De Mochilas [EN]

26 Episodes
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By: Mikel Mateos

De Mochilas [EN] is a travel podcast about people, place, and perspective. Told from the road, one backpack at a time. I’m Mikel, and in each episode we explore cities and hidden corners of the world to understand the cultures that shape them: everyday conversations, local traditions, food, history, language, and the small human moments you only catch when you slow down and listen.Expect immersive soundscapes, street interviews, reflective storytelling, and practical context (without turning into a guidebook). If you love meaningful travel, learning through real encounters, and seeing the world with curiosity and respect — you’re in the ri...

Mexico City -> Miguel Hidalgo: discovering Parque Bicentenario
#12
Yesterday at 6:01 PM

In this episode of DeMochilas, I explore Parque Bicentenario in Mexico City, Miguel Hidalgo, a place where nature, culture, and everyday life come together.

Going in without expectations turned into a full experience: sports areas, family gatherings, picnic spots, and spaces like the Orquidario, where passion and knowledge transform a simple visit into something memorable.

This episode is a reminder that sometimes you don’t need to travel far to disconnect. Places like this offer a pause from the fast pace of the city and a chance to slow down and enjoy the moment.

...


Dotonbori: snacks, streets and unexpected plans
#9
Last Wednesday at 6:01 PM

In this episode of DeMochilas, we finally make it to Dotonbori, although not in the way we originally planned. What started as a random metro ride with the intention of getting lost turned into an unexpected arrival at one of Osaka’s most active and social districts.

This chapter is about chance and curiosity. From trusting a stranger’s directions to realizing we had arrived at the exact place we planned to visit another day, Dotonbori unfolded naturally. Walking its streets, entering massive stores, sitting by the river and trying food without overthinking became the core of the...


Mexico City -> Miguel Hidalgo: logistics behind an event
#11
03/27/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, I share a different kind of experience in Mexico City, Miguel Hidalgo, working behind the scenes at Expo Citibanamex during “The Logistics World”.

Instead of traditional tourism, this chapter focuses on what happens behind large-scale events: coordinating routes, transporting hundreds of people, and dealing with the constant pressure of time and movement across the city. From long transfers to unexpected chaos, it became an intense but eye-opening experience.

This episode also connects with personal memories tied to this venue, like attending the Electronic Game Show and other events that shaped diff...


Nara: calm, curiosity and closeness
#8
03/25/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, we visit Nara, a place where the boundaries between nature, people and everyday life feel unusually close. After the structured calm of Kyoto, Nara offered a softer, more open environment that encouraged interaction rather than observation.

This chapter is about coexistence. Wide paths, open spaces and a slower rhythm create an atmosphere where encounters feel natural and unforced. Nara isn’t about rushing from one point to another — it’s about moving at the pace of what surrounds you and adjusting to it.

Being in Nara highlighted how travel doesn’t always...


Mexico City -> Miguel Hidalgo: embassies, art, and coincidences
#10
03/20/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, I continue exploring Mexico City by boroughs, this time walking through Miguel Hidalgo with a plan that quickly changed along the way.

What started as a casual walk through Polanco turned into an exploration of embassies, consulates, and international cultural spaces. Without appointments or a fixed route, I approached different diplomatic offices trying to understand how cultures connect within the city.

Between unexpected responses, closed doors, and a few open ones, I discovered how complex and interesting it can be to access these spaces. From small communities to offices that...


Kyoto: walking through history
#7
03/18/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, we arrive in Kyoto, a city that feels fundamentally different from everywhere else we had visited so far in Japan. After movement-heavy days and constant transitions, Kyoto introduced a sense of continuity — streets, structures and spaces that carry history without needing explanation.

This chapter is about pace and presence. Kyoto invites you to walk more slowly, to pay attention to details, and to respect the rhythm of a city shaped by tradition. Instead of reacting to what’s around you, you start anticipating it: quieter streets, older neighborhoods and a way of movi...


Mexico City -> Miguel Hidalgo: A day of art and ocean life in Plaza Carso
#9
03/13/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, we begin exploring Mexico City borough by borough, starting with Miguel Hidalgo and one of the city’s most recognizable cultural areas: Plaza Carso.

During this visit we explored three places located within the same complex: Museo Soumaya, Acuario Inbursa, and the interactive aquarium inside Plaza Carso. What started as a simple plan to finally visit an aquarium turned into a full day of art, science, and unexpected discoveries.

The underground aquarium features large tanks filled with sharks, turtles, and many species of fish, while the interactive aquarium focuses more on...


Gotemba: stepping outside the city
#6
03/11/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, we travel to Gotemba, a place that feels intentionally removed from the density and rhythm of Tokyo. After days of movement, trains and constant stimuli, Gotemba offered distance — both physical and mental.

