###

Road to Puebla, Mexico. Coldness, downhills, ladies, rain, coffee, and sheeps.

La gran ciudad

CDMX, not our favorite but we made it though.

Mind over matter

Getting up the sofa might be difficult. Getting rid of your favorite chips might be a nightmare. Eating a salad instead of combo number 3 might be a no no! But it’s possible! Actually everything is possible if you are determined to do it and accomplished it!

A couple of years ago I had to escape depression or sadness, I really don’t know but I had to do something to motivate myself…glad I found running in my life! This amazing activity has let me escape reality and focus on myself!

To those practicing a sport you know what I’m talking about..

You focus, motivate, and invest time on you. Most importantly…you challenge yourself everyday to be the best version.

Honestly, I just started running to distress about life and their complications…I can say..

But at time went on..I establish goals on myself.

I truly belief challenging yourself is really important. There is always space for more! Absolutely yes!

From running 10 minutes everyday…I asked myself, “man you can do better than that!”

Went further to ran for 20, then 30 minutes non stop..

To the point I said, you know what you are going to train for competition..there I went, always challenging myself and looking for more!

Yes, I cried and struggle during all this time! It wasn’t a pleasure to wake up early morning and run for an hour then go home rest and have a night session. I cried and frustated myself…but I always had this mantra on my mind..

There is no glory in training but without training there is no glory..

So I worked hard to achieve my goals. I wanted to win a local race, I wanted my name on the newspaper, and most importantly I wanted to tell my mom I did 10 seconds better than my last training!

You’ll get me what 10 seconds less is in running! Literaly, it took me weeks, months, and days of frustation to beat my personal times!

But all this years of training and physical demand is linked with mental preparation.

First you gotta belief in yourself. If you don’t, no one is going to!

So, is really important to talk to yourself! Wake up every morning with a smile go directly to the mirror and say to yourself…man you are the best! Today, I’m going to kill it!

Say yes often, what’s the point to say no? You are avoiding opportunities and blocking yourself. Obviously be smart about it..

Most importantly, have a stash of mantras. I’m going to share a few with you that have kept me going on my daily human and I might say active life..

“Light and fast”

“There is no glory in training but without training there is no glory”

“You train for this”

“More,more”

“This is nothing”

“Easy…easy”

“Accelerate”

“Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up, it knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the lion or a gazelle-when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”

Long story short, if I didn’t had a goal or a motivated state of mind..cycling +1300km across the desert of Baja Peninsula wouldn’t be an accomplished goal of mine.

Neither having to risk my life every now on then against trucks passing me by 100km/hr.

or enduring -10 degrees, cycling against wind and rain..

I don’t have to do these, I do it to prove myself that is possible. Life is not a barrier. I’m and you are the possibility.

Focus and don’t listen to that little voice inside that tells you..tomorrow, later, or never!! You can be physical strong..but if your mind is lacking…you won’t get far..

mind over everything!

Teotihuacan

Piramide del sol.

Travel wave

Travelling is the best and the worst. Why? Because you either make it happen or you just watch how everyone is going around the globe.

Yes, it sounds easy to just hop on an airplane and flew away but this undoubtly requires an investment and monetary need to make it happen. Though, I truly believe that everything is possible whether you have a fat bank account or not.

I’m saying this due to the fact that I had the pleasure to meet and have fun with people that are living their dream! Travelling non stop.

All of this mad souls have something in common. They live their present and they rather collect memories and experiences instead of souvenirs.

Almost all of them left with the minimum to live it up, but it’s when they’re running out of money when their mind starts working to still be adventuring out there. Survival skills..I guess.

Therefore, below is a few tips on how to save and make your travels easier while you are backpacking, hitchhiking, bikepacking, or any other mean of travelling.

The goal is to make it happen!

First, find a way to move or transport yourself..

Hitchhiking? This can be a great idea! Stand and wave for a couple of hours outside a gas station with a cardboard sign that has a visible destination and your set to go! Just be patient about it!

Theres always good people out there willing to help make dreams happen, plus is always cool to share stories or jokes with a stranger.

I’ve heard a lot of stories from backpackers travelling this way all around the globe without any risk.

The important thing is to go with a positive vibe!

Personally, I have done it several times with and without a bicycle. It is a rush of adrenaline and fun when your ride is a yacht kinda boat!

Bicycle, my favorite! Being an exercise and travel junkie this is the best way I can combine both and just be as happy as I want!

Cycling gives you the freedom to go wherever you want and see places you won’t see in a car, airplane, or any other way of transportation! The good part is that you burn calories not money! So eat as much as you can or want…cause you are burning that later! Easy!

Walking, that’s crazy but my respect to those ones doing that!

Car or airplane…expensive but you get to your destination faster.

A website I can recommend to look for cheap flights is Google flights.

If you are moving by car, your best bet is Bla Bla car. That’s an app that connects you with people riding to specific destinations. Pro about it is that it has a lower fee compare to a bus ticket!

Now, where are you staying?

Accomodation is important…resting and showering for sure! But it doesn’t need to be expensive. Actually, it can be free as far as you want! Here is a list of applications and methods you can utilize to make your life easier.

Download Hostel World app, you can find the best and discounted accomodations around the world. Big plus is that you get superb directions on how to get to your destination, backpackers reviews, and pictures of the place before hand.

Airbnb app is great!
Live or stay like a local! Pro, if you invite people to join the program you’ll get airbnb credit towards your next reservation.

Couchsurfing, stay with a local, live it up, and make a new friend in the world.

Warmshowers, this media is exclusively for crazy bicycle riders out there! So if you are touring around in a two wheeler..I truly recommend you to get your hands on it!

Firefighter stations, this guys are my best bet! This humble persons will make anything so you can be safe and comfortable! If you are around Mexico stop by: Santa Rosalia, BCS / Escuinapa, Sinaloa / Guanajuato, Guanajuato.
They will sure give you a space to stay, wifi, water, and anything in between! So in any opportunity you might have please donate a few coins to this legends! Hats off and all my respect to the ones I have met on the road!

Police stations, as same as firefighters this guys will help you and give you a free space to camp…plus I guess you are going to be super safe!

Restaurants, this is a big win-win around Mexico. There are hundreds of small food kitchens so if you are trying to catch a safe space to camp ….stop at this places, eat something…and politely ask if you can camp in their back/front yard.

Churches, I was lucky to camp near God once so…yea go for it, Jesus is always willing to help, don’t forget that!

Volunteer in a hostel. Exchange your time for a bed, food, and good friends all around the world…cool isn’t?

As a tip, just go with an open heart and mind…everything is going to flow and don’t make plans or expect nothing. Life and the universe will always be good to you!

Food, try everything! I’ve been vegan for +14 years and I’m telling you this!! Just eat everything and experience the food from every place you are visiting! If you are vegan just be flexible with yourself…you won’t die by eating a little piece of cheese or fish.

Ohh yea, eat local..cheap, good, and cool chats with the owners!

Souvenirs for friends and family? I’ll share what I do…I go to stores and get business cards…they’re free to public and if you get a little creative you can turn it into a small postal card note. Man, I’m not being cheap…just creative and taking care of my budget.

…and last but not least, don’t spend money on stupid things you don’t need. I managed to save money by always asking myself when I had a product in my hand…”Do you really need it?…I’m I going to die, If I don’t buy it?” …maybe being less materialistic and giving a f what people think about you will make up saving lots and spending it on experiences.

That’s about it guys, I’m not a professional traveler, neither want to…..well actually f yea!! But all this has work to me and I hope you jump off the sofa and start rolling around!!

If you have any tip or ideas please feel free to share it with us!