by Eric Schenck
These are some of the things you will hear from frequent international travelers:
“Food is the passport to the entire world.”
“Every dish tells a story about its country’s past.”
“Exploring new cuisines is the best way to appreciate other cultures.”
While these feel a bit melodramatic, I suppose they have a point. One of the great joys of life is wonderful food. Another is fun trips to different places. Combine them both, and you have a winning combination.
And if I’m honest about my own life:
I’d do anything for a taco (both in Mexico and elsewhere).
Not only because they are delicious- but because of how often they’ve been there for me. So in the name of these little bundles of joy-
Here are some of my favorite tacos from the past few years.
The “breakup” tacos
- The time: January, 2023
- The place: Hot Springs, Arkansas
I went through a bad breakup at the beginning of 2023. My girlfriend and I had just bought a camper van, named it Margarita, and planned to travel through central America in it.
We didn’t even make it out of Texas.
It sucked, but I wasn’t going to let that ruin my fun. I drove Maragarita over 6,000 miles the next two months, and made a stop in Hot Springs, Arkansas. After a 17-mile hike that day, I was toast- and so hungry.
Guess what I ate?
The “first time in Mexico” tacos
- The time: March, 2023
- The place: Sayulita, Mexico
Unassuming. Respectful. Understated.
My first tacos in Mexico were all of these things – and the classics usually are!
March of 2023 was the most fun months of my life. My first time in Mexico was amazing. I met a ton of people, surfed just about every day, and made so many bad decisions that still make me smile 2.5 years later.
And my one constant companion? The humble but delicious taco.
The “freedom” tacos
- The time: July, 2023
- The place: Fort Worth, Texas
Four months later it was time to say goodbye to Margarita. A good camper van, of course. But also a reminder of something that had blown up in my face.
It took me long enough to sell her. After people that low-balled me (I priced her at 14,000 dollars, and somebody offered me 500), didn’t show up to viewings (and then never got back to me), or forgot to mention key details (the woman that didn’t have legs that needed to be lifted into the driver’s seat), I was exhausted.
Selling a vehicle (and wanting so badly to get out of Texas ASAP) put me in touch with the worst of humanity. But when the sale finally did go through, how did I celebrate?
With tacos, of course!
The “surfing bro” tacos
- The place: Saladita, Mexico
- The time: March, 2024
Martin is a good surfing buddy, and over the last few years we’ve probably spent about three months together. Friendships like that truly are something to be grateful for.
Not only for the conversations that we shared – but the food, as well. One of our most consistent “post surf” dinners? Three tacos de asada, and three al pastor.
With something like this waiting for me out of the water, I usually didn’t care how many waves I caught.
The “so good it’s illegal” tacos
- The time: April, 2025
- The place: Puerto Escondido, Mexico
And lastly – Pepe’s. This taco stand in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca has THE BEST TACO I ever ever had in my life. It’s a bit of a trek, and it’s not exactly the easiest place to find on Google Maps.
But once you do – you’ll be rewarded by (easily) one of the most delicious things you’ve ever eaten.
And once you’ve started eating it? All of life’s problems seem to melt away.
This, more than anything, is the power of Pepe’s tacos.
…
Cheers to you, tacos. You’ve taught me just how much joy a little bit of meat and some veggies on a circle of starch can bring me.
Am I simple man? Maybe.
But as tacos have shown me (and also helped me become)-
I’m also a happy one.
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