Last week, Luca and I almost had a car accident. It was about 7:00 a.m. and we were driving along Highway 1, with the Pacific Ocean on our left and the mountains on our right. It was slightly foggy and the road was deliciously silent. Suddenly, a deer leaped out in front of us. Even before Luca swerved, it was out of sight.This week I’m in Mexico City. Forget all the words you just read above – from “driving along” to “Pacific Ocean” to “Mountains” to “calm” to “quiet”. I assure you there will be no deer interfering. This place is surreal, even to my Mexico City born eyes; a live wire of people and color and smog and cacophony and energy. A boy is juggling balls at the stoplight, then asking for money.
If our bodies need time to adjust to jet lag, what about brain lag? We weren’t meant to move so quickly from one location to another. What are the side effects of this sudden, dramatic change in surroundings?
Strange dreams, for sure. Waking up completely disoriented (a condition that in my case often lingers for the rest of the day). Being just a tiny bit out of touch with reality (another lingering condition). Feeling as alive as this place. Looking at the world with wonder.
"For my part” said Robert Louis Stevenson “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move."
7 comments:
Yes. I am familiar with that sensation, Dushka.
In part it's overwhelming. It also feels silightly ominous... I love the city, but also I'd grown to dread it.
I don't miss it. I just miss my loved ones very much.
Please, give a big hug from me to Carol & Tomás. I miss them a lot.
Much love to you all.
From this finisterre.
Yes indeed, a leap so huge in distances (and social bareers) may be always harmful and unluckily could take us to a severe statement of resolution were our minds get either numbed or depressed, however it might happens as an effor of resolution that god gave us to be able to appreciatte how blessed we've been, and what are we meant to do about it.
Hi Dushka--Mexico City is one of my favorite cities in the world... Wonderful museums! Enjoy. Micaela
I enjoyed Mexico City so much this time. I feel like I saw a new side of it, even after having lived there for most of my life. It's one of my favorite cities in the world too.
Did you know that the deer is the most dangerous animal in America in terms of fatalaties caused. When I found that out, I also found out that elevators kill about 30 Americans each year.
Watch out for elevators on your commute.
Howcome cacophony? Spanish is the world's prettiest language!
I was referring to the city cacophony - honking of horns, etc. - not to the language, which is pure poetry.
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