This is part of a true story written by Marina Villatoro who writes the travel blog Travel Experta about everything you need to know about Central America. Every Friday over the next two months I’ll be posting another chapter of this adventure. Catch up with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, and Part 11 in case you missed them.

Grapevines

Small towns grow large grapevines. My news, along with the four others traveled far and wide. The owner of the hotel appeared out of nowhere and sat beside me.

“I’m truly sorry what happened to you. It’s so devastating. I’ve been living here for four years and in the past year everything has gone to shit.”

He lifted a long muscular, tanned arm (not bad for a sixty year old) and pointed to the adjoining hotel. “Not even two days ago, the same thing happened. It was during our communal dinner hour, two rooms were stripped of all of their belongings. An American girl’s backpack, passport and money were taken, and a British boy suffered the same fate. I hear the young girl flew back to the States yesterday, completely distraught and destroyed. But the Brit wasn’t as lucky. He didn’t have anyone to call and ask for help. So, now he’s working at some dingy restaurant in Pana, saving up to fly back home.”

He shook his head in remorse and sighed to the heavens. His green-blue eyes watered, slightly, and I thought he would burst into tears any second. But he picked himself up and continued, “We all know who it is. Everyone knows, including the police. But what difference does it make? Ever since Chico started to pay them they are backing him up. He is getting reckless, but who cares. No one will do anything about it. As a matter of fact, the whole judicial system’s livelihoods depend on him. I wish we can do something.”

He walked away with a tail between his legs. Helpless. Broken. I wanted to hug him and tell him everything will work out. But I wasn’t sure myself.

A Plan of Action In The Chaos

I buried the notion of ever wrapping my body in my Celtic-sarong purchased in Puerto Rico; or writing my secret desires in my favorite banana-leafed journal with the wood-carved quill I found during my volunteer week at a kibbutz in Israel; or to snap the once-in-a-lifetime photo op of a howler monkey jumping on top of my head with my twenty-first birthday present: Nikon point-of-shoot-35mm camera. I had to put the past behind me and move on.

I was a compulsive planner, even after extensive travel, I wasted hours upon hours arranging the perfect itinerary. However basic it may be, within minutes of execution, it was altered. This time was no different. I created the full-proof plan: arrive to Panajachel by two p.m.; collect the money transfer; hop on a bus back to the capital; and be at my embassy bright and early Monday morning. Perfect. The only thing between my brilliant plan and implementation: Money; or lack of it.

The downside of borrowing is the payback. Janka agreed to lend me the money on one condition—I pay for my one-way trip and her round-trip ticket as well. Sifting through my wide-range of alternatives, this was definitely the best one.

Part one was achieved: Boat to Panajachel.

Part two: Two p.m. arrival time.

Part three, four and five: never to be attained.

Just Another Manic Sunday

It was Sunday. The entire town, with the exception of a few café’s and one restaurant, was closed, including the Western Union with a huge “CERRADO” sign in the window.

Was all this part of my ‘everything happens for a reason’ scheme? Because it certainly wasn’t what the all-knowledge-I-have-completed-my-one-month-yoga-and-mediation-cleansing-cycle guy, who sat next to me the entire boat-ride back into town, meant when he repeatedly voiced: ‘You must find the answers to the WHY, by choosing between the two paths given. Always follow the one less traveled’. In that case, what words of wisdom would he pick out of his all-purpose-quotation-reference-bank, when the only path I can take is the too-familiar way right back to San Marcos?

Maybe this was my retribution for all the rebellious shoplifting sprees my buddies and I engaged in during pubescence? Whatever the reason: Karmic debt, lessons-to-be-learned 101 or just plain-old bad luck, I surrendered to the inevitable return. But first I used my charm and implored Janka to stay in Panajachel with me until the last ferry (with the promise to pay for her dinner.)

To kill some time, before eating, we headed to an Internet café. It was full.  Of course! So we waited…

A Beautiful Stranger

We sat on the curb and engaged in a profoundly philosophical discussion: what I will do next—for the millionth time. Too wrapped up in the “Why me?” syndrome, I didn’t notice the beautiful woman sitting next to us. She flung her hair from one side to the next permeating our airspace with the scent of gardenias. My nose twisted in her direction, eyes following and rested on her gaze. She smiled at me. She had one of those tender smiles that made your eyes flutter and filled you with a warm fuzzy feeling.

“Hello,” she said softly.

I looked to the right and left to make sure it was me she addressed and not her great friend standing behind me. But it was me.

I mumbled, “Hi.”

Age and beauty were definitely on her side. She was in her mid forties with an inborn elegance. If she threw a white stained sheet over her body it would come off as the newest couture design of the year. Naturally, the purple summer dress she wore radiated femininity and style. There was something different about her. She didn’t fit into this dreary setting or this story.

“I overheard your conversation. I normally don’t interfere. But I am very sad for you.” Each word was accentuated with a slight ‘O’ of the lips adding a melodic flow from one word into the other, dissipating my problems one by one.

