Two weeks in to a trip to Central America. Charlie (my fifteen year old son), Lucas, and I are in Guatemala.
The purpose:
- to connect with Charlie, to really spend time with him and get to know him and the great guy he is. They say that after a certain age, you see your kids less and less, it really hits home whe you have a kid who is very into his friends and being independent now.
- to reset and recalibrate and take time to appreciate life and all the important stuff.
- to practice correct thinking – our thoughts are just thoughts unless we believe them.
- Feeling the Mayan culture.
- Have adventures
- Humility and Gratitude
- Open heart and mind
- Discover Women lead businesses (my interests)
- Free ourselves from the constraints of ‘normal life’ and societal expectations
- Show and be examples for Charlie
- Help others whenever the opportunity arises
- Have fun
The daily questions:
What are we doing?
Have you got the keys?
What’s the wifi?
Along with daily comments:
I want to go home
That’s a ‘seebs’ (no idea)
And Mum, Mum, Mum
‘Dry’
It is always interesting to travel with others. You really have to rely on each other, be patient, compromise, and be kind to yourself and the others in your group.
The moments! The views in Guatemala are spectacular, it’s a beautiful country and I love it. The volcanoes are magnificent, the people are kind and helpful.
We spent the first couple of nights in Antigua, resting after a long journey from New Zealand, we checked out the markets and looked around the Colonial town. We had our own tobacco and cacao ceremony on the rooftop of our hostel (aptly named Purpose Hostel), while watching the glowing lava from Mt Fuego which is constantly erupting.
We then headed to Lake Atitlan by bus, stopping in Pananchel and catching a small boat to San Pedro, where we had an Air bnb for 3 nights. San Pedro is a bustling lakeside town. We had some adventures there!
- Saw a Mayan spiritual woman, who performed a tobacco ceremony.
- Went to the most interesting secondhand bookshop, owned by an elderly Inuit woman who rescues dogs and cats.
Lucas:
Traveling in Guatemala for almost two weeks already. Leaving Lake Atitlán to move back to Antigua with the firm intention of hiking volcanos Pacaya, Acatenango & Fuego.
The Lake has welcomed us warmly offering a wonderful experience. The first few nights staying in San Pedro La Laguna. The boat ride was epic, the moment we embarqued onto the small boat to take us across the lake, two militaries were running checkups. Walking by these two guys rifles at hand and sitting right in front of them in the little boat, our heads at the same height as the rifles canon. It was a strange atmosphere as the guns were right there, at the same time the sun was getting lower in the sky shining its colourful rays. I remember that the three of us were smiley. Charlie & Rebekah being great accomplices laughing their way through the wait for the boat to depart.
The boat ride felt like a moment up in the air. Water was choppy, making the boat bang on every second wave. I remember Charlie & I looking at each other with smiles printed on our faces. Two kids having a bliss during a roller coaster ride.
From the deck to the Airbnb, the three of us packed in a tiny tuk tuk.
Walked down the narrow streets looking for a place to have dinner, first street food experience for Charlie & I together. We saw that barbecue on the side of the road grilling all sorts of meats. He was super keen on the experience, the curiosity & eagerness for adventure sparkling in his eyes.
From that moment I knew we were doing the right thing. The traveller state of mind already kicked in within..
A couple of days later, we went for a morning walk Rebekah and I searching for the local market. Because we got out late the market was gone, instead we found a little shop selling all sorts of items to perform ceremonies used in the Mayan Cosmology. Having experienced it before I got curious so we ventured into the shop. Having a chat with the shop owner, we explained the purpose of our travels here and mentioned our intention to connect with authentic Mayan wisdom holders through ceremonies. Straight away she recommended us two persons that could potentially help us, one of them being the daughter of a famous Mayan Healer here at the lake, el Tata Pedro Cruz. I had been to the yearly anniversary of his passing away in 2021.. On we went, on the journey of finding Nana Marina Cruz, which took us two days of rumbling around.
…
Appointment taken. We meet with Nana Marina the following day.
The Ceremony was a deep personal reading into our lives through the Tabacco. The Wise Sacred Spirit of the plant speaks, guides, heals.. We were all moved. This is all we’d share about the deep personal ceremonial experience.
moiettoi 