Dispatches - 20 April 2025 - Easter in Tulum

Hoy es el Domingo de Resurrección, y pienso que es el momento perfecto para empezar mis artículos del camino. Bienvenido a Dispatches.

It's Easter Sunday, and I am in Tulum, Mexico, enjoying the sun, the warmth, and Caribbean breeze. It seems the perfect day to launch my new column - Dispatches. Today is a day of reflection, celebration, and positivity, not just in terms of faith, but life. I started the day off the way I do every Sunday: donning a collard shirt, my Akubra Angler, and my trusty messenger bag to grab coffee and begin my day of writing. My goal? To get the Jack's Journal section of my website designed and ready to launch...as soon as I have enough content to do so.

I cut my writing short today. Seven time zones away, in Arles, France, the Easter bullfighting fair is underway, and I was able to watch it live through the magic of technology and OneToro TV (a sort of Netflix for bullfighting). It may seem odd to many to invest time on Easter Sunday watching a performance many perceive as nothing more than a celebration of death, but to the followers of Spain's most controversial tradition, it makes perfect sense. Triumph over death is what the day is all about, and the bullfight is a symbolic representation of the Resurrection in live form. Most people, even in Spain, won't agree with that, but it has been a Spanish tradition for longer than memory can say. As an aficionado, I see the symmetry and symbolism, even though the Catholic Church has long tried to distance itself from the performance (at least officially).

Over beer and cigars, I had a long conversation with Joel, a friend from Hostal Lum, where we discussed what it means to be happy in a time of international turmoil. We're rather oblivious down here, cut off from the daily grind of news, political opinions, and social backlashes...and that is just fine with us. It's not that we've forsaken life as we know it - we've just decided to prioritise the positive side of life. After all, we're not here for very long, and life is too short to focus on the negative and frustrating.

The week has been a good and easy one. I've taken long siestas, spent a ton of time promoting my book, and even sold a few advance copies in town. Unfortunately, a guy moved into my room that snores worse than most people I know, so I haven't been able to sleep all night (hence the siestas), but at least I have Law and Order on streaming to keep me company before turning in early.

It is hard to believe I am less than a month away from leaving my home in Mexico, but that's life. At least I have Spain and the Fiesta de San Fermin to look forward to as I prepare for my next long-term expedition through the Camino de Santiago!