and I'm both excited and nervous. It was less than 3 months ago that I was on my last trip, and next week I'll be off on my major overseas trip for this year. Spring has more or less arrived here in the Bay Area, but where I'll be going (or at least where I'm beginning my trip) it'll still feel like winter. It'll be interesting, in terms of the weather.

So now I'm making my last preparations, from figuring out my itinerary for the second half of my trip, booking hostels, making sure I've packed everything I need, and taking care of my unfinished business here. Among the last rituals I often perform before leaving on a trip is enjoy the different foods I know I won't be able to sample on the road, at least not in the form I am used to. That would mean Chinese, Thai and other Asian cuisines, but Mexican is probably the one cuisine you can't get a decent fix of on the road, at least not outside of the Southwestern US and of course, Mexico. Jim Benning, co-editor of World Hum, mentioned that fact in a writing class I took with him a few years ago, and wound up writing about it in the San Francisco Chronicle.

I've done my best to stay away from Mexican food overseas, in the same way I've kept away from Chinese or other Asian food I know will be bad. One exception was La Mordida, a place in the Chueca district of Madrid. There was another restaurant near the Notre Dame in Paris (can't remember the name) that was decent (for Paris) but had a very limited menu. I was warned against trying Taco Bill in Melbourne (just the name of it was enough to turn me off) by my Aussie-Californian friend, and my experience with a Mexican-influenced dish in Amsterdam failed to live up to expectations. I was pleasantly surprised to find tortilla chips and bottled salsa (a local brand and a Doritos brand) at Franprix in Paris, and brought some to a party. I had selected the Doritos brand (it turned out to be close to what we have in the States), while the host also bought the local brand, which seemed sweeter than what I was used to.

I devoured a burrito last week, and hopefully I will get another taste in before I leave Thursday afternoon. Can't believe it's coming up so soon...