A couple of weeks ago, I was honoured to be invited to a friend’s wedding in Puerto Escondido, Mexico, a place I know and love well.

I first met my friend Jackson when I visited Puerto for the first time in February 2022 with my son Dylan. We were staying at the Bonita Escondido hostel and Jackson and I immediately bonded over a few glasses of Mezcal which is native to the state of Oaxaca.

Jackson is a British ex-pat who ended up in Mexico by way of Vietnam just as the COVID pandemic was shifting into high gear.

While in Puerto, he met his future wife Lorena. Although they fell deeply in love, marriage wasn’t on either of their immediate agendas until his mother Tracy and his aunt Kathy planned to visit Mexico to see them along with his sister Amelia, his brother-in-law Noel and their daughter Tatiana.

After some thought they decided to use the visit as a perfect opportunity to tie the knot.

With a little help from friends and family, Lorena planned an entire beach wedding in less than a week.

The location, just down the coast from Puerto Escondido in Playa Agua Blanca, was spectacular and the ceremony with the ocean in the background was beautiful as was the lovely bride. I just hope the pictures I took for them do it justice.

The best thing about the wedding was getting to meet Jackson’s family who are from Manchester, England and are absolutely marvelous. I immediately fell in love with them all, especially Amelia who was a hoot, and Noel, her husband, had me in stitches.

But while the wedding was outstandingly beautiful, any excuse to visit Puerto is okay for me. Puerto Escondido has become one of my favourite places on earth and the Bonita Escondido hostel has become my second home.

This was my fourth trip to Puerto and my second trip alone. Last year, I went with both Jamie and Dylan and let me tell you, having 26-year-old twin boys can be a great icebreaker when staying at a youth hostel.

When traveling alone, I’m often met by a great deal of suspicion. After all, it’s not every day you see a 63-year-old hanging out at a youth hostel. Fortunately, this time around, there a few other “seniors” staying at the hostel. Eric, 50, was visiting with his son, as was Arturo, 45.

When I arrived I was greeted by a fellow Canadian, Sarah from Toronto, who was volunteering at reception. She didn’t even blink an eye when I checked in. God bless her.

Over the course of the next six days I managed to make at least 25 new friends from all over the world. (Have I written before about how much I love staying in hostels?)

Among the dozen or more volunteers I ended up partying with were Hani, my home boy from Halifax, Daniel from Winnipeg, Richard from Newmarket, Naomi from Denmark, Lucas and Victor who are both from France, Pauline from Belgium, Emily from San Diego, Alba from Sweden, Neha from the UK, Tania from Persia, and Molly and Flo from parts unknown. (Sorry guys, I can’t remember where you’re from.)

I also had a wonderful reunion with Lily, Ash and Patrick, who I met last year and have made Puerto their home away from home, and Daniel who is the manager at the Bonita Escondido hostel and acted as Jackson’s witness for the wedding. Daniel and I have become friends during the four years I’ve been going to Puerto and he’s helped me out of a few jams.

And then there’s all the friends I made both inside and outside the hostel, like Laurita, who is also from France and who trusted my scooter abilities enough to go on a shopping tour for Victor’s birthday party with me and introduced me to the cheapest enchiladas in Puerto.

Then there’s my boys, Manuel and Mateo from Columbia, who I went out with almost ever night.

I also spent a lot of time getting to know Ivan Munoz, who is a local DJ, and who will hopefully be one of the DJs who will be playing at my 65th birthday celebration in Puerto next year.

How can I forget my roommates Jose and Marco from Spain, Rensky from the Netherlands, and Katherine from London, or the boys from Ireland, who I spent one night singing old Irish songs with.

Speaking of singing I managed to sing three songs during karaoke night included “Sweet Caroline” with Victor that brought the house down.

But the highlight of my trip, besides the wedding, was being presented with one of the prototypes of the soon to be released Bonita Escondido t-shirt by Lily and Patrick.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, I am truly blessed to be able to travel and meet so many amazing young people. I’m sure our paths will cross again one day soon.

(If you wish to comment on this or any other View Point column please write to Fred Sherwin at fsherwin@orleansstar.ca)