Mexico > To Cancún, Mexico

At half past six, a neighbor drives me to Schiphol. It snowed a little last night. The streets are a bit white, but the temperature is already above freezing. In the eastern part of the country, more snow has fallen. We carefully drive to the highway. Closer to Schiphol, it’s raining and the snow has disappeared. I arrive well in advance for my flight. Checking in and all the security procedures go smoothly. Within fifteen minutes of arriving at Schiphol, I have completed all the formalities. I find a bench and start reading. I also order a cup of coffee. Around quarter past nine, boarding begins for flight KL869 to Cancun, Mexico. I’m in the first row of the rear cabin. Fellow travelers are sitting next to me, and the rest of the group should be seated nearby. With 23 participants, the group is fairly large, which will make it extra challenging to remember everyone’s names later. On our row, there’s a mother with a child on her lap. The child is lively and cries a lot, so she’s quite busy. The little boy keeps running away whenever he gets the chance, much to the annoyance of the crew who want to pass through the aisle. I try to get through the eleven-hour flight by watching a movie, sleeping a bit, and listening to an audiobook. The audiobook surprisingly helps a lot, though I don’t have time to listen to the whole book. After three chapters, the pilot begins the descent toward Cancun. At customs, I get a new stamp in my passport.

Mexico - The KLM aircraft at Schiphol

No one asks me why I’m here, where I’m staying, or how long I plan to remain. When I walk into the arrivals hall with my luggage, I find the driver holding a sign that says “Sawadee.” Meanwhile, I meet the other travelers and make an extra effort to repeat their names. I always find it awkward to keep asking someone’s name, especially when you’ll be traveling together for the next three weeks. I also meet Suzy, the trip leader for the coming weeks. She is originally British but lives in Guatemala. While the bus drives through the traffic to the hotel in Cancun, Suzy explains the practical details of the trip. I notice I’m quite tired. It is six hours later in Mexico, which means it’s already late evening in the Netherlands. From the hotel, I walk with some fellow travelers to an ATM. I can withdraw a maximum of 9,000 pesos, which is about 430 euros. I’ll probably have to withdraw a similar amount later during the trip. In a small supermarket, I buy water, cola, and cookies for tomorrow’s bus journey. Suzy announced that we’ll have a local lunch tomorrow, but later in the afternoon. “Be prepared,” she advises, “and always make sure you have something to eat with you.” I join some travelers at a terrace and order a beer. We decide to eat here as well—nachos with chicken. Around eight o’clock, I’m back at the hotel. Although it’s still early by local standards, I go to bed. I’m ready for it.