For those of you wondering, yes, my vacation to Mexico was EVERYTHING I needed it to be. I returned a new person. Or, at the very least, a finally rested mom. I’ve also been reminded of how wonderful it feels to really connect with new places and people.

One of our first days in Nuevo Nayarit (the resort area just outside of Puerto Vallarta), we wanted to go over to the sister city Puerto Vallarta. Specifically, the downtown beach area (The Malecon).  So, we organized a cab from our resort that could fit all eight of us.

When we got in, not only did it easily fit all of us, but the guy spoke really good English and was really friendly.

Of course, I began asking a bunch of questions about the area. And, one of the most important questions – where can we find the best food? I also qualified that question by explaining that by “best,” we meant we were looking for “the most authentic food.”

We were going into the city area, though, where there are rows of souvenir stands and handicrafts that tourists buy. So, he replied that in the city, we’d find tourist food—not the most authentic food. “Where would I eat? In the place you’re going?” he said. “Nowhere. I wouldn’t eat there.”

So we asked him where he likes to eat. He told us about a restaurant on a local beach – outside of the tourist area. He said it wasn’t very fancy but it’s great food – and it’s where he (and other locals) eat often. 

He really didn’t need to say much more. We were already sold. Even though we were on our way to downtown Puerto Vallarta, we asked if it would be possible to take us to that place… and if he would enjoy lunch with us before dropping us off  to do some sightseeing. 

He quickly made a U-turn, and before we knew it, we were on some very bumpy backroads. At one point, he pointed out an area of crocodiles just chilling in their natural habitat, out to the side of the road (on the other side of a fence).

Where those unpaved dirt roads took us was somewhere truly magical.

We arrived at an open-air restaurant, “Boca De Tomates,” directly on a beach — sort of like a shack with tables. And there were no tourists in sight. Or, air conditioning. Just a beautiful beach, lots of locals visiting amongst themselves, and the smell of amazing seafood. It was breezy, calm, and just so beautiful. Authentic defined. And a cool place to spend a couple hours.

Our new friend helped us order, serving as our translator. We don’t speak Spanish very well, so we actually just let him order. What arrived at the table was a big platter of different kinds of fried fish and other seafood. This platter was also magical. Shrimp, lobster, prawns, and red snapper.

Over that meal, he really did become our new friend. We learned more about the food we were enjoying together and how much he enjoyed making friends with the people he met through this job. In fact, he kept referring to other tourists he had gotten to know—from the US and Canada—as his friends. They stay in contact and call him up each time they come back. It was just so refreshing to meet someone like that. He had such an amazing way to make everyone around him feel like they’ve known him forever. 

Afterward, he dropped us off in the city, Puerto Vallarta. He wasn’t able to pick us up again afterward because he had something else scheduled. However, we exchanged numbers and he was able to get his nephew, who also drove a taxi and had an eight-seater, to pick us up. They were both so nice. We did reconnect with our friend again though as he was able to drive us to the airport.

Our new friend became a highlight of our experience this year. It literally felt like we’d known him forever. He is just such a bright light.

Besides feeling so grateful that we found him, it really shed light on the fact that we have a choice when we meet people. Even when we meet people through our job. You can go through the motions and do the bare minimum, or you can really have the intention to connect. 

The experience also reminded us of the importance of being open to foreign experiences. Of course, we enjoyed the activities around the resort to recharge, and I needed that kind of vacation, too. But there’s something so important about also being open to looking beyond a resort—to being open-minded to learn and see things through a more local lens, to getting to know the locals, and engaging with the culture in a more authentic way.  

Not always thinking like a “tourist.”

Just for a second, why not think like a local? Consider what is off the beaten tourist track – even if you are staying at a resort? Ask more questions. Seek out local experiences. Look for those crocodiles.

It’s easy to stay trapped in the tourist bubble when you go on vacation, especially to resorts. But the extra effort to get outside of it, at least for a while, is so worth it.

If you’re open to it, it can be really rewarding to make friends with locals, learn about their city or country from them, and eat the food that they REALLY eat—all while making new friends.

Mexico is special. The food is special, the sunsets are special. The beaches, the weather, the everything… but especially the people.