Mexico: The Best Place To Start A Journey

September to December 2022

Mar 14, 2025

For years, I dreamed of visiting Mexico, and suddenly, I found myself in Cancún with no real plan. I had no idea that what started on the wrong foot would turn into four transformative months that would lead me to new realizations about myself.

Read the collection of stories that capture my experience across Mexico:

Letting Go of Control: A Journey of Adaptation and Flow in Mexico

Explore the stories from the cities that left the biggest impact on me:

Playa del Carmen: Learning to Let Go on Fifth Avenue

Playa del Carmen taught me a lesson in rhythm. I arrived with my fast-paced, efficiency-driven Israeli mindset, only to find a world moving to an entirely different beat. At first, everything felt like an endless game of "speed dating"—people coming and going at a dizzying pace, here to relax today, gone tomorrow. I felt like I was standing in the middle of Times Square while everyone else rushed past me.

But then, I discovered Fifth Avenue—a never-ending street, alive with surprises. I’d walk out in the evening without a plan, simply telling myself, Let’s see what happens tonight, and the street would always lead me somewhere unexpected. Some nights, it was a vibrant Latin music bar that made my heart race. Other nights, it was a deep conversation with a stranger that stayed with me long after.

There was something magical about Playa’s nightlife—casual encounters that turned into real friendships. It made me realize that people don’t just walk into our lives by chance, and they don’t leave without a reason.

Isla Mujeres: Three Days That Revealed My Core

Isla Mujeres was a perfect, unexpected stop. I arrived planning to stay for three days—a long visit by local standards, as most tourists only come for a day trip. Despite a few financial mishaps I hadn’t anticipated, the island itself blew me away. I’m not exaggerating when I say it was the most beautiful place I had ever seen—the crystal-clear turquoise water, the white sandy beaches, the pure serenity.

Here, I also faced my fear and dove into the famous underwater museum, becoming a real-life Iraqi Little Mermaid for a moment. This dive forced me to confront a dream I had been holding onto—working as a bartender in exotic locations. It hit me that my dream was always tied to work—I had always been a workaholic, finding meaning through action. But floating weightlessly in the ocean, things suddenly became clearer.

Cozumel: Diving into a Different Depth

Cozumel became a diving course that turned into a lesson about myself. When I was given a wetsuit with the name "MAYA" written on it, I knew I was in the right place. Even underwater, I was still the funny girl, grinning so much that I filled my mask with water.
Driving around the island on a scooter, I realized how quiet it was compared to Playa. Here, the streets emptied at night because everyone was diving. If you’re in Cozumel, you’re probably a diver.
But at the end of the day, while sitting with locals, I learned an unspoken rule: If you're a Playa person, you can’t also be a Cozumel person. You can’t be both. And in my case, my heart was already taken.

Holbox & Mexico City: Opposite Worlds, One Country

Is there a better way to experience a place than to see its extremes? Holbox and Mexico City represent two completely different Mexicos—tranquility versus chaos, nature versus urban sprawl, isolation versus overstimulation. I’m tying them together because, side by side, they paint a full picture of the contrasts Mexico offers.

Holbox was the epitome of the exotic fantasy—an island that felt like a protected sanctuary, where shallow waters, soft white sand, and flocks of birds circled overhead. It was a world detached from reality—not just physically, but mentally, too. Ironically, paradise came at a price, literally—everything here was 150% more expensive than anywhere else I had been in Mexico. Detachment has a cost.

Meanwhile, Mexico City was a constant challenge—a long, exhausting day that started at 3 AM and ended in bitter disappointment outside a Bad Bunny concert. Thousands of people, including those who had flown in and booked hotels just for the event, were left standing outside the stadium. Myself included.
The city was overwhelming. The word safety was thrown around so often that it became unnerving. "Take an app-based taxi, it’s safer." "Stick to these areas, they’re safer." The paradox was clear: Safe places often feel the least safe.

It may not have been the most glamorous chapter of my journey, but it taught me about balance between spontaneity and planning, solitude and crowds, disappointment and unexpected joy.

Bacalar: A Lesson in Letting Go, Communication, and a Slice of Pizza

Bacalar was a complex experience that taught me about surrendering control. I spontaneously joined some new friends from Playa without planning a single detail—me, who usually scours the internet for the best deals in advance.
Suddenly, I found myself in a group of three Spanish speakers, sitting at a bar, feeling completely isolated. The communication gap and different expectations were frustrating—from precisely splitting every peso to getting "kidnapped" into a vegan restaurant without prior warning.

Thankfully, something shifted midway through the trip. They started speaking more English, and the atmosphere changed. And despite my initial frustration, I couldn’t deny the breathtaking beauty of Bacalar. We sailed across its dazzling turquoise lagoon and floated down the fast-moving stream of Los Rápidos.

But the moment that truly saved the trip? A pear-and-goat-cheese pizza on our last night. Somehow, that single bite transported me back to childhood. It reminded me that even in challenging journeys, an unexpected flavor can bring unexpected joy.
This trip taught me that personal perception shapes how we experience a place, and that’s exactly what makes each journey unique. The same location feels different to every traveler, every day, in every mood.

Cancún: A Vacation from My Vacation That Led to Inspiration

Cancún was a well-timed break in my Mexico adventure—a vacation from my vacation—just as I started questioning whether my dream was as glamorous as I had imagined.
"I feel like I’m turning a page in my travel book," I wrote as I arrived for a weekend at an all-inclusive luxury resort.

The extravagant buffet dinners became an event I looked forward to like a child, reminding me of a lesson I needed to learn—to treat myself like someone I love. That mindset is reflected in everything, from the courage to play beach volleyball with strangers to indulging in fine dining.

And on the last day of this reset, something incredible happened—"I threw up words again, not alcohol." Sitting at the poolside bar, I suddenly spilled onto my keyboard.
Just as my thoughts about Mexico felt their most uncertain, I found the greatest clarity through writing.

Tulum: Between the Party and the Realization

Tulum was my final chapter in Mexico, and what a chapter it was. I had come specifically for the Zamna Festival-the very reason I had arrived in Mexico in the first place—and I discovered a city of striking contrasts: luxury meets potholes, style meets spontaneity, and a weak body meets a stubborn spirit.
"This is exactly why I’m willing to travel so far," I wrote on the first night of the festival, "this smile is the real, from-the-heart kind—this is what reminds me why music makes me so happy."
Even when my body betrayed me and I fell sick, I clung to my mantra—"Never Not Go Out"—and pushed myself to attend. Zamna exceeded every expectation. "This. This is what I live for."
I left Tulum with a perfect ending to all the chaos, dramatic and unpredictable, just like the city itself.

Stories from Tulum:

Mexico was the starting point of my journey, and looking back, two and a half years later, I see how deeply significant it was. The spontaneous choice to go there reshaped my path in ways I could never have imagined. I learned to let go, to embrace change, and to find myself in the most unexpected places.

Today, I know Mexico wasn’t just a place on a map- it was the beginning of something bigger. And real journeys always begin when we dare to leave what’s familiar behind.
"Today, as I leave Mexico, I am grateful for this experience. I can say without a doubt it was the best decision of my life."