Remembering Zorba

At the time, I wasn’t ready to leave Ecuador and I considered spending more time there.  However, 10 days later in Peru, everything is continuing to happen at the right time.

Well, who’da thought??

For the five years I’ve continued traveling, these are the reoccurring things I find:

Amazing people

Beautiful places

Serendipity

Spontaneity

Surprises

Louisiana Hot Sauce (NO JOKE)

I guess those are all typical to life, right?  For me, these experiences are heightened when I witness them all outside of my home and with people from around the world.

The bus from Quito to Paracas took a little over 48 hours.  The direct bus was sold out and so I took the cheaper, longer, and more difficult route.  The second bus from the border of Ecuador and Peru got stuck in the sand about 3 hours into the trip.  It took another two hours and two trucks to pull us out.

It really wasn’t that bad.  I honestly like riding buses even after my close to death experience in Mongolia (where I took a 3 days bus to the border of Kazakhstan and Mongolia in December….it was -42 degrees.)  The buses here are a little claustrophobic but at least they are warm!

I enjoy seeing the change of scenery and especially on this continent where at one moment you can be riding through lush, green jungles and the next hour, after snoozing, wake up to the desert.

So, Paracas.  I came to Paracas specifically because I found a Workaway job working in the bar at Kokopelli Hostel.  I thought, well it should be nice to have two weeks in one place.  I work 5 days a week for free room, breakfast, and discounts for drinks.

As beach towns go, there is a lot of partying, relaxing, and swimming.  It is the strong proof that being by the sea is good for everyone’s well being.  This is the retreat town for all the people in Lima who are tired of the city and want a weekend getaway.

Again (and again and again) I have discovered a place of beauty in my surroundings and in the people that come with it.  I knew this was going to be a great stop for me.  I would have two weeks where I could recharge and prepare for crossing this continent through Bolivia to Sao Paulo.

When I arrived, the stories of everyone were very similar,

“I was supposed to stay two weeks and I’ve been here for 6.”

Almost EVERYONE has said this.  In the beginning it made me nervous because Brazil is still in the forefront of my mind.  It is the GOAL.  It is the Holy Grail.  A month and a half into this journey my timing has been pretty spot on and if I wanted to continue to have good timing, there was no way I could allow myself to get wrapped up in Paracas and stay longer.

So, I turned on my defense and attempted to be withdrawn as to establish my focus on Brazil.  That plan has been thrown out the window and the past 4 mornings I have caught the sunrise with my coworkers here.

I can only disengage so much until I remember that this is my life.  This is what I write about here, this is what I preach, this is ZORBA.  Living in the moment, loving, laughing, talking, and discovering more and more of yourself and the world.

A unifying factor of all the relationships and friendships I have made in traveling is “openness.”  There is no time for small talk and trust is almost readily available for everyone.  These sunrise ventures have been filled with deep stories, secrets, and life beliefs.  This is how we all become so close in such a short period of time.  It is a genuine and beautiful thing and constantly gives me a sense of gratitude and amazement of humanity.

With all of this love around me, there was no way I was going to attempt solitude for inner work.  There will be time for that….someday.  Most likely when I least expect it.

Another opportunity I have taken advantage of is kite surfing.  The three-day course is more than 50% off for me because I am a volunteer with the hostel.  How could I pass that up?

This has become my new favorite sport.  I don’t know if it is because I can revert back to childhood memories of flying kites or just the simple fun of it.  But I LOVE it.  The manipulation of the wind is an overwhelming feeling of freedom.  The other day I was picked up out of the water and was flying!  It was truly incredible.

So, what I have found in my 10 days in Paracas is the reminder that Zorba is my mascot.  The existence of the future is unknown and all I have is right now.  Every time I give into this realization, amazing things seem to immediately happen.

Perfect example, my crush just invited me to go kayaking.  Let’s GO!