I didn’t realize how close we were to travel burn out until we arrived in our saving grace location, Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala. The stress of constantly moving from place to place was starting to show not only on my body, but was starting to tear away at my soul. I really just needed a place to hang my hat for a bit, or, in other words, a place to call home.
Coming from Tulum where the temperature was always in the 90s, it was soul quenching to put on my jacket. The colder temperatures made my cheeks tingle and I giggled when I was able to see my breath as we stepped outside. I felt like we were back in San Francisco. Looking up from the main plaza, lazy, misty clouds sprawled over the lush, green mountainside. Shaun and I just kept staring in awe.
Holy shit. We’re in a cloud forest.
A change of scenery was much appreciated.
Yes, it can be a shock to the system. Not only the cold nights in houses with no heating, but a shock to the system to see familiar faces and places.
We have spent the past two weeks completely immersed in Spanish classes here in Xela (and Shaun is taking another week to work on speaking!). Not only have I overcome the fear of talking to people but I’m pretty damn good at it.
Needless to say there is warm laughter and love in our home. I feel incredibly blessed to be here.
As we were sitting in our favorite bar last night with a few friends, celebrating our last moments together, I realized – We are living in Xela. We have a favorite bar. We have friends in a city.
It is going to be so hard to leave.
Im so glad you picked this city to rest your hat at. I seriously loved it alot and miss it. I love the tempature the scenery… and everything about it. So where is your next stop? When do yall pick up again? I bet after a month of rest (stationary rest) you are ready for the road again… no?
Glad yall made friends and enjoyed the city. Should I be commenting in spanish now?
Xela is such a great city for resting, regrouping and getting grounded again by living with a family, eating home-cooked meals and meeting people for more than just one or two days. We also spent several weeks there taking Spanish lessons and could have spent much longer there. Glad you’ve got your energy back! Where to next?
I loved Xela and could definitely have spent more than a week there. Great food, great Spanish schools, great volunteer opportunities – loved it!
@Jaime: The temperature is pretty awesome although I think rainy season started after you left! We are heading to the lake this weekend then on to Antigua and then into Honduras. 😀 We are pretty ready to hit the road again. I’m looking forward to it and dreading it at the same time. I love being places but hate getting there lol. As for commenting in Spanish – that is all you. Shaun is still trying to understand!
@Audrey: I couldn’t have asked for a more awesome city to do just that. We’re off to Lake Atitlan this Sunday, and making our way into Honduras.
@Megan: My Spanish school is so awesome. I am totally going to miss everyone when we leave. I can’t imagine how hard it is for them to live in a city where people are constantly changing.
Beautiful pictures in your gallery. You are quite the accomplished photographer. I am very proud of you mija. Your uncle Bill asked to check out your site. He and your tia are interested in setting up a blog or website with their photography. I bragged on you.
Cuidense y recuerden que los queremos mucho. Mama.
What a lovely place to call home and wow your hair is so long, looks gorgeous!
I could feel your love for Xela in your writing! I felt so bad reading that your were struggling. Sometimes we all need stop and recharge, don’t we?
Love the hair Erica 🙂
Everyone has such great things to say about Xela so I can’t wait to go one day. I love that you had an opportunity to pause and had a home for a bit! Rest up and enjoy every moment 🙂
I’m glad that you guys have gotten a chance to catch you breath. I think it’s cute that you called them your host parents. 🙂 I also sure that you speak much better Spanish than you realize. Good luck with your classes!
@Mom: Thank you mom! I’m so glad you poked your head around here! Tell them good luck with the blog. It is a LOT of work. <3 Love you too!
@Andi: It is beautiful. The natural beauty around here is just STUNNING. And thanks for the compliment on my hair. I’m trying to grow it out. I need a haircut though and I’m not sure I trust Guatemalan ladies to accomplish what I want. Will have to wait for BsAs.
YAY! Posts like this make me realize just how much I could never be a backpacker. I don’t like constantly moving, it gives me so much anxiety. Kudos to you for finding a place to stay for a while. Xela sounds like a beautiful town. And your HAIR Erica!!! It’s so long! You look beautiful!
@Debbie: I’m glad that it shined through that we love it here. It is now that I can appreciate how hard it is to undertake long term travel at the speed we are doing it. We’re slow travelers in general!
@Heather: Thank you! I feel like it looks like crap so I will TAKE the compliments! Everyone DOES have something good to say about here which is why I was worried about coming. The last time we had that happen we were disappointed. Glad it lived up to its awesomeness.
@Terri: It is nice to be able to relax a bit. As for the host parents thing – oh man I’m going to miss them so much!
@Sheryll: Oh lord you are comment #4 on my hair. I am starting to think that people like it or something! 😀 I don’t think we’re much of the backpacker type but in order to see everything we want to on our budget and time limit, we kinda have to! I’m currently applying for a job to work remotely. Wish me luck. 😛
I hate post my blog post on peoples comments but be sure to check this post out of mine: http://breakawaybackpacker.com/2011/05/guatemala-highlights-tips/ some great tips for where you are about to head.
I’ve been to Antigua and Guatemala City but would really love to explore more of Guatemala – Xela looks beautiful. Glad you got to relax and feel settled for a bit before heading out on the road again.
@Jaime: Its all good! I remember when you posted that! Thanks for the info! <3
@Emily: We’re heading to Antigua this week! Not a clue what we are going to do there but we’ll be there nonetheless! 😀
I’m pretty sure we stopped there as well when we took a two-week road trip around Guatemala, but if you asked me how to pronounce it, I’d still have NO clue! =)
Ah yes, the backpacking burn out. I ended up spending 4 months in a small town in NZ after going strong through SA and Asia for 7 months.
@C&C: lol! All X-es are pronounced as “sh”. So call it Shay-la? Or Quetzaltenango – your pick. 😛
@Hogga: Wow – you reached 7 months before burn out? I feel like a total noob for lasting 3 months.
I had to rush through Guatemala and only spent 2 weeks there, just make sure you don’t miss out on Lanquin, it’s really lovely to do for a couple of days.
@Ayngelina: Unfortunately we’re going to have to rush out of here due to budget/time restraints. I could have easily stayed here for another month. We’re applying for some jobs we can do on the road so maybe it won’t be out of the question later on.
I have heard so many wonderful things about Xela. I wish I had stopped there when I was in Guatemala. Just another reason to go back 🙂
@Stephanie: I am just really glad it did not disappoint!
I really need to do this in 2012. Only way I am ever going to learn a bit of Spanish.
@Michael: Totally worth every penny and every minute of our time. I think you would really dig Xela.
I think you two should come to Vegas. I’ll be your host parent. And we can speak Spanglish. Drink champagne. Eat chocolate. And just be all out superfly. <3
@D: Sounds like it would be an amazing host “family” time!
I know it must be strange staying still in one place for a while, but sounds like you’ve chosen a wonderful place! I love language immersion classes…. once the migraines pass 🙂
@Margo: It was a fantastic thing and I highly suggest immersion classes to everyone who wants to learn Spanish.
I hear you about the heat. It is dead summer in Vallarta and anything under 30 C is the closest thing to feeling cool!
@Fede: I’m with you! It is like that back at home too. Feeling cold is nice only for a little while though. It gets old.