When we arrived at Zephyr Lodge in Lanquin, Guatemala last
Thursday for our first Manna retreat, I realized I had forgotten to pack my
dreadlocks. Semuc Champey is a huge backpacking destination in Guatemala and
Zephyr is one of the most fun hostels there. Consequently, the vibe was very
hippie chic. I’ll admit it, I like
to fit in, but I found this difficult to accomplish in my J.Crew dress and
cardigan. I hoped my perfunctory “hippie” bracelets could engender that bohemian
vibe that oozed freely from everyone else.
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| View of Semuc Champey |
My initial intimidation with these backpackers was because
everyone seemed like such seasoned veterans and, in a way, they were. However,
what I came to realize was that while they had been to more places than I had,
their experiences were very shallow--all tainted by the thick lenses of
tourists. On the other hand, by living in one place for a year, I am developing
a much richer understanding of this country and its culture. Obviously, my
experiences are still that of an outsider, but after six months, my metaphorical
prescription is lower.
The idea of backpacking has always been alluring. There’s
something about drifting from place to place without a home (or shoes) that
speaks to my rebellious side. However, that idea is quickly squashed by an
overwhelming desire to make plans and save my beautiful shoe collection. As I
compared my experiences to those of the friends I had met at Zephyr, I couldn’t
help but feel that I was getting the better end of the deal. I’m establishing
long-term relationships and developing a holistic understanding of a place.
However, I realize my view point is pretty skewed. At the end of the day,
traveling in a foreign country and living in one produce two very different
experiences.
I'm enjoying the lack of road I'm on,
Emily
This past weekend we went to Semuc Champey on our last group retreat, and all I can say is wow. It took us nine months to finally make the eight hour trek, but it was more than worth it. We explored bat caves, dove into crystal blue waterfalls, tubed down a lazy river, cannon-balled into caves lit only by candlelight, enjoyed delicious food, and met some incredible travelers.
Semuc Champey directly translates to "hidden in the depth of stone" in the local Maya language Q'eqchi'. It's of course hard to put such beauty into words, but in short, Semuc is a series of pools with waterfalls flowing from one to the next. What's incredible is that the pools sit atop an immense river, separated by a thick sheet of limestone.
The Cahabon River disappears underneath the pools of Semuc only to reappear 300 meters later. Incredible. I can promise it will not be another nine months before I return. Did I ever mention that I love my life?
