welcomed with open arms.

It's a real Mexican experience