“Yeah, thank you, but…uh…oh…” I forgot the action of speech. What could I do? I was captivated by her presence. Not romantically, but maternally. With her by my side I felt special. Worthy.

She didn’t notice my dopiness and continued, “I was wondering… I won’t take up too much of your time… but you said you don’t have any clothes. I live in San Marcos and I have clean clothes that are too small for me. Would you like to have them?”

“Ah… yes…I would love it. Thank you.”

Leaving us with directions to her home, she glided off into the night. Her gentle nature resulted in my own realization: how much I missed comfort and kindness.

I couldn’t wait to see her again.

[photos by: flora.cyclam, *Tom [luckytom], Danny Key, Jelle..]

Bio

Marina has been living in Central America for over 7 years and her site Travel Experta is all about traveling in Central America. Marina loves to help people plan the perfect vacation to this amazing part of the world! You can sign up for her RSS feed and join the fun on her Facebook fan page and follow her on Twitter at @MarinaVillatoro.

This is a guest post by Mary, who writes Mary and Sean’s Adventures Abroad. She’s a world traveler who got bitten by the travel bug at a very young age as military child living in Europe.

Do you ever suffer from post-travel blues? You know, it’s that awkward dreadful transition time back at home, especially after an exhilarating vacation abroad somewhere.

When I am out there in the world, my senses are on overdrive nonstop. In addition, I am more willing to take chances, and I get hooked on the thrill of some new unexpected event that day. Whether returning from a week long resort trip to Mexico or a six-month work assignment in the Czech Republic, reintegrating to my usual routine after all that can seem, well, plain old boring. Can you relate?

Over the years, however, I have learned some strategies to lessen the shock of stepping into pre-trip existence again. These tricks are tried and true, and they absolutely help extend your travels way beyond the return flight home.

#1 Send Postcards To Yourself

Just as if you were writing to a friend, describe in detail what you did that day and how you were feeling. Given the unpredictable postal systems around the world, you never know when it might arrive and surprise you.

#2 Meet a New Person On Your Trip and Keep in Touch

This tip has been one of my favorites through the years. What’s a better way to keep your trip going than to forge a new friendship from it? It is often surprisingly easy to bond with that fellow traveler who slept in the bunk next to yours and had to listen to the same loud snoring from someone else. Sometimes I cannot believe I am still in touch with a person I met at a hostel in Cape Town in 1995.

#3 Buy Local Ingredients to Recreate Food Enjoyed During Your Travels

I have bought jars of dulce de leche in Argentina to make homemade alfajores in my own kitchen, fresh nutmeg pods from Malawi to spice up my banana bread, and Turkish apple tea to sip alongside a book some afternoon. Need a little vacation escape? Look to your spice rack!

#4 Purchase Inexpensive Items You Are Likely to Incorporate Into Your Daily Life

I used to buy souvenirs to rest idly on a coffee table or hang on a wall, but after awhile, I rarely even noticed them anymore. Then I realized I was much more likely to use some wooden salad tongs from Namibia or coconut soap from Hawaii. I get a little trip reminder every time I wash my hands or toss a salad.

#5 Educate Yourself After the Trip

An avid traveler, my mother taught us to learn about countries before a trip to build anticipation and understand the context of what we see, but why stop there? We always feel a stronger connection to a place after knowing it with our own senses, so relive your trip again by reading books about it, paying attention to the international news, or simply watching a popular movie. After a trip to Shanghai last year, I watched any movie I could find that took place there. If you are anything like me, you get excited to recognize obscure landmarks in a film and think, “I stood exactly right there!”

#6 Attend Local Community Events About That Favorite Place

Participating in local hometown events is a great way to experience some of the flavors or sights of your travels, and meet other people who love a destination as much as you do. Did you visit the Greek Isles for your honeymoon? Most average size cities have some kind of Greek fest with music and food at least once a year. Moreover, libraries, education centers, art museums, and even churches are often unexpected venues for all kinds of cultural events.

#7 Create Blog Posts, Video Travelogues, and Photo Collages to Share With Others

Or if you are like me, save them for a rainy day.  One of the best ways I know to bring a trip home with me is to edit pictures, make fun short movies, and write about it. These rituals help me process the whole experience on varied levels. On one hand, chronicling a trip helps record details often soon forgotten, and these details have a way of jogging other details. In this way, the whole memory stays alive. On a broader level, recounting a strange or funny story (if only to myself) helps me understand the world a little better and how I operate within it. In either case, there is nothing better on a lazy afternoon than opening up a journal or photo album and indulging in a bit of “Oh, remember that great time I…”

Traveling for Mary has been an important and nonnegotiable aspect of her life ever since. Friends think she’s indulgent with all her trips around the world and quest to experience different cultures, but for Mary, apart from family and learning, it’s her reason for living. She’s lived abroad as a student in Mexico, a Peace Corps volunteer in Namibia, and a Nato Partnership for Peace teacher in the Czech Republic. Mary currently lives in Okinawa, Japan, where she’s eating her way around Asia.

Thank you again for the excellent guest post Mary!