Commentary
One of the things I like most about Manizales is that the people are generous, welcoming, and kind. I spent years of my life living in cities like New York and Los Angeles. The vibes were a little bit different.
Read more “Feeling Like You Belong”
Experiences
After a sleepless 20-hour journey (which may or may not have included a little Crimes of Grindelwald), I am once again in Manizales, Colombia–in the same apartment, no less! While the location is the same, the mindset is distinct. This isn’t vacation. This is life.
Read more “Running it Back”
Commentary
Just over three months ago, I took a one-way flight to Colombia. Tired of merger agreements and trademark licenses, I wanted to feed my soul with foreign experiences. Seven countries later, I’m back in the United States. While I head back down south in a couple weeks, I thought a recap of the original Columbia to Colombia pilgrimage sounded appropriate.
Read more “Recap: Learning to Live in Latinoamérica”
Experiences
From Guatemala to my parent’s house near Seattle, I embarked on a 30-hour journey which included eight vehicles (including boats, shuttles, planes, and cars). It was quite the trek. Luckily, I had the good fortune to observe some wonderful cloud formations from the window seat during my flight from Guatemala to Dallas. After seeing the clouds near Acatenango, I now fancy myself a bit of a cloud enthusiast.
Read more “The Journey Home”
Experiences
In the home stretch of my inaugural departure from normalcy, I had the pleasure of meeting up with two more friends, bringing our total number to four. The final days have been spent on the banks of Atitlan, a beautiful lake west of Antigua in Guatemala.
Read more “Lake Atitlan”
Experiences
During one of our nights in the Yoga Forest in San Marcos, Guatemala, we decided to participate in a cacao ceremony. I’d never had cacao before (much more raw, pure, and potent than hot chocolate), so I was pretty excited. The Yoga Forest owner’s husband, Jaya (a fantastic man with a ponytail), came to guide us on our journey.
Read more “Electric Cacao”
Experiences
After many months of traveling and hiking mountains, we felt that it was time to take a little rest. We decided a yoga retreat in San Marcos would be just the thing we needed.
Read more “The Yoga Forest”
Experiences
Dutifully up at 4am, our group of 15 began hiking up the rest of Volcán Acatenango by 4:20. We employed headlamps (or, if you were unprepared like me, iPhones) to guide us up the steep terrain. It was a matter of when, not if, you would lose your footing. Nevertheless, we trudged upward and onward.
By the way, check out Acatenango Day 1 if you want to see pictures of erupting volcanoes.
Read more “Acatenango Day 2 – Hiking to Heaven”
Experiences
After a couple of weeks of traveling through cities, it was time to get back to the great outdoors. Now in Guatemala, we decided to climb Acatenango, a volcano close to Antigua. We were told that it was possible to see live eruptions from Volcán de Fuego from the campsite. We thought it was worth a try.
Read more “Acatenango Day 1 – An Eruption of Excitement”
Experiences
After kissing my new favorite continent a temporary goodbye, I hopped onto a plane at the São Paulo airport. I flew standby, and much to my pleasure I was allocated a nice pod in the front of the plane with a fully reclining seat and champagne. Thank you Susan Young. My friendship with your son has finally paid off.
Read more “Antigua”