Today, I’m melting in the oppressing heat wave blanketing South Texas while planning our escape to Central Mexico. After our month-long RV spring trip, we hope to leave Dorsey (our motorhome) resting in the shade and migrate south like the birds.
Winter travel is not exempt from challenges, especially when packing. If you are like me, you struggle to fit everything in one suitcase, and bulky sweaters, leggings, and heavy socks don’t help. The good thing is we are not going that far south, just to Mexico City, where the rainy season keeps temperatures in the 70s and 50s at night.
Who would have thought to be so thrilled about a rainy destination? I’m looking forward to the downpouring afternoon storms, thunder, and lightning, enjoying coffee and dessert at Maison Kayser in Mexico City’s historic downtown.
Speaking of Parisian style, one of my favorite movies is Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, with Owen Wilson playing a nostalgic screenwriter who loved Paris in the rain. This nostalgic writer plans to love Ciudad de Mexico in the rain. Sentimental folks out there who have not seen this film, I highly recommend especially on a rainy day. 🙂
Passengers on travel guru’s Rick Steves tours only travel with a carry-on! I know I would not pull that out in the winter, and the possibility of accomplishing it in the summer is still questionable, but I understand it is the best way to travel abroad these days.
This past week I attended an event at 3:00 pm, the hottest part of the day when the “feels like” temperature reached 116 F! I wore a sleeveless top, cotton pants, and sandals, forgetting our tendency to refrigerate places. Not long after arriving, I regretted not bringing a shawl or coat. It was not a refrigerator but a freezer in there.
The experience reminded me of a winter visit to Sweden. Not used to wearing so many layers of clothes, I lost a couple of gloves and beanies each time I shredded indoors. Turns out, they do the opposite of what we do. While outdoors, we experienced frigid cold weather; indoors, it was so warm we could wear shorts.
During another winter trip to Toronto, I was in a taxi, and it was uncomfortably hot inside the car. To get some relief, I opened the window and acted like I was taking pictures just so I could breathe! I didn’t want to remove my warm clothes because I was almost at my destination, and it would have taken me a while to put everything back on or risk leaving something behind. I spent more than I budgeted because of this!
Are we ever happy? Travel compels us to deal with life’s changes, even as silly as these, and entices us to find our happy places. My ideal place is one with low humidity, a high of 60s or 70s F during the day, and chilly at night to cuddle under the blankets. What does your happy place feel like?
I’ve met people whose ideal place is home. That’s where they are happy. Wanderers, we must learn to adapt. The Western United States is cooler than the South in the Spring or Fall. One can wear long sleeves or light sweaters and feel as if the outdoors were air-conditioned. We experienced this bliss during our recent RV trip to northern Arizona and southern Utah. We spent so much time outdoors hiking under bright blue skies that even our cholesterol came down. Since 2018, we’ve spent part of the summer season near the mountains of the American West, where weather conditions are idyllic for hiking.
For us, the weather determines our travel. During my time as a tour guide, I learned that it is an important factor for the success of a tour, but it is second only to food, but that is for another story.
Unless your plan is all about indoor activities, I recommend planning accordingly to make the best of a trip. It frustrates me to see travelers spending so much money at sweltering and crowded destinations worldwide during the summer.
What is your favorite place in the summer?
Plan accordingly and enjoy the adventure!
Places we’ve enjoyed in the summer:
- Ruidoso, Carlsbad, Angel Fire, Chama, Santa Fe, and Taos, New Mexico.
- Our Colorado favorites are Durango, Pagosa Springs, Telluride, Silverton, Cañon City, Colorado Springs, and Antonito. Cañon City is a bit warmer than ideal but bearable.
- In South Dakota, we love Deadwood and Hill City, and in Wyoming, we had a pleasant stay in Cheyenne, an artsy and chill capital city.
- Madison, Wisconsin. I’m fascinated by the barns and lush landscapes and proximity to Spring Green, where the original Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin is found.
- Colonial Mexico; Mexico City, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosi, Oaxaca, and Queretaro are at the top of our list.
Places we avoid in the summer.
- Most of Texas. The beaches are nice, but my sunbathing days are over. I avoid the sun like the plague. The Ocean breeze is cool until you return to your hotel via the blazing concrete sidewalks or your car sweltering at 140 F.
- American desert regions like Arizona, Utah, Death Valley, California, etc.
- Louisiana, Florida, and all the southern states.
- Las Vegas, NV
- Mexican beach towns. It is too hot, and hurricane season could bring surprises and ruin a trip. I must mention that Mexican hospitality makes a big difference when visiting these resorts, even in the heat. Guests are treated royally!
Places on our future summer travel radar. Our God willing List.
- South America, since their winter happens during our summer season.
- The California, Oregon, and Washington Coast.
- Copenhagen, Greenland, and Iceland.
Cactus in the Mirror by Nydia O. Studio 