Mexico Travel Diary 02: A Pause in Vancouver, and Finally Mexico City

A Pause at the Transit Point

Stepping off the plane at Vancouver International Airport, the cool Canadian air immediately woke my body, heavy from the long flight. But the journey was far from over; several hours of waiting lay ahead before my flight to Mexico City.

Transit is not merely a blank void between destinations. It is a slow, threshold space where my mind adjusts from one country to another. It was a time to release the exhaustion of the first flight and recalibrate my body and mind for the final stretch to Mexico.

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Vancouver Transit Info

[Incheon (ICN)] ──> [Vancouver (YVR)] ── (Current Transit) ──> [Mexico City (MEX)]

📍 Transit Location Details

• Location: Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
• Role: Transit Airport
• Coordinates: 49.193333, -123.175659
• Map: View Vancouver Airport Map

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Resting at the Maple Leaf Lounge

Exhausted from hours in the air, I headed to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge. I needed a quiet space away from the constant noise of the busy terminal.

Finding a quiet corner, I picked up a light snack. The crisp salad and refreshing red drink provided a welcome break for my dry throat. Eating was less about indulgence and more about recovery. In this quiet oasis, contrasting with the fast-moving terminal outside, I took a slow breath.

Perhaps because I had been tense during the flight, sinking into the sofa brought a wave of relaxation. Even though I was only resting in a corner of the airport without actually stepping into the city of Vancouver, this brief departure from everyday space deepened the feeling of being on a journey.

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The Final Leg to Mexico City

The hours of transit quickly slipped away, and it was time to board the flight to Mexico City—the final long leg of the itinerary.

Fortunately, this leg was in a business-class window seat, which offered ample personal space. I settled in, organized my belongings, and placed my tablet, welcome drink, and nuts on the side table. A deep sense of relief washed over me. The realization that the next landing would finally be Mexico slowly took root.

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Dinner En Route to Mexico

Once the plane reached its cruising altitude, the dinner service began. This time, as if signaling our southward direction toward Mexico, the meal was served on a white tablecloth.

I slowly ate the grilled chicken, warm vegetables, rice, fresh salad, bread, and sweet dessert. Having my second dinner in the air, away from the rush of the airport, felt peaceful and reassuring.

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Passing Over Canadian Skies

Sky routes are like invisible maps; looking out the window, it is often hard to guess exactly what lies below.

Beyond the window, a vast sea of clouds stretched to the horizon.

During the crossing of oceans and borders, the blue sky and shifting clouds were the only constants.

Watching the clouds roll by, I drifted into quiet reflection. The flight path from Vancouver was carrying us steadily south along the spine of the continent.

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Dealing with the Fatigue

As the hours accumulated since leaving Incheon, a heavy tiredness settled in my head and eyes, despite the comfortable seat. I chose a health-oriented drink from the menu.

I did not expect the drink to magically erase my fatigue like medicine. Rather, it was a refreshing, conscious choice to hydrate and soothe my dry throat. As the cold liquid went down, it brought a slight sense of clarity to my tired mind.

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Encountering Clamato in the Air

While scanning the drink menu, I noticed a unique Canadian staple: Clamato.

Clamato is a savory beverage made from tomato juice, clam broth, and a blend of spices. In Canada, it is widely associated with the Caesar—a popular brunch or morning-after cocktail. The taste was highly unique, blending the saltiness of clam broth with the acidity of tomato. While not a medical cure for exhaustion, it was a fascinating cultural experience to try such a distinctly Canadian flavor mid-flight.

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A Passing Moment

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Arrival in Mexico City

Finally, the plane lowered its altitude and touched down at Mexico City International Airport. Stepping out of the cabin, the warm, unfamiliar air and the Spanish signs immediately made it clear that I had finally arrived in Mexico.

📍 Arrival Location Details

• Location: Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez (MEX)
• Role: Arrival Airport
• Coordinates: 19.4363003, -99.0720978
• Map: View Mexico City Airport Map

Marking the end of a long journey, I gathered my belongings, cleared customs, and walked out into the busy airport toward the taxi stand.

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First Glimpses from the Taxi Window

Our official taxi sped away from the airport, heading toward the heart of Mexico City. The views passing by the window felt entirely different from anything in Asia or North America.

We passed monument structures visible through the moving window. Cuauhtémoc was the final Aztec ruler of Tenochtitlan. Encountering his name and image on the drive from the airport made the rich historical layers of Mexico City feel real for the first time. The city's initial face, glimpsed through a taxi window, felt unfamiliar and imposing.

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Putting Down the Luggage

After a long journey, we finally reached our accommodation for the stay, the Pandora Hotel.

I dragged my heavy luggage into the room and set it down. Sitting on the edge of the bed and quietly looking around the room, I realized this simple moment was the destination I had wanted all day. I unpacked my bags to wash away the travel fatigue.

🏠 Accommodation Info (Pandora Hotel)

• Address: Nápoles 35, Juárez, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
• Alternative Listing Names: Pandora House, Pandora Luxury Suites Reforma by VH
• Links:
  • Google Maps에서 위치 보기
  • Agoda에서 숙소 보기

💡 Accommodation details and rates can change over time; please verify the latest information on the booking pages.

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An Unexpected Familiarity

After settling in, I went out to buy some basic necessities. Having little energy to walk far, I entered a shop right next to the hotel and burst into a quiet laugh at what I saw.

Just when I thought I had traveled as far from Korea as possible, I found Korean food right next to my room. Seeing shelves lined with familiar Korean packaging and instant noodles brought a sudden wave of familiarity. Encountering this little piece of home in the middle of Mexico City was a comforting and slightly humorous end to a long day of travel.

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Ending the First Day

From Incheon to Vancouver, and onward to Mexico City—after more than 24 hours of travel, I finally unpacked my bags.

The realization of having arrived at a destination is felt less in grand monuments and more in these small, quiet moments: setting down a heavy backpack on the floor and slowly looking around a quiet room.

Waiting for the real time in Mexico to unfold tomorrow, I close this long day with a comfortable sense of relief.

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• Previous Story: Mexico Travel Diary 01 — From Incheon to Vancouver, the Start of a Long Journey
• The next travel diary entry will be published soon.