Mexico for me will be the VW Beetle

I am not a tourist. I try to live as locally as possible to blend into the culture and environment. It helps, at least, with my Spanish, which has improved substantially. Being surrounded by the language makes you absorb words and phrases almost subconsciously.

However, this immersive approach isn’t always healthy at least not when your goal is longevity. Street food? Maybe delicious, definitely not healthy. Especially when you’re standing next to the grill, inhaling the smoke of a thousand tacos al pastor. Pollution in Mexico is no joke. I still don’t know how I survived Mexico City. Sleeping there felt like army training for chemical warfare the kind where you have to sleep with your gas mask on. And so did I. I actually wore mine at night as well, because being indoors didn’t make much difference not for me, and not for my Atmotube device, which I carry with me all the time to monitor air quality. Poor thing was probably begging for mercy.

And those fumes! Old cars with exhausts that puff out black smoke thicker than nightclub fog machines. Actually, that’s what it feels like is like being trapped in a mobile smoke party minus the fun, plus the lung damage. However, data on particulate emissions suggest that grilling and frying in open air can rival or even exceed vehicle pollution in local concentrations. Now imagine doing that in a closed kitchen  basically turning your home into a micro-version of Mexico City rush hour.

Frying and grilling are deeply rooted in Mexican culture.People embrace it, they celebrate it. It’s part of life. unquestioned. Smoke is flavor, fried fat is joy, and asking “Is this healthy?” sounds almost offensive. It’s like questioning whether air exists ironic, because the same smoke that makes the food taste so good also fills the air with fine particles that quietly make it harmful to breathe. Our brain’s reward system amplifies the pleasure, rewarding the taste and smell while ignoring the risks. Over time, we’ve even labeled such habits as “normal,”, “positive,” or even “comforting,” when in reality, many of them should sit on the opposite side of that scale as harmful, not healthy. When something feels good, we rarely notice its negative and that’s exactly why this connection is so easy to overlook.

VW Beetles (Vochos)

Ah, Mexico and the VW Beetle a story of endurance on wheels. One of the first things that caught my eye here were the old “Vochos,” as locals call them. These little cars still pop up all over the place, stubbornly rolling through decades of dust and modernization.

They’re a perfect metaphor for Mexico itself  durable, practical, a little loud, but full of character. The Beetle was built in Puebla from 1964 until 2003 nearly 60 years of producing the same model! That’s longer than some marriages last.

When I see a Beetle here, I see more than a car I see tradition preserved, history that refuses to die, evolution on four wheels. It’s like the cockroach of automobiles, but in a cute way.

Cash is the king? (maybe)

I have a strange habit of ranking countries by how easy it is to live without cash. It’s not exactly a scientific method, but it says a lot about trust and progress. For example, in Germany people still love paying with coins, while in Sweden, cash feels like a myth. Both countries are developed, but they reflect very different attitudes.

My theory: the less cash people use, the more they trust the system and the more willing they are to adapt to change. So on my personal “cash index,” Mexico ranks far below Germany, somewhere near Cambodia or Vietnam. Here, cash is still king  and sometimes the only way to get a taco, a taxi, or even a haircut.

So I breathe deeply (through a mask, of course), remind myself “This is Mexico,” and try to enjoy the experience one peso at a time.

Tulum and Día de los Muertos

Looking at the map, I thought Tulum might be a peaceful place fresh air, jungle vibes, close to the sea. In theory, yes. In practice? Not so much. The town is expanding rapidly, with construction and resort projects scattered everywhere some still being built, others half-finished, and many completely abandoned. Roads are half-finished, trash collection is inconsistent, and sometimes “eco-friendly” seems to mean “throw your garbage near a palm tree.”

Still, life goes on. Locals are busy, those few tourists here are sunburned, and somehow, everyone is smiling.
 

By coincidence, I arrived during Día de los Muertos the Day of the Dead. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. The atmosphere was electric, colorful, and beautifully bizarre. For someone who focuses on longevity and avoiding death, celebrating it felt… paradoxical. But Mexicans do it with such passion and creativity that you can’t help but be moved.

For a few nights, I slightly let go of my rational mind and joined the ambience somewhere between life and death, tacos and smog, tradition and evolution.

Tulum reminded me that contrast is what gives life its flavor. Next time, I’ll explore another part of Mexico maybe closer to the nature, but hopefully with the same authentic spirit.