One of the many things I appreciate about Mexico is how practicality often trumps formality. Rules seem to bend when there’s a good reason, and common sense tends to win out over strict procedures. For example, I’m usually allowed to park my motorcycle wherever it makes the most sense for security.

At this same hotel, Hotel Misión Cataviña, I first parked in front of the entrance on the ride down, but today it’s right outside my room. It’s closer, safer, and easier to keep an eye on. No one seems bothered by it. If anything, people seem to respect the logic behind it. It’s a small thing, but after spending so much time in places where rules can feel rigid for no reason, like back home in San Francisco, that kind of flexibility really stands out.