Montezumas Revenge... October 31, 2018

Monday eve as I am changing into my party dress ready to venture out solo for a cocktail at the highly recommended bar Cava, it hits me... a wave of nausea followed by bodily symptoms no one wants to experience concurrently. 36 hours later and 10lbs later I am on the road to recovery. Another life lesson in "Character Building". I have visited Mexico multiple times, avoided drinking the water, careful on what to eat and never been ill. This time a very different experience.

What I can say from my newly acquired life lesson is... when travelling alone is to PREPARE and be ready... I wasn't. When you become that ill, alone, with only 1/2 bottle of water in your room and a few tylenol in the bottom of your purse that makes for Hell. Too sick to venture out to buy water and too ill to visit one of the many Farmacias. I make friends with a solo moth that lays dormant on the bathroom floor for the duration of my stay there. Thought it was dead, turned out it left the floor after 24 hours with me.

Next time I will be certain to stop into the Farmacia when I arrive and buy Ciproflaxin (antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections). Cipro is one of the many drugs you can purchase without a prescription here in Mexico... Viagra, Cialis, diet pills, sleeping pills... Secondly, purchase as much bottled water as you can carry for your room and thirdly... my most useful disgusting insider trick... have handy large ziplock bags. I brought one to carry my 100ml liquid containers to bring my carry on through airport security and the other for wet bathing suits. Both were dumped out to use as Vomit bags. The garbage can was already earning its keep.

This morning I had to check out of my first Airbnb and make my way to #5 Casita Frida Poolside/heart of town/beach 2 min. From google maps it looked to be a few blocks away. I shower, muster up the strength and head out into the heat. First stop the Farmacia for Cipro and Gaterade. The young man behind the counter speaks very little English- I wonder if his Dad is somewhere ? Through a short game of charades we are on the same page and he hands me the Cipro. I politely decline the viagra. I take the pill and drink the gaterade before leaving the air conditioned little store.

Now to find my next casa. The streets are packed and the roads around the plaza blocked off. The town is in preparations for their Day of the Dead Celebrations. There are no taxis anywhere and its a flurry of people. I decide I can manage a few blocks, I did travel light and I am wearing flat shoes. I turn on cellular wifi on Google maps and head towards my destination. I am deflated to be directed to walk up the steepest cobblestone street I have seen since coming, then another one around the corner. 10 minutes later Suri politely informs me I have reached my destination. A destination of no where. Falling down building in construction. An hour later later, 3 failed attempts for directions (everyone says the same.. "1 block that way" ) I was back in the Plaza, slumped down beside the Church in the shade with an elderly shoeless man looking worse off than me... for a few minutes anyway. Montezumas revenge strikes again... I anxiously look for a bathroom and realize I am FUCKED. (this word has become far too familiar in my usual lady like vocabulary). Out comes my ziplock bag and I am vomiting bile into it. That's all that I've got left in me . I pray its just this end of my body that has gone into this reactive state. Visions of a scene in Bridesmaids where the main character is racing across the street in a wedding dress she has tried on to find a bathroom... in the middle of traffic she realizes its too late. That CAN"T be me, that only happens in movies. That is more Character Building than anyone deserves. I feel so depleted, what was I thinking coming here alone and doing this? I look around to anyone that I think might be able to help and check my purse to have some cold hard cash available. I try my phone one more time and text my next Airbnb host. "Help, I am so sick, I am lost and sitting outside the church can someone please come?". Within 5 minutes someone is there and within 2 minutes we arrive at my new casa. It was that close the entire time. My gracious host checks me in and I have my new comforts of a toilet and bed. Thankfully no scene from Bridesmaids today.

Tonight I feel more human and venture out to get something to eat. It has been two days and that is is hardly conducive for my intent of a "healthy zen holiday". I shower and throw on some shorts and head out "As is". My goal is to find the closest outside patio restaurant that looks the busiest- that's a good sign right? Lots of people= good safe food. I order a caprese salad and a margarita pizza along with a ginger lemonade. It is there I meet a table of firefighters here from Colorado.  Friendly group that ask me to join them. I politely decline, and seconds later they are picking up their big table to join my table for one. They invite me to come watch the baby turtles being released and to attend a party. I politely decline as I feel my stomach starts to roll over. This time they can see ”No means No.”- likely by the change in my body language. We exchange numbers in hopes of connecting tomorrow. I think the one woman in the group was looking for some female companionship that eve amongst the  testosterone. She’s loveky!On another day I might have joined them - Firefighters and all... good people anda handsome crew. 

I am back in my casa this evening still licking my wounds~feeling much less sorry for myself and relieved to know I am here for the next 3 days. It is a relaxed Boutique hotel with a lovely outside patio set up as a living room. ( I am yet to sit out there). There is a full kitchen that will house my pizza and gatorade supply and a comfortable bed in a separate bedroom. No a/c but 3 big fans going at full speed. The pool is just outside and looks inviting. It was comforting to hear families in the small pool this afternoon... less alone somehow.

The celebrations have begun for the Day of the Dead... I am told that this festival is one of the most beautiful festivals celebrated in Sayulita. On November 1 & 2 the streets are filled with colour and fragrant flowers with a traditional walk from the Plaza to the Cemetery. I don't want to miss this! There are alters with offerings filling the streets to invite souls to leave the world and beyond, walk the earth a few days, to visit their loved ones and enjoy the scent of flowers and their favourite dishes. Culcas; skulls that celebrators represent with masks and Dia d Muertos dishes~sweet breads. The festivities have already begun. I can hear singing and music coming from the Plaza.

No photos to add to this post. Tomorrow is a new day... I survived the last few. I can feel my character building already.