I have officially crossed the border into totally unknown lands (unknown to me at least). My time in San Diego offered me some rest before heading to what I thought was going to be a very stressful border crossing. Upon arrival, I noticed some really amazing things in Ensenada. Not only about the places I have seen, but the people all around me! Let me give you a glimpse into my stay at my first stop within Baja California. My trip to Ensenada showed me my first Border Crossings, Blow Holes, and Bienvenidos.
Border Crossings
My last day in San Diego, I was pretty nervous about crossing the border. I knew I had nothing to worry about (It’s not like I’m smuggling anything through!), but still there was an uneasiness in me because it was my first real border crossing on the motorcycle. I had imagined them tearing my whole bike apart, and me having to repack everything on the side of the road. While I was waiting in line listening to my music, I eagerly awaited going through the gates so I could speak with the border patrol agents.
FREEDOM!
The guard told me to go to the office to settle out a visa and motorcycle approval. The members in the office spoke no English, which was an interesting time to be had by all. Eventually, I figured everything out, and from the second office, I asked “where do I go now?”. He shrugged his shoulders, which I only assumed meant I was all set to continue to my first stop, Ensenada.
Upon leaving the border and heading south, the road to Ensenada was incredible. I mean, the road was high above the water, waves crashing into the land, and people stopping on the side of the road to enjoy the view!
I arrived at my couchsurfing spot in the afternoon. At first sight of the roads, they were in pretty rough shape. All dirt side roads with steep grades. Enough for me to hold on tight to the wheel, and also get some practice on messy roads like these.
Blowholes
My couchsurfing host, Jorge, took a fellow couchsurfer, Joseba, and myself to go see some things around town. He first took us to La Bufadora. Definitely a place to check out if you are ever in the area.
Here’s the thing! I don’t want you to focus on the water blowing high into the sky (alright, maybe a little). No. What I want you to focus on is something I came to observe as I was looking around me. Something that brought the most joy to my heart. Men, women, and children of all ages laughing and joking hysterically with each other when the water would come splashing down on them.
To see all these people laugh with strangers and loved ones, and enjoy this time together is something I will never forget. It was pure ecstasy. It brought me to think most people don’t experience that kind of laughter enough in their lives. I believe a work/life balance can really help many people in this journey we call life.
Laughter is an expression of joy and magnificence that should be experienced as much as possible.
And talk about magnificence! Ensenada Backpacker, the hostel I stayed at for 6 days, was a little slice of heaven. A smaller hostel than I had been accustomed to, but it definitely had a homey feeling from the moment I walked in.
Bienvenidos!
Javier was there to greet me and sign me into my room. I met some pretty amazing people from all walks of life. This is one reason I enjoy hostels just as much as couchsurfing. Yes, you have to pay if you are not working at the hostel as a volunteer (something I will be experiencing very soon!), but you are also meeting like minded people from all over the world. It offers a source of networking with people that couchsurfing does not.
For example, my friend Patricia, who I met in San Diego, was coincidentally heading to the same area as I was! Pati helped me plan out the best places to see along my route through Mexico, and the places to try to avoid because they were not as safe currently.
Examples like this are endless, and I could write a blog post on everyone I’ve met along the way (and it’s only been two months!).
Now, traveling brings its own set of problems. I figured it was inevitable I get sick along the way. What many like to refer to as “Montezuma’s Revenge” was my first experience of this. A few days of sleeping, hitting the baño every hour, and nursing Pepto Bismol like I was back in college offered a very important lesson! Be careful where you eat, always drink bottled water, and put lime on EVERYTHING you eat (and I mean everything).
Needless to say, I have always enjoyed lime, even in the quantities I have been eating it here.
Farewells
After eating all that lime and sleeping so much, I figured it was time to start saying my goodbyes to this amazing city. But the city blocks are many, and I found one place where I could say goodbye to the whole city at once!
I went to the highest viewpoint, and soaked in everything Ensenada had to offer. The city was much bigger than I expected it to be, stretching from the port all the way back into the mountains! The fog offers its own beauty as well, spanning across the mountains in the background. I made my way down to the hostel, to grab some things and watch the sunset at the beach. The feeling of sand on my feet felt a little more fitting than a brick wall.
Well…
If you got to this point in my article (seriously, nice job!) I’ll share something personal with you: There are two moments where I cry on this trip. No need to worry, these are tears of joy! One is while I am driving the motorcycle, where I feel just as free as I used to while driving my car. The experience of traveling over the land at highway speeds, and taking in everything around me. The other?
While watching the sunset.
The sunset in Ensenada was no different. I sat there, taking in the beach around me, watching the sun take its final bow of the night, and I cried. Unimaginatively grateful for the fact I am doing this trip, and still in disbelief at times it is happening. It seems the feelings I had rushing through me during my revelatory Utah trip, are becoming more common. I’m not sure if I will ever get over the fact this is my life now. That I took the leap from my previous life to enter into the unknown.
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
Paolo Coehlo – The Alchemist
All I can do is thank the people and experiences in my life that have brought me to this moment in time, and release control of what I believe is supposed to come (and when). Setting goals is important, and I believe allowing things to flow towards that goal with no end date in mind is equally as important.
This mindset allows one to gain even more knowledge along the road to their dreams. Knowledge they would not have received if they had gotten what they wanted exactly at the time they asked for it. It can be a difficult thing, but I urge each of you give it a try. Take the leap, however big or small. Want to go on a weekend trip, and are making excuses not to go? Take that first feeling of excitement you had when you thought of it and go for it with everything you have.
It’s all about perspective
Another hostel-mate, Ivi, told me about her life change. Ivi lives in Costa Rica, and started skate boarding a while back. She told me before skateboarding, she was always hesitant on taking charge and going for things she wanted. Once she started skateboarding? Ivi said it changed her perception of life and going for the things she wants the most totally upside down:
“You can’t hesitate when you are about to drop into a skate ramp. You have to take all of your thoughts and focus them on actually winning over your fears.”
Go take that weekend trip to the mountains, the water, the city. Don’t hesitate! Just go, and see how much calmer and at peace with yourself you will feel because you did so. Maybe on one of these trips, you will find a sunset that will bring a tear to your eye, and will start a totally new outlook on what it means to be content and happy.
‘Til next time,
Pete – A Traveling Teacher