I’ve visited Mexico so often in my life that it’s become a normal routine. Every time a holiday period comes up, I dream of all the places in the country I can explore this time around. But the flipside of coming to the country is that I also have years of experience flying home after my Mexican adventure. It’s the saddest part of the routine I’ve established. So, what do I miss about Mexico when I leave? Well, quite a few things, as it turns out.
The quality of the food and restaurants
If you like having options, my hometown of Montreal is a great foodie hub. I’ve found culinary delights from several parts of the globe there. But you’ll more often see franchises like Tim Hortons, McDonald’s, Wendy’s and other fast food joints with low-quality meals. They’re businesses designed to make what you order quickly, and it’s what most customers expect.
Canada does have a few homegrown dishes, but you won’t find many locations that serve Canadian food exclusively.
On the other hand, Mexico has a strong food culture that has developed over centuries. It’s something residents take seriously, even in a fast food establishment. I’ve never had trouble finding a great taquería, a high-quality restaurant or fresh produce at a market.
Mexican chefs at all levels and households also take pride in their culinary traditions. You realize that it comes through with every bite. Whether you’re at a street food stall or in a fine dining environment, chefs all over Mexico put in the time and effort to make the best dishes possible.
The diversity between Mexican states
Domestic travel within Canada is expensive. It’s the second-biggest country in the world, with 10 provinces and three territories. That makes it difficult to see multiple cities like you can in Europe.
The winter months also make it hard to explore the country since temperatures can get uncomfortably cold. Unless you like to ski or winter sports, it’s not an ideal place to visit eight months out of the year.
Now that I’ve been to several parts of Mexico, I know there’s so much variety for any traveler to discover no matter when you arrive.
From beach towns to major cities, culinary gems, national parks and historical sites, there’s something for everyone. In Mexico City, you have a modern cultural hub that has a good blend of historical sites, trendy neighborhoods, restaurants and museums.
Oaxaca preserves traditions like Day of the Dead and has its own unique take on Mexican cuisine and culture. But it’s also where you’ll find surf towns like Puerto Escondido and relaxing vacation spots like Huatulco. Quintana Roo is full of amazing beach towns like Playa Del Carmen and Cozumel, as well as beautiful lagoons like Bacalar.
Whenever I leave Mexico, I feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface of what there is to discover. Mexico has 32 states, so that feeling is probably accurate.
Everything is within reach
I have fond memories of buying lots of little things on the streets of Mexico City. From cold beverages to snacks and a pack of gum, there’s always a vendor around selling whatever you need at a moment’s notice.
Entrepreneurs are everywhere in Mexico, and you see it in the way people hustle from car to car with their inventory in a traffic jam. You also see it when they try to get your attention in any Mexican downtown with tourists.
Another great example is the last time I was in Oaxaca, I bought two volcanic stone bracelets from a friendly vendor who came into the café where I was having breakfast. I wanted to buy one that morning anyway, so the convenience factor was much appreciated.
In Canada, you sometimes have to drive ten minutes out of your way to get something you need. If you’re staying in the city center of Montreal or Toronto, you won’t exactly find multiple vendors selling water bottles on the street during a heat wave. Or mittens when it’s so cold you can barely feel your hands.
I miss that aspect of Mexican daily life when I’m home and have to run errands.
The warmth of community
I can’t count how many times I’ve spoken to people in Mexico like I’ve known them for 20 years. Whenever I go to a restaurant or retail store, I get used to making small talk with the staff. That general rule of politeness also applies to your neighbors and even strangers you pass on the street.
Canadians are also known to be super friendly. But in our home cities, we tend to be more individualistic as a culture. Unless we’re at a bar or around friends, I’ve noticed that many of us are more focused on ourselves or too indulged in our phones.
But Mexico has a much warmer sense of community. I always leave the country with more friends than when I arrived. It gives me more reasons to come back.
Do you also miss Mexico?
Even though I was born and raised in Canada, visiting Mexico is a big part of me. After all, I’m always planning my next Mexican adventure once my latest one ends.
Honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever stop returning. The more time I spend in Montreal, the more I think about the remaining 27 Mexican states I have left to discover.
What do you miss about Mexico when you leave? Let us know in the comments!
Ian Ostroff is an indie author, journalist, and copywriter from Montreal, Canada. You can find his work in various outlets, including Map Happy and The Suburban. When he’s not writing, you can find Ian at the gym, a café, or anywhere within Mexico visiting family and friends.
I miss Mexico every day I’m not there. I have been and still do business with artisans in various states in central Mexico for 24 years. Business is conducted differently than in the United States and it took me a few years to learn and respect their practices. The artisans that we work with are generational and they take great pride in their creations and so they should. Their traditions are wonderful and have real substance that is lived on a daily basis and is expressed through their artistry. I have learned so much from the people of Mexico and the more often I am there, I realize there is so much more to learn and experience. Thank you for your article
I miss the openness of everyone, the smiling at people on the street that always leads to return smiles or head nods or Buenos Dias. I miss the feeling I have that everyone is my friend. I miss Mexicans and their culture.
Amen!
It depends where you’re going to – when in France, I totally relish all the different tastes and gourmet foods that are offered! Market days in little towns are a foodie’s paradise….
I came up to Tucson Arizona for the VA Hospital Medical Care. I’ve been here 7 months now. I miss my Mexican wife and my Mexican daughter. I want to go home.
Hang in there, Paul. I’m praying for you.
Thank you for serving, Paul. Do you happen to live in Rocky Point? That’s where I am at. I go to Tucson every 3 or 4 months for doctor appts, but I do return to Penasco right away. Hope you get back home to Mexico soon.
We moved to Mexico 16 years ago and we only wish we had done it sooner. Everything mentioned in this piece and a great deal more is why we are here for good.
We spend a month in Mexico every year. I miss the people when we come home. I miss my conversations with everyone from vendors to children in the zócalo. They are warm, social, open and funny. I also miss my connections with the families I’ve come to know. I love Mexico.
I have spent half of my year in an isolated small village on the Pacific coast of Jalisco for the last 23 years. in summer it is too hot and humid so I go back to my life at Lake Tahoe, where I live at 6300′ elevation. I miss living on the shore at sea level and need a long time to acclimate and catch my breath when I’m not in Mexico.
I miss all the friendly contacts I have with the people in my village. I miss the music that is always playing and the obvious affection for each other in the families. I miss having to walk everywhere( there is no auto traffic in my village as we come and go by water taxi ) which results in running into your friends all the time . If we have a lot to talk about , there is never a sense not having time to chat. Back home we are always passing in a car and just wave. I miss the fabulous food at all our local eateries. My village has no bank or ATM so it is a cash economy and making sure you don’t go over a credit card limit is therefore is easy. I miss falling asleep to the sounds of waves. I miss daily visits from a large male iguana, a couple of vultures, an aging pelican, the activity of fishermen on either side of my plaza, the fresh air from not having glass in my windows, the sights of boats and whales and dolphins coming and going, and the opportunity to meet many interesting visitors who come and go…
There is just a “vibe” in Mexico that draws us back. The music, friendliness, colors, culture, architecture y más! I have been to about 20 states and have enjoyed them all. Always looking forward to my next trip. ❤️
Another thing I would miss among so many – the slow easy pace of life. The first time I ever visited I said, “I think I was born here”. I love the people here and the welcoming feeling there is and the joy.
I am an American-Mexican, but I have many family who still live in Mexico. Besides all of the aforementioned things in the article and in the reponses, I miss my family here.
Another perspective on missing Mexico is after living here for 8 years, I don’t miss the U.S. and don’t want to miss Mexico for all the reasons we know and love. When I do leave and get on the flight to Mexico and hear Spanish all the time, it is like an elixir. Viva Mexico!! David Lea
Too many things to mention but at the top of the list? I miss my salsa macha. It’s Mexico in a bottle.