October 19, 2019
Antigua, Guatemala

Today marks the 4-month anniversary of my departure from the U.S. and the beginning of my travel adventures and transformational journey. Seems fitting to write about how I spent my day, especially since it’s still a fresh wound.

I’ve just come from doing the hardest thing I have ever done. Yesterday we left for the popular 2-day Volcano Acatenango hike. This hike takes you up the 3rd highest peak in Guatemala, an elevation increase of about 1.2 meters/3,900 feet, were you camp at almost 4,000 meters, approximately 13,000 feet, and spend an evening captivated by Volcano Fuego spitting ash & lava all night. Day 2 of this hike has you up and departing camp at 4:30 am for the final 400 meters/quarter mile to summit Acatenango and watch the sunrise over Fuego and the valley below.

 

I did not enjoy this hike. It was so fucking hard, I wanted to quit every step of the way. I did my best to relax, appreciate my surroundings and wipe the pained look off my face but I struggled so hard to move my feet and breath at the same time, it was difficult to remember that hiking is a passion of mine. Until yesterday I believed there was no such thing as a bad hike, now I’m not so sure. Perhaps this hike was meant to teach me something important that I will understand later, when every muscle between my waist and ankles are no longer sore.

I did not summit Acatenago. I was up and moving at 4:30 am with everyone else but I could’t finish. After 15 minutes of battling to breathe, I quit and walked back down to basecamp alone. I watched the sunrise over Fuego feeling like a failure. This hike made me feel inadequate in every way possible. I wasn’t fit enough, I couldn’t carry my own backpack, I couldn’t keep up with my group, I couldn’t even be the person that didn’t care that I was the slowest and to top it off, I was the only quitter, the only one missing from the photo at the top. Right now I do not feel any sense of accomplishment for doing the hike, I feel disappointed by a shitty performance.

 

I want to say that I would never have done the hike had I known what I was in for but those words are useless. I DID hike Acatenago and while i’m still consumed with feelings of not enoughness and inferiority for not reaching the summit, I also had the unbelievable experience of listening to the sounds of a volcano erupting, watching lava and plumes of ash shoot out the top of a mountain, seeing and abundance of stars in the night sky, watching the sunrise at 13,000 feet, doing the hardest hike of my life in perfect weather and enjoying phenomenal views. Maybe in a month or two I’ll be more appreciative about the the way my teacher taught me what I was meant to learn…

 

My Last Few stops

I spent most of my final week in Mexico City preparing to head south. However, I did make time to visit Coyoacán, Museo Soumaya and Biblioteca Vasconcelos and was not disappointed.

Coyoacán


Coyoacán is home to Museo Casa Azul, Frida Kahlo’s house turned museum. I was more interested in the neighborhood than the museum but hung around to snap some pictures of the famous blue house and the long line. Not ready to go home, I continued roaming the neighborhood & main plaza. Known for its authentic cuisine, markets and mezcal, the church of San Juan Bautista and the Watercolor Museum are also worth checking out.

It’s rainy season in Mexico City from May/Jun – Oct/Nov, so I wasn’t surprised when it started raining. After an hour or two of doodling at a coffee shop, I headed for what turned out to be a dazzling discovery. Viveros de Coyoacán is a combination tree nursery and public park. It’s also the closest i’ve come to hiking in the rain since I left California. Misty air, tall trees, and the smell of wet earth was the perfect way to end my visit.

 

Museo Soumaya


My next outing brought me to the Museo Soumaya. Made up of two buildings, Plaza Carso and Plaza Loreto, this place requires all day. The line for Plaza Loreto reminded me of Magic Mountain so I chose Plaza Carso, the pretty building with the short line.

Apparently, Plaza Loreto is 6 levels with the top level housing the largest Rodin exhibit outside of France. I did not know this and spent all my time on level 2, captivated by the “Asia in Ivory” exhibit. I did, however, manage to catch “The Thinker” and “The Gates of Hell” in the lobby.

 

Biblioteca Vasconcelos


Similar to Museo Soumaya, my final adventure in Mexico City was an architectural delight. Biblioteca Vasconcelos is a MUST if you’re into amazingly beautiful things or buildings. This unique library has thousands of books suspended from the ceiling and smoked glass floors allowing you to see feet walking above you. Theres also  garden out back and window seats on the top floors offering unique city views. Another glorious way to spend my day.

 


A Detailed list


It’s Tuesday, June 18th, the eve of my departure from the US to Mexico City. After much deliberation, My bags are finally packed for an indefinite journey and this is a list of my chosen “must have” items to start things off with. Anything else will have to be acquired along the road.

TLS Mother Load Rolling Weekender

Inner Suitcase

4 Tank Tops
2 Leggings
2 Skorts
3 Hiking Pants (capris)
2 Shorts
2 Tankini Tops
1 Short Sleeve Top  
2 Sports Bras
9 Underwear
5 Socks 
1 Hanging Toiletry Bag 
1 Scarf
1 Comb
2 Drawstring Ponytails
1 Chord Organizer
1 First Aid Kit
1 Sleeping Bag Liner
1 Pack 14 InkJoy Gel Pens 
2 Packs (16) Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard Towelettes (10% picaridin)
1 Pack (15) Repel Mosquito Wipes (30% deet)
1 Laundry Bag
2 Microfiber Towels – M & L.

TLS Mother Load Rolling Weekender

Outside Pocket

1 Pair Sandals
1 Box 36 Staedtler Fineliner Pens 
1 Bag Liquid Toiletries
1 Journal
1 Toothbrush.

Pacsafe MetroSafe LS450

25 Liter Pack

1 Travelon Purse 
1 Universal Travel Adaptor
1 Canon PowerShot SX420
1 Mpow Bluetooth Earbuds w/ Carrying Case
2 iPhones 
1 Hiking Shoes
2 Socks
1 Capri Legging
1 Tank Top
1 Microfiber Towel – S
1 Laptop
1 Tablet
1 EasyAcc Portable USB Charger 
1 Toothbrush
1 A5 Soft Cover Sketchbook
1 Set 14 InkJoy Gel Pens – used 
1 CamelBak Stainless Steal Water Bottle – 40 oz.