Holiday

The alarm clock starts going off early. Too early. 4 a.m. The drive to Miami is fast in the pre-rush hour, pre-day break dawn. Apparently Josh, John and I are the only ones awake before the sun. And an adventure awaits. We breeze through the airport. Board a plane, and settle in for a 3-hour nap, hoping to catch-up on some sleep before we touch down.

Mexico City is a crazed cacophony of sights, sounds and smells. It's an overwhelming assault on the senses. It's overwhelming. Period. We can't get on a south bound bus fast enough. A beautiful ride through the Sierra Madres hints at the rolling and ever-changing landscape to come. The further we get from the capital the quieter it gets. The calmer it seems. The more relaxed we feel. 7 hours later, the warmth of Oaxaca welcomes us.

For me, it's a much-needed embrace.