Dreams of Christmas

Life in Guatemala...through my eyes.

Even in the midst of the sweet stillness of San Marcos there lies the excitement and adventure of a new way of life.
A house, a job and a good sense of grounding I find myself more than ever; happy. Many new amazing pieces of life's puzzle on the horizon...humbled but satisfied that my dreams are becoming a beautiful reality every day.

Alex and i spent many of our days together this past year envisioning our lives - individually and collectively. Over many pots of tea we spoke and wrote of our dreams and now life's enriching paradise continues to be created and uncovered.
In the mornings we walk down from our cabin in the mountain, through the streets and footpaths, passing locals, we are warmed with the words Buenos días, smiles, and all our local street dog friends wagging along :-)
We pass by Restautante Fe (a quick hello before we return there to work in the afternoon), and then onwards to the main dock where we catch a launcha to San Pedro to visit our favourite breakfast spot, The Clover. Nachos have become a staple breakfast item in past weeks...but a little bit more mindful lately we have been opting for fresh fruit with yogurt, honey and homemade granola.
I do miss the nachos :-)

Today's visit to the Clover was particularly wonderful as we had the added pleasure of speaking with two friends via skype who will be arriving tomorrow for a 13 day retreat with us!
We continue on to Christalina's Cafe, halfway up the hill in el centro San Pedro, to sit with a cafe con leche and go over some additional details of the upcoming retreat.
Shortly after we are back on the launcha to San Marcos and directly on to work at Fé.
Alex typically works from 1pm onward and I join him at 4. Its here we spend many hours together as a dynamic serving team, closing the restaurant around 11 when the last guests filter out.

As we have experienced... It can be a very relaxed job, chatting and hanging out with fellow travelers, sharing beers, stories and exchanging travel knowledge. The restaurant rush finds us at the other end of the spectrum, running around like crazy trying to keep up with requests and doing our best to communicate in Spanish with the Mayan women in the kitchen with whom we place our orders and share space. We dodge each other in a small kitchen, fight over the use of one blender, and hope they are making the food we ordered, as they laugh and speak about us in Quetchiquel (their native language), It is a whirlwind!
Emotions can sometimes run high...but our boss Paul has a way of defusing and making us laugh with his dry British humour.

"What do you mean he is yelling at you!?" asks Paul as Alex explains of his encounter with a guest. "Well tell him to Fuck Off!!"
Straight faced, in all seriousness. Amazing.

I love Paul's no bullshit approach, it is refreshing and makes our job easier when facing some rather complicated guests.
Personalities aside (which is all a part of life's wonder) our job is extremely gratifying.
We hang out and get to make peoples days...and them ours.

Alex and I worked together throughout both days of Christmas and we wouldn't have had it any other way. It was the best Christmas ever. We dressed up nicely. We worked very hard. We enjoyed each others company...and on the night before Christmas joined a pair of travelers with a huge firework and blew a watermelon to pieces on the side of the path as a prelude to midnights epic firework celebration!
We can just say "when in Guatemala" -as when it comes to fireworks there are no rules and no such term as street legal ;)
Not to mention the twenty three year old Rum, Zacapa, we enjoyed as a night cap in the late hours of the 25th.

Celebration everywhere.

Midnight arrived and we were standing high above the lake outside our house gazing at the distant lights of Santiago...the sparks of coloured fireworks popping up so peacefully above the lakeside city; so surreal and absolutely stunning.
I will remember that moment for the rest of my life.

Returning into our newly decorated cabin (I had surprised Alex by stringing lights, tinsel and a mini tree!), we stuffed the Christmas stockings for each other... And drifted off to sleep....the sounds of fireworks continued into the night...their bright flashes reflecting in our window.

I had dreamed about spending Christmas in a foreign country for as long as I can remember. A special place it was indeed, to mark our first Christmas together.
And as I reflect on the most perfect Christmas I begin to realize that this place is not so foreign at all. So very familiar, we find ourselves grounded here allowing all the dreams of our lives unfold.