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.
Our first priority was to hit the beach. Although the colored sand and water temperature were a change from San Diego’s coastline, being in the ocean felt right where we belonged. We stayed in a charming bungalow where we were grateful for air conditioning, a luxury in the intense heat. There, we discovered a trail leading to a mangrove river, where we took a peaceful kayak ride during one of O's work breaks, spotting birds and soaking in the tranquility.
Having missed fresh seafood since arriving in Guatemala, I shamelessly indulged in ceviche everywhere we went, ranking each one as the list grew longer. Our days were filled with all the seafood, surfing, swimming, cold coconuts, playing with Chula, yoga, and the Olympics. Most evenings, we enjoyed stunning orange sunsets and each other’s company.
Despite its size, El Paredon has a lively atmosphere with many foreigners, especially on weekends. One night, O and I entered a tournament at a local spot for a game that rhymes with ping pong (lol). We still can’t believe it but we, the Mezcalinators, won! Our prize is a free night’s stay at a resort in a different city in Guatemala, a perfect excuse to keep traveling—I told you we were a good team!
Beyond the fun, El Paredon offered a space for reflection. In Hesse's book, Siddhartha discovers the meaning of life on a journey of spirituality and self-exploration through friendship, love, success, failure, and meditation, revealing that true fulfillment is not found in knowledge, pleasure, or material wealth but in simplicity and nature. Most importantly, he discovers that there is unity in all things; that we are all one and that the strongest thing that binds us is love.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:
I can think, I can wait, I can fast.
He looked around him as if seeing the world for the first time. The world was beautiful, strange and mysterious. Here was blue, here was yellow, here was green, sky and river, woods and mountains, all beautiful, all mysterious and enchanting, and in the midst of it, he, Siddhartha, the awakened one, on the way to himself… Meaning and reality were not hidden somewhere behind things, they were in them, in all of them.
The world was beautiful when looked at in this way, without any seeking, so simple, so childlike.
I have always believed, and I still do, that whatever good or bad fortune may come our way we can always give it meaning and transform it into something of value.
When you learn to love the world, it belongs to you; the people, the animals, the flowers, the plants.
The potential of every life experience is always there, it is all around us, all we need to do is understand that we are one with it.
The ocean and its waves have always brought me peace, and this week was no exception. It was an opportunity for introspection, appreciating the universe’s gifts, and aligning with the natural flow of life. I've said it before and I'll say it again, life is better by the beach. But it’s truly best when shared with those and that which fill your heart.
For now, we say goodbye to Guatemala and hello to El Salvador. Stay tuned for updates from our next country!
Sincerely, with love,
Andrea Mayela
