I returned from my vacation around 5pm last night. It was a great trip. I got tons of relaxing time, I got to run whenever I wanted, I swam in the ocean, I ate a ton of sushi, had one of the best steaks I've ever eaten and was surrounded by wonderful company. I even said to myself at one point during the trip how lucky I am to be in a situation where this kind of thing is available to a person like me. I am a very, very lucky person. I fully get that. There was one specific thing that I wanted to point out from this vacation, and it is kind of out there.

Each morning after getting dressed and sun screened, and then heading down to the cafe to get a pastry and coffee, I'd see iguanas or lizards or some kind of small dinosaur looking animal. I'd also see them on my way to the beach from the pool. And when I'd walk to the gym. I'd see them when walking back with my fellow travelers to our room. We would see them on our way to dinner. I was scared at first, but after a while I was fascinated with these animals. They were coexisting with us like there was no threat or problem at all. They never scurried away. I only rarely saw them take on the color of the palm trees and other brush near the walkways. They would just kind of stand there, give you a look and either stay or slowly walk into the brush next to the beach or the sidewalk. It was wild. I started to talk to them on my way to places. They would get a lot of "good morning" or "hey there big guy" or "oh, you are blending in with your surroundings now". The fear quickly dissipated and we were all just hanging out together. One day one of these lizards was hanging out at a lunch spot by the relaxing pool. No one was worried. We were all chatting like nothing weird was going on. One day I got up from my lawn chair to get in the pool and one of the bigger lizards crawled from underneath my chair to another shaded spot. I didn't jump or make a face, I grabbed my phone and snapped a picture. One day I saw a big lizard with a smaller lizard and I made up a whole story for them like they were a mom and child on an adventure. I snapped a few pictures of these lizards, but my best was of one of these dudes just hanging on a bridge walkway to the main pool. I got the full thing in the photo, it let me get close enough to snap the photo, and almost as if it was sensing that I was done, it looked at me and jumped off. I fully believe that this lizard is so used to getting pictures taken that it knows when a person is starting the shoot, and when they are done. I was astonished at how well they blended in and how easily we all got used to these animals. Seeing an animal like this back at home would terrify me. But in Mexico, at the beach, hanging at a pool and just relaxing, these animals were part of the experience. And it ruled.

I am so on board for stuff like this. I wish we were more welcoming in the states so animals like this could coexist without all of us living in fear. If you find yourself heading to Mexico anytime soon, look out for these awesome lizards. They will quickly become your friend. Trust me. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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