Mexico was a much needed rest from work and the stress of finding an internship suitable to my interests and aspirations. It was also a chance to get a great tan. It’s funny how something as simple as a little colour in your complexion can make you feel so much better.
One of the things I was hoping for in Mexico was to go on an adventure that would make an incredible story that I could share with the world. I figured the only way that was going to happen is if I venture out on my own and meet some of the locals.
The beach volleyball action had picked up and I was having a good time taking a few photos of it with my new camera when I met Jose. We got to chatting about everything from Mexican politics to global warming. Apparently he figures Fox isn’t/wasn’t such a great president but he doesn’t have much hope for the next guys either. He also wondered if in 50 years it would be tropical in Canada and cold in Mexico. (It makes you wonder if global warming will be bad for everyone, eh?)
But seriously, despite his slightly broken English, he seemed like a pretty intelligent guy. He told me about a series of three waterfalls not too far away that he would take me to if I was interested. He said they were a great place to take some pictures and only a short bus ride away.
Immediately I felt a surge of apprehension because, you know, most of the time I am NOT VERY ADVENTUROUS AT ALL. I threw my concerns out the window and decided… yes either I’m going to see a lovely waterfall or it will be an adventure and if anything goes seriously wrong, well assuming I’m not dead, I’ll have a great story to boot. Either way it’s a win/win situation.
The only thing Jose wanted was for me to buy him a beer. I told him I wasn’t in the mood for a beer but pounding down the 1.5 litres of Mexican brewsky alone didn’t bother him a bit. (“Just a small bottle”, he said…)
I explained to him that before we left, I was going to need to tell my friends where I was going. After all, I may have been in the mood for adventure but I’m not turning completely irresponsible.
I had Jose wait in the lobby while I ran upstairs to tell the gang my plans and even offered to let them join in the adventure. Nope, they’d rather lounge around in the hotel room watching the soccer highlights—so I was on my own. At this point in time I was beginning to have serious doubts about whether heading off alone with some stranger in a land where I don’t even know the basics of the language was really a wise choice.
“Ok, let’s go!” I said to him as we headed out into the great unknown of Puerto Vallarta. It wasn’t long until he fired off a solid question straight out of left field that hit me like a ton of bricks.
“So, do you do any illicit drugs?” he probed. “Do you want to try coke? I don’t have any, but I know where we can get some.”
He wanted me to buy him some drugs. What the hell have I gotten myself into?
“No. No, I don’t really want to.” My stuttering probably indicated that the romance of adventure was fading fast. In fact, I thought to myself, I don’t even want to go to see the waterfalls anymore. The idea of sitting around watching soccer highlights in a hot and stuffy hotel room was gaining a lot of appeal.
Luckily for me, he could read my thoughts through my wide eyes and dropped jaw—you know it’s the look deer have when they are about to be pummelled by on-coming traffic.
“You don’t really want to come, do you?”
I told him I wasn’t too interested and thanked him for the offer (of the trip to see the waterfalls, not the offer to buy him some coke). Well if I didn’t want to buy him drugs, then would I mind buying him some lunch? I took off pretty much instantly after that, mumbling something about missing an important sporting event; ending my potential adventure with Jose.
Jose, wherever life might take you, I wish you the best but I’m glad I’m not along for the ride. Sometimes not having adventures is good too.