My ‘Real’ Mexico
In 2005, I left my comfortable life in Australia to move to Glasgow, Scotland. On my way, I went on a month long holiday to Hawaii, Los Angeles then to stay with my Aussie pals who were living in MEXICO. This is the inspiration behind my Holy Guacamole Dressing.
This was one of the most incredible vacations of my life. Not only did I have the most wonderful hosts (thank you so much to the Suarez and Cowell families for opening your home and your family) but I was able to see the ‘real’ Mexico and enjoyed every single moment.
The journey didn’t come without any drama of course, when I landed in Mexico City Airport to meet with my friend Dallas (who was from Australia but 15 years earlier had lived with the same host family as a student on exchange) I discovered I had missed my connecting flight to Tuxtla, with none until the following day and I had no way of contacting Dallas. At the time, all I could think of was a statistic that someone had told me without me verifying, was that someone was kidnapped everyone minute in Mexico City. I cried and begged the airline staff to put me on any flight that day, as people were expecting me, and I even pulled out the “I’m a flight attendant, put me in the jump seat, I don’t care”.
Eventually I found Dallas, and his fluent español put me at ease. And then we boarded our flight for Tuxtla Gutiérrez.
During my time in Mexico
- I lived with the locals
- made friends with 12 Australian blue heeler puppies,
- I partied in San Cristobal and ate hot dogs from a street vendor in the early morn
- bought dried bananas off local children at Agua Azul after swimming in the crystal blue waters
- toured temple pyramids at Tonina and Palenque archaelogical sites
- fell in love with the idea behind cantinas. Pay for your beer, get your food free
- enjoyed a traditional large family Mexican Christmas, that included opening presents and feasting on Christmas Eve until midnight, followed by karaoke
- a relaxing stay at the family ranch to recover from Christmas festivities.
- met the biggest bull in the WORLD
- enjoyed an evening horseback ride
- ate a worm
- had a snooze or 2 in a hammock
- Took a truck drive out to the fields to gaze at the stars with my Mexican family and some wine.
Never did I have a meal I didn’t enjoy whilst in Mexico, and although Mexican was my favourite food prior to my visit, this was AUTHENTIC Mexican and usually made by the family’s housekeeper. Our main meal was usually around 4pm in the afternoon with a light supper around 10pm. Yep, everyday I looked forward to lunch
Holy Guacamole Dressing
1 avocado
1/3 cup of cilantro (coriander)
1/4 tea cumin
2 T lime juice
1/8 tea chilli powder
1 clove garlic
1/4 tea himilayan or sea salt
1/4 tea agave
3/4 cup water
Blend until smooth and pour on your favourite salad. I like romaine, corn, tomatoes, red peppers, cucumber and garnish with organic blue corn chips. It’s creamy and very decadent.
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What a wonderful, wonderful experience. It’s moments such as those captured in your photos that makes travelling the best thing in life one can do, in my humble opinion
Agreed Hannah!
Awww, this post is bringing back some good memories of time I spent in Central America. I love being able to stay somewhere long enough to get to know the locals and learn the “real” life of the area. What an amazing experience.
Wow, looks like a great time! I loooove guacamole! I’m going to make some today!
You are so lucky to have traveled so much and experienced so many different places of the world. The dressing looks great, thanks!
You are right Sarah, I am really grateful for being able to travel so much!
No worries re the dressing.
Hello robyn good memories but you are forgetting the 5 our ride in the back of the truck in the way to palenque and agua azul jejejeje. Besos
Oh I was going to mention that Gabriel. Oh man, you beat me to it! Miss you guys!
I usually “lurk”
so hi, and thanks for this post, the pics are beautiful and it made me go, wauv, yeah, journey…:-)
Thanks for saying hi Anne!!
What an amazing experience. I love your photos. It must have been so great to get involved in the culture. This salad sounds delicious. x
It was amazing Sarah. I can’t wait to get back someday.
Yummmmmmmmmmmm I love guac. and Mexico, isn’t it an amazing place?
Love the pictures too!!
Hope you are well!
Jess
Thanks Jess was only just thinking of you today!
Love the new layout of your blog! Just beautiful!!! Thanks to your experience at 105 in Oklahoma I’m seriously debating attending…
Keep up the amazing work! Aloha from Hawaii…..Amanda
Thanks Amanda!
This looks awesome!! And WHOA – amazing travels and pictures – i’m blown away by how much you travel!
My father lived in Saudi for about 10 years – very interesting that you live there!
Wowsers, really? Where abouts did he live?
YUM! This guac dressing looks incredible and what a vacation. The cantina concept sounds pretty awesome to me.
That is amazing that you took Les Mills classes in NZ- that is so on my bucket list!
……Great Photos Robyn…..Love the Pups….Looks Like yr Comments r working now….L
Wow robbie raw I love your website. Can’t believe i havent made time before to check it out properly. Mexico was a blast and cant wait to get back there although it will be a few years away for me. I still dream of Carmelitas cooking, the freshness, the intense flavours, the tenderness…. provecho!
it’s wonderful…..!