We’re in Tulum for our last few days in Mexico, and the contrast between “tourist” Mexico and “real” Mexico is shocking, especially for the boys. We walk everywhere, because there’s a “white people tax,” we call it anyway, on the taxis, and no Uber or InDrive (great app! Look it up when traveling). Of course, white ppl aren’t the only tourists, and I feel bad writing that. I guess I should call it a “gringo tax.” Which reminds me: Aryeh and I made new friends in Mérida, a super sweet-&-friendly boy his age and his mom, who also has a 2-year-old girl. And is traveling SOLO PARENTING! Absolute hero, and an amazing mom and super cool person. The boys played for 6 hours straight, and mom and I didn’t run out of things to talk about. She’s Black, and there was a moment when I referred to us as Gringas, and immediately wondered if that made her feel weird. That word isn’t just for white people, right???
I couldn’t practice with my left hand for a couple of days, since I hurt my thumb leaning on it the wrong way while watching Yellowjackets— which, by the way, is on Netflix OUTSIDE THE U.S. so we are trying to finish it before we fly back on Friday. So good. Anyway, I posted about it on the ol’ Bookface, and got so many great recs of ways to practice just open strings, I’m almost sad I can play with my left hand again. Almost! I found an arrangement of a Mozart violin sonata for viola on IMSLP, and am having a blast learning it. Why am I putting this in a travel blog? I guess, now that all the work for the Mérida residency is done, I have to find other ways to inspire myself to keep the practice streak up. And I gave the boys a lesson on Mozart in our Music History class the other day, and just about died at how beautiful his melodies are. The GOAT.