This chapter is about contrast. Wider spaces, fewer people and a slower tempo created a different way of experiencing Japan. Being outside the city made time feel less compressed and allowed for observation without urgency. Gotemba wasn’t about ticking off locations; it was about changing perspective.

This episode captures the importance of leaving major cities during a trip...


Nuevo León: Conversations, travel, and goodbye to Monterrey
#8
03/06/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, I reflect on the last moments of the trip and the unexpected conversations that often become the most memorable part of traveling.

While in Monterrey, I originally wanted to conduct a few interviews, but approaching strangers can be difficult for me. However, an unexpected conversation with an Uber driver named Ozi turned into a spontaneous interview about music, tattoos, traveling, and even the curious cultural tensions that sometimes exist between different cities within the same country.

The episode also covers the journey back home: taking a night bus to San...


Tokyo: wandering, observing and discovering
#5
03/04/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, I talk about Tokyo in a very honest way: not as a perfectly planned destination, but as a city we mostly experienced by wandering, taking trains without overthinking, and letting curiosity guide the day.

Because of how we explored, memories from Tokyo sometimes blend together — stations, neighborhoods, random stops that weren’t on any itinerary. And that’s exactly what defined this part of the trip. Tokyo isn’t a city you fully control; it’s a city you move through. With hundreds of train and metro lines, getting lost is easy — and for me...


Nuevo León: Gastronomy: eating my way through Monterrey
#7
02/27/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, I talk about gastronomy in Nuevo León, focusing on the food experiences we had in Monterrey and its surroundings.

I’ll start with a confession: I’m Mexican… and I don’t eat chili or spicy sauces. Because of that, this episode became a very honest look at what it’s like to try everything anyway, even when it pushes you outside your comfort zone.

Throughout the trip, we visited traditional restaurants, cantinas with decades of history, casual diners, and street food spots. None of these are paid promotions, every place...


Nikko: history surrounded by forest
#4
02/25/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, we travel to Nikko, a place that feels completely removed from the pace of Tokyo. After navigating busy stations and constant movement, Nikko offered a shift toward silence, nature and reflection.

This chapter focuses on contrast. Forest paths, cooler air and historic spaces create an atmosphere where Japan feels older, calmer and more grounded. Being in Nikko wasn’t about rushing from point to point, but about walking, observing and letting the environment guide the experience.

Nikko helped rebalance the trip. It reminded me that Japan isn’t only neon ligh...


Nuevo León: Parks, museums, and daily life in San Pedro
#6
02/20/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, I explore San Pedro Garza García, one of the most well-known and economically influential areas in Nuevo León. Often labeled as exclusive or luxury-focused, San Pedro reveals much more once you slow down and walk through it.

Staying in this area allowed me to experience its balance between urban development and nature. From wide avenues like Calzada San Pedro and Calzada del Valle, to parks filled with greenery, informational signs about local flora and fauna, and people exercising, walking dogs, or simply enjoying the outdoors, the city shows a quieter, mo...


Shinagawa and the feeling of being in motion
#3
02/18/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, we arrive in Shinagawa, one of the major transportation hubs of Tokyo and a place defined by constant movement. After the calm of Hitachi, Shinagawa felt like a shift in energy — faster, louder, and more demanding.

This chapter is about transition. Trains, platforms, crowds and schedules all converge in a space where people are always going somewhere else. Shinagawa wasn’t about staying, but about learning how to move within Japan’s systems: understanding directions, timing, and the unspoken rules that keep everything flowing.

Being in Shinagawa made it clear that J...


Nuevo León: Markets: where the city comes together
#5
02/13/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, I explore the markets of Nuevo León, moving through very different environments that, at first glance, might feel unrelated, but are deeply connected by the people who bring them to life.

From Mercado Juárez in downtown Monterrey, to temporary stalls in the Macroplaza, the small market in Santiago, and the open-air gathering spaces of San Pedro Garza García, each market has its own rhythm, layout, and atmosphere. Some are permanent, others appear only at certain times of the year, but all of them share something essential: families, friends, vendors, and...


Understanding Japan outside the spotlight
#2
02/11/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, we arrive in Hitachi, a coastal city that quietly became our first real window into everyday life in Japan. After the intensity of arrival, Hitachi offered something essential: time to slow down and observe.

This chapter isn’t about famous landmarks or packed itineraries. It’s about trains that arrive on time, neighborhoods that feel lived in, and the subtle differences that start to reveal how Japan functions beyond what most visitors expect. Walking through the city, using local transportation, and simply being present helped the country begin to make sense.

Hi...


Nuevo León: Ecotourism near Monterrey: walking where the city ends
#4
02/06/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, I step outside the city to explore ecotourism in Nuevo León, visiting some of the most impressive natural areas surrounding Monterrey.

