After going through the worst heartbreak imaginable, I knew I had to leave Austin. Living in Austin for the past five years was amazing, however, the last three years I was deeply brokenhearted. They say when you are healing, you can’t heal in the same place where you got sick. It got to the point where I had to say a prayer to God, crying and asking Him for help, and boy, did he deliver and gave me the answer within two days.

Dream of Mexico

It actually came to me months before, when I dreamt of Mexico in February of 2022. Walking the streets of Mexico with beautiful Spanish architecture on both sides of the walk way. Then I found myself at a shopping center with a lake next to it. I got in the lake, then laid there on the grass. For a second, I got scared I was going to get bugs in my hair so I got up. I looked up at the sky and I saw three shooting stars. I made my three wishes and I said my love’s name three times as each star passed by.

I started walking towards the shopping center and I jumped from the rocks to the pavement and I said, “I made it!”.

That week the answer came to me was regarding where specifically in Mexico I was being called to go. Mexico is a huge country and I honestly haven’t visited, except a border town in Matamoros. I don’t have any family there and I’m not Mexican (I’m actually Puerto Rican). So the answer came through a TikTok I found of a girl who moved from Miami to Merida. I started looking into Merida, Yucatan since I’ve never really heard of Merida. Then I found a YouTube channel of these guys who moved there from LA to Merida and they did a video of “Malls in Merida”. One of the malls they went to had a lake next to it and get this, it is called “La Isla Mall”. To me that was a gigantic clue from God and the Universe that this is my answer.

Puerto Rico is known to also be called “La Isla Del Encanto”, which means The Island of Enchantment. So for that mall to be called La Isla, I knew that was my ‘hit the bullseye’ sign.

Dream Come True

Turns out the beautiful two bed, two bath townhome I rented was only eight minutes from La Isla mall and I didn’t know until the day I went there. It was so quaint because they had little hammocks tied to coconut palm trees facing the lake and you could just sit there and relax.

Being in Mexico was truly a dream because every day I woke up, I felt such joy and peace in my life. Changing your environment really does wonders. Merida reminded me so much of Puerto Rico that there were a few moments where I saw things I completely forgot from my childhood and it healed my inner child. I feel incredibly blessed that I was able to be in this beautiful city and country for five months. My goal was to stay there longer, but my visitor visa was only good for six months. Also, I quit my remote job (bold move, I know), I missed my family and my dog Monroe so it was time to come back to Texas.

When I came back, I felt rejuvenated and free. Even my own sister told me, “You’re glowing!”. Yup, Bella got her groove back.

Moving Back Home

Moving back to Dallas, my hometown, was definitely something I wouldn’t have chosen. However, life had a different agenda and revealed to me that this is right where I’m supposed to be. When I was moving to Mexico, I told my remote job I was leaving Austin to move back to Dallas. I didn’t want them to know I was leaving the country because it wasn’t allowed. At that point, I didn’t care because I knew I had to take care of myself. I did confess to them the day I quit that I moved to Mexico and it felt so good. They were shocked to say the least.

Becoming a Travel Agent

Looking back at my super challenging ordeal to finally make it to Mexico after three days was a big part of why I want to help others with traveling arrangements. There were so many things I didn’t know, that if I had a professional who would have done the research for me, it would have gone a lot smoother.

Traveling With Pets

Did you know that some airlines don’t allow dogs to travel internationally? Southwest Airlines is one of them. Also, did you know that your pet has to be vaccinated twenty eight days prior to traveling internationally? This is United Airlines’ policy. Now that is something I wish I knew beforehand. You can’t imagine how shocking it was to find this out, while I was at the bag check with my dog in his carrier. Immediately I started crying because I realized I was going to have to leave my dog, my son, behind for six months.

Passport In Hand

This was my own mistake, but it could happen to anyone. One of my carry on bags was too big to take on the flight, so at the ramp of the plane, I checked it in with the grounds crew and forgot that I left my passport in my carry on. While I was waiting for my layover plane in Houston, I realized I wouldn’t see my bag until after going through customs, but I wouldn’t have my passport with me. So I had to let the attendants at the counter know that I needed my bag taken back for me before getting on the plane.

Return Flight Back To US

When I finally got to Mexico after attempting to fly there from Friday and Saturday, here we are on Sunday, finally touching down with passport in hand. I was so ready to get to my Airbnb and relax. Well, that day I had my turn with this strict customs guy, who was not very nice. He asked me what was the purpose of my visit and I told him. Then he asked me, “Where’s your return flight ticket?”. I was dumbfounded. Return flight? I told him I don’t have one because it’s six months out and I plan on getting my residency. That was not good enough for him so he put me back on the same plane I came in, back to Houston. Yes, I cried again because I was in disbelief.

So Close To Mexico I Could Taste It

Everyone, and I mean everyone kept telling me to give up and go back to Dallas. I was standing at the Houston airport on the phone with the airlines, my mom who was in Spain at the time and my good friend Melissa who happens to live in Houston. If you know me though, I don’t back down for nothing. Even though the odds were stacked against me, I pushed through. I had to buy a return flight back to the US and another flight to get to Merida, again. The Universe somehow made a way for me and I did it. I made it! Just like I said in my dream.

Took me three days, but I made it. Now looking back, that could’ve been my three shooting stars. By Sunday, I finally touched down in Merida and as I was walking out of the airport (Ubers can’t come pick you up at the Merida airport), I saw a huge flamboyant tree. It filled my heart with happiness.

This isn’t the exact tree, but this is one I spotted walking in the neighborhood I was staying at. How beautiful is that tree, right? It’s definitely a tropical tree and I forgot how much I’ve missed its beauty.

Merida, I Miss You

I am definitely going back to Merida one day and I’m looking forward to it. There were so many places I didn’t get to visit and I’m making sure I don’t miss next time around. Now that I’ve been there, I know the good areas to stay at and can recommend for those who’ve never been, but would like to make Merida a go to destination. Contact me so we can book your trip.

If you read this far, thank you. Life really is a trip.