It’s been a minute, huh? I’ve been lucky enough to catch up with many of you recently. After getting back to Tejas in September, I turned 31—no more wishes to make, just feeling thankful for what’s already here. Our visit was perfectly Tex-Mex—the best tacos, BBQ, ranching (with friends, not food!), and lots of family time. But the best part was finally meeting my beautiful niece, Natalia. She’s a total cutie!
Of course, I began California dreaming again, especially after O headed off to spend time with his family. I made my way back to San Diego just in time to see the Padres in the playoffs. During my month there, I soaked up all my favorite things about the city and the people I love who make it home. I also couldn’t resist crashing a Halloween party at my old work dressed as Where’s Waldo—thought it was fitting since lately a lot of folks have been wondering where in the world I am.
Life Lately
Making the Most Outta Every Moment
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Hello from San Antonio, Texas, where we’ve safely arrived at my mother’s home. What a journey it’s been. Let’s get into the last leg of our trip—¡Viva Mexico!
We began with a 9-hour bus ride from Guatemala to the Mexican border, Tapachula (or “Patachula” as O playfully calls it), followed by a 12-hour overnight ride to our first stop—Huatulco, Oaxaca, a coastal city with a developing tourist scene.
With the constant change in environments, home had started to become wherever the wifi connected automatically. But arriving in Mexico, I finally felt a real sense of familiarity, one step closer to home.
Mexico
La Vida Es Como Un Helado...
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El Salvador
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Embrace The Unfamiliar
El Salvador was awesome!
As many may think, El Salvador has long been associated with unrest. But in recent years, change has been taking place, and O and I were eager to see what life is like there. We arrived with open minds and hearts, excited to connect with the locals and broaden our perspectives.
Our journey began in Santa Ana, the country’s second-largest city. It wasn’t particularly remarkable, except for a beautiful cathedral and having the best deal on motorcycle rentals. Though my experience with motorcycles was limited to my e-bike, O and I decided to rent some for the week and explore the country on two wheels (sorry, Mom and Dad!)
El Paredon, Guatemala
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Life's Better By The Beach
We’re back on the coast!
After a snug 5-hour shuttle ride, we arrived in El Paredon only to discover that our shuttle also included a raft ride across the river—an unexpected but welcomed adventure! On the road, I finished reading Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse (thank you, Lili!) O wasn't surprised at the tears streaming down my face as I read the final pages. The book sparked deep thought fit for this chapter of my life, and arriving here was the perfect place to contemplate its lessons.
El Paredon is a tiny town on Guatemala's Pacific coast, known for its black sand, warm water, and surf breaks; We explored every inch of it during our 5-day stay, walking from end to end in about 15 minutes.
Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
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A Whole New World
We’ve been in Lake Atitlan for a bit, and it truly feels like heaven. Imagine a giant lake surrounded by three pristine volcanoes, their peaks often shrouded in clouds—we’re literally up in the clouds.
There are many pueblos around la laguna. We began in Panajachel, the largest, finding any place to admire the lake as we sipped coffee--me reading, writing, relaxing, O working. The town was filled with local merchants, boats, restaurants (surprisingly no local seafood), and the same warm people we’ve gotten to know during our time in Guatelinda.
We’d hoped to get scuba diving certified throughout this journey, a bucket list item for O (he's a human fish, Pisces and all.) We were surprised to find a diving school in a neighboring pueblo, so we reached out and registered to start three days later.
La Antigua, Guatemala
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A Fairytale Among Volcanoes
We made it to Guatemala!
It's been a week since we arrived, but somehow it still feels like I'm in a wonderfully long dream.
Our journey started with our plane landing in Guatemala City. We breezed through customs and caught an Uber to our first destination. For many who don’t know, I initially came here for a very special reason—to celebrate my dear friend Alexa's wedding. She married her love of many years, whose family lives in Guatemala. The wedding took place in the beautiful, historic city of La Antigua, surrounded by majestic volcanoes.
Lake Powell / Grand Canyon / San Antonio
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& So It Begins...
We made it to Texas!
Amid the daily grind in Encinitas—working, packing, and selling most of my belongings to randoms on Craigslist—there wasn’t much time to contemplate the adventures that awaited. Days flew by, and before I knew it, we were on the road heading to Lake Powell to spend the 4th of July with a group of great friends.
After about 9 hours of driving, weaving through state lines and time zones, we arrived in the beautiful, starlit Page, Arizona.