I start with Chipinque, a massive natural reserve where I hike a 10 km circuit alongside my mom and Luis—no special training, just patience, steady pacing, and a lot of elevation. The trail takes us through steep climbs, narrow rocky paths, unexpected workout “stations,” and even a close encounter with local wildlife that reminds you who really owns the mountain.

The journey continues south to Santiago, a Pueblo Mágico...


Landing in Japan: first decisions, first adjustments
#1
02/04/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, Japan officially begins. After months of planning and expectations, we land and face the first real moments of adaptation: navigating an unfamiliar system, making quick decisions, and realizing that everything—from movement to communication—works differently here.

This chapter focuses on arrival, not attractions. It’s about the emotional and mental shift that happens when the trip stops being an idea and becomes daily reality. The airport, the first routes, the initial logistics, and the quiet pressure of figuring things out set the tone for everything that follows.

An episode about...


Nuevo León: Churches, Macroplaza, and “we’re lost” gossip
#3
01/30/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, I continue exploring Nuevo León from downtown Monterrey—but this time, I’m not focusing on museums. Instead, I talk about tourist tastes: what different people look for when they travel, and how those preferences quietly decide your route.

For me, traveling is a lot of walking, nature, and observing everyday life. For my mom, churches are a must—especially because she’s an art restorer and she notices details most people walk right past. So this chapter becomes a mix of parks, greenery, historic streets, and a church-hopping route that reveals h...


Everything starts with what you pack
#5
01/28/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, I talk about something simple that ends up defining the entire journey: the backpack. Before arriving in China, before understanding the language or the rhythm of the country, everything depended on what I decided to carry with me.

This chapter is not a packing list, but a reflection on priorities. What do you really need when you don’t know what’s coming next? What stays, what gets left behind, and how those choices affect the way you move, adapt and react once the trip begins.

The backpack became a cons...


Nuevo León: Three museums and one long walk
#2
01/23/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, I start exploring Nuevo León from the heart of Monterrey: downtown, Macroplaza, and the museums that shape how the city tells its story. This was Day 1 of the trip, and because everything is close, it turned into a full day of walking, observing, and learning.

I talk about moving through the area by metro and on foot, the feeling of downtown Monterrey compared to other parts of the city, and how certain places carry layers of time—traditions, architecture, and everyday life all stacked together. Along the way, I visit three key...


China began with a difficult decision
#4
01/21/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, I talk about something that rarely gets mentioned when we discuss travel: everything that can go wrong before the trip even starts. This chapter isn’t about arriving in China yet — it’s about the difficult decisions, uncertainty and emotional weight that came before stepping on the plane.

After securing flights far in advance, the reality of booking accommodations collided with an unexpected opportunity in my acting career. Balancing professional growth, personal dreams and commitments to friends turned preparation into a stressful and confusing process. Excitement, anxiety, frustration and hope all existed at the...


Nuevo León: When the journey starts before the city
#1
01/16/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, we begin the Mexico season in Nuevo León, starting with our journey toward Monterrey. Traveling through my own country changes the way I experience places, and this chapter begins not at the destination, but on the road that leads there.

What was planned as a straightforward drive from Mexico City to Monterrey slowly turned into an unexpected detour that reshaped the beginning of the season. From route planning and transportation decisions to long hours on the highway, this episode reflects how travel stories often begin long before arriving at a city.


China started long before we arrived
#3
01/14/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, the journey toward China officially begins — not by arriving, but by preparing. This chapter focuses on everything that happens before stepping into a country that feels distant, complex and, in many ways, unknown.

I talk about expectations, assumptions and the mental preparation that came with planning this part of the trip. China wasn’t just another stop; it represented a cultural shift, a language barrier, and a different way of moving through the world. Research, logistics, conversations and doubts all played a role in shaping how we approached what was coming next.


Chapters, seasons and the road ahead
#2
01/07/2026

In this episode of DeMochilas, I explain how this podcast is structured and what you can expect from the journey ahead. Before diving fully into destinations, stories and anecdotes, I wanted to clearly lay out how the chapters, seasons and special episodes will work.

I talk about how each season is built around a trip, how past journeys will be revisited with perspective and storytelling, and how future seasons will evolve into live, present-time travels. This episode sets the rhythm of the podcast: slow moments, intense days, mistakes, learning curves and reflections that happen both on the...


DeMochilas begins: stories, trips and curiosity
#1
12/31/2025

Welcome to DeMochilas. In this first episode, I introduce myself and share the starting point of this project: who I am, where I come from, and why traveling, learning and observing the world became such an important part of my life.

I talk about my background as an actor, how stepping into different characters shaped the way I see people, cultures and motivations, and how curiosity slowly turned into a need to explore beyond what is familiar. This episode also lays the foundation for what DeMochilas is about: sharing trips, stories, mistakes, learning processes and human experiences...