An Ode to Friendship and Travel, and especially to friendship with fellow travelers

"Travel early and travel often. Live abroad, if you can. Understand cultures other than your own. As your understanding of other cultures increases, your understanding of yourself and your own culture will increase exponentially." -Tom Freston

This quote is an ode to my love for travel, as well as my love for friends that also yearn for travel in a similar way. Elyssa, Jessie, and I originally met because we were all living in Spain at the same time. We landed there on different journeys: mine was a four-month student teaching stint that lasted almost five years, Jessie's was a master's program, and Elyssa's was employment in tourism. Each means of arriving was different, while our reasons for staying were the same. We were enamored with living outside of the familiar, fascinated by expressing ourselves in a language other than that which we were born into, new possibilities that awoke us every day, and a yearning to understand ourselves better by understanding that which was outside of us. This mindset continues to follow us. 

We speak often about how freeing it is to have people in our lives that "get it." The "getting it" is implicit and not always explainable. It is a soft recognition that no way of life is better than another, that every way of life and every culture adds on and builds on the others, that our perspective may be very different from others yet all perspectives are valued, and a constant desire to grow and discover what is new. When we make discoveries about other people and other ways of life, we make discoveries about our own selves. We are perfect travel companions because we all speak Spanish, we are not afraid when travels are long and things do not go as planned, and we strive to take the local route. Each time we travel together, we spend our final evening setting intentions for the year to come. This our promise to ourselves and each other to keep growing while we are at home, and more importantly, to continue coming together to set an intention for the following year. This year's intention took place on the dock outside of our hotel as the stars shone from above and the sea's waves rose and fell around us. What a blessing to have friends that don't only listen to your adventures, but create them with you! I eagerly await our next.

 

 

Secret Beach, which is anything but secret. We biked here on our first morning in San Pedro. Jessie completely undersold the grandeur of Secret Beach as its turquoise seas and adorable children were anything but basic. We spent a half day drinking pina coladas, chatting with locals, playing with babies, and loving every moment of the water after our sweaty bike ride.

The quaint pool at our hotel was shrouded in trees and became a post-activity place for a swim and a chat.

These caves were the property of the Maya people. They believed in the underworld, and these caves were a perfect symbol of being entirely underground. We sailed through the black waters while our guide, Jose, told us legends of Mayan sacrifices. 

A common friend

The lounging area at Secret Beach

Restaurants and bars on the water are the regular occurrence here. Shoes are never necessary.

We rode a tiny plane from our island of San Pedro to Belize City where we parted ways. The plane's ceiling was tiny, and tall Elyssa could barely make it hunched over.

The Mayan ruins are still in excellent condition. How is it that buildings today topple over while the Mayans created these structures of stones that have survived thousands of centuries?

While captivated by a billboard for Belize's "Condo King," I took my bike off-road landing in a swamp.

 A golf cart came by yelling at me for being drunk, which was not at all the case. He continued to shout about my irresponsibility far after we could see his mobile.

Belize is very safe. Babies and toddlers roam fairly freely. They help their parents and grandparents to sell items along the beach. It seems to be a place where communities help and watch out for one another. This baby was handed to me without hesitation. He was being looked after by his six year old uncle, Pedro. 

Lobster season which takes place from July through August means that anything on a menu may be ordered with lobster!

Crab races in which people bet on a number crab and whichever crab makes it over the rope first means that its better wins the jackpot!

Coconut Joe is known for his unique climbing skills and ability to grab coconuts at unheard of heights.

While heading to the Mayan ruins, we crossed this bridge which functioned by a hand-held operator. A small child swum alongside as we crossed.