pig in mud (part 3)

Many people "freak out" about my travel style. While they make lists, dining reservations, and research in advance, I generally "go with the flow" when I travel. I enjoy meeting locals, hitting hot spots recommended by them, and not stuck to a schedule. Over time, I have learned to travel solo as my style usually "annoys" those who do not have such a laissez faire attitude. Since my first trip to Portugal/Spain, I had generally avoided traveling with mega-planners since one of my friends "blew up" on me towards the end of the trip. While I was fine going my separate route/itinerary, her need to "control" things was not.

This is my first trip again where I decided to be open to traveling with planners who use Google docs to build spreadsheets and agendas. Peru has been on my bucket list, especially since learning that Macchu Picchu would be limited to tourists for conservation purposes. My companions conceded that perhaps we would designate a day or evening to travel my way. As unplanned as my style is, it isn't too difficult to easily turn any moment into my version of fun.

I recently had a conversation with my cousin over the 4th of July that sometimes the simple life is the happiest. Money does not equate to happiness and those who usually have them struggle with making time to enjoy life and/or knowing who are true friends who are not those using them for their money. Memories of playing in the neighborhood all dirty and making due with ad hoc items from nature for toys were probably more fun than the stories I hear now about my friends' kids who go to summer camps and get bullied or excluded.

So after we ventured into a fumador to get a Cuban cigar to celebrate hiking Macchu Picchu later this week, we randomly ran into what appears to be a local meetup, the old-fashioned way. Locals gathered around a round sitting area in Parque Kennedy where someone brought a loudspeaker. As the DJ flipped through songs, she would assess the crowd as to whether to continue to flip or let the song play. Y voila, an impromptu club. As the night went on, more and more relinquished their shyness and cut a rug. Strangers would join others and/or ask "thirds" to pair up. Many generations were represented tonight with the commonality of fun and connection. We do not need to designate a day or evening to travel "my way". It is easily found in every moment if you enjoy the "now". Felicidad es ...