Every time I come home from Mexico, I have to do my rounds. After a day or two, I see my parents and have dinner with them. When I post to my Instagram stories confirmation that I’ve returned to Canada, I meet up with friends at a bar somewhere to debrief on my latest adventure. But no matter who I’m with during this reintroduction period to reality, this question always comes up: Did you bring me anything? 

Half of what you’ll find in my suitcase if you’re a customs officer at the Montreal airport is predictable for someone who just spent three weeks on Mexican soil: touristy T-shirts or fridge magnets to make my friends happy. But the other half is made up of unique things I brought home for myself. 

Homemade tortillas

What usually makes a great taco starts with the quality of the tortilla. It’s the base of the whole dish, and that’s something Mexicans understand more than anyone. In fact, most food stalls in Mexico I’ve visited have a designated tortilla-making station. You can also buy fresh tortillas at commercial supermarkets like Chedraui and La Comer. If you’re a home chef like me, the possibilities of what you can do with the tortilla are endless. 

That’s why I always bring home at least an order of between 20 and 50 tortillas to pack in my suitcase before returning to Montreal. I enjoy making breakfast quesadillas, which began as a fun hobby but is now a regular occurrence in my kitchen. My favorite combination recently has been eggs, avocado and baby spinach, wrapped between two flour tortillas and an even amount of cheese on both sides. 

Of course, you can find store-bought tortillas anywhere in the world. But the art of tortilla making is a thousands-year-old Mexican tradition. There’s just no way tortillas produced in any other country are going to have the same authentic taste. Homemade tortillas should be celebrated and supported by everyone who visits Mexico. I’ve even gone to a tortilla-making class in the past to learn the process from professional chefs. 

Artisanal crafts

Whenever I explore flea markets in Mexico, I’m amazed at what I find. As we all know, artisanal vendors can be found everywhere in the country, whether you’re at a park, a busy street corner or even in the middle of traffic. 

One of my earliest memories as a child is my grandparents buying me a trompo at Chapultepec Park. And over the years, I’ve gone to lots of flea markets in several different Mexican states and found several gems: a Michael Jordan jersey near Mitla, a colorful rug I thought my mother would like in Mérida, freehand artworks from Mexico City, Acapulco and Oaxaca city. If you also include the hundreds of volcanic and evil eye bracelets I’ve bought, my suitcase is always full of artisanal crafts on my flight home. But I also take back the stories of where I went to buy them. 

I have one freehand artwork from a vendor that captured her grandfather harvesting agave plants on his farm, as well as an evil eye bracelet from a nice old man who sold it to me at a discount for speaking to him in Spanish, and then gave me a list of instructions on how to “bless” it for extra protection. Then there’s the story of the woman who shouted “Justin Bieber” at me when I was looking at her Frida Kahlo art pieces. Every time I go to the flea markets, I leave with a new story along with a bag full of new stuff. It’s an experience in itself that I wouldn’t trade for anything. 

New photo albums

Reliving my trips to Mexico through the photos I’ve taken has become a tradition of mine. On my flight home, I look at them one by one and remember the trip I just experienced. It’s my little moment of gratitude. 

Some of them I post on my Instagram highlights, but most of them remain on my phone for nostalgic purposes. I have photos from parties, family gatherings, spontaneous hangouts with new friends, beach days, surf trips and last-minute taco runs. Landscapes, sunsets, mountain top views and photos from everyday life in Mexico that make me feel like a professional photographer are also things I cherish. 

It’s also fun to reminisce about good times with people I’ve met in Mexico and then remember a pic from the year we met. Every time I meet up with the friend group I had in Playa Del Carmen back in 2022, we all share pics from the month we stayed there. And since we all have different photo albums, it makes that chapter in my life a lot more special. 

An application to adopt a street dog

When I arrived in Bacalar for the first time with my brother, we got lost trying to find our Airbnb. It’s such a peaceful little town, with beautiful lagoons, Mayan ruins and a cute downtown center that was under construction when we were wandering around like chickens with their heads cut off in February 2022. But during our first half hour in this hidden Mexican gem, we didn’t have time to appreciate it. Instead, we were sweaty, tired and trying to reach our accommodation. 

We eventually figured it out after asking a few locals. Once we finally got there, two street dogs greeted us. I gravitated most toward a beagle mix that reminded me of Snoopy. Of course, I gave him treats and pets during the two days I was there, and immediately began googling how to adopt a street dog once I had a Wi-Fi connection. 

To my great disappointment, Snoopy had owners who lived less than a block away from my Airbnb. He just wandered around with the real street dogs and liked the attention I gave him. But, although I felt betrayed, the seed was planted in my head: Someday, I would adopt a dog in Mexico. 

After talking to friends in Playa Del Carmen, I ended up at a place called Playa Animal Rescue. Since I live in Canada, they explained it’d be better if I connected with agencies like Mex-Can Pet Partners, since they’re more equipped to coordinate my future adoption of a dog like Snoopy. 

Despite the logistics and paperwork involved, I took an application form before I left Playa Animal Rescue, just in case I ever moved to Playa and wanted a furry companion. 

What’s in your suitcase?

Honestly, I could go on about the many things I’ve brought to Canada from Mexico over the years, but then this article would be twice as long.

So, what would we find in your suitcase when you’re on your way home? Let us know, and tell us the unique stories behind your souvenirs in the comments below. 

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.