Pizza and Posh
Trip Start
Mar 18, 2010
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3
5
Trip End
Ongoing
San Marcos, San Marcos, Guatemala
Friday, July 30, 2010
Jennika, who was one of the 12 of the Sun Course and who has decided to further her commitment to Las Piramides by going though the "baptism" process (basically becoming a teacher for the Pyramids and showing your commitment to her path), is currently staying in a beautiful house belonging to long-time Pyramids teacher Marcus and his wife Melanie. While they are away in Europe with their two young boys (being oh-so-wise to escape San Marcos for a few months during the rainy season), Jen gets to live the Guatemalan life of luxury meaning this - she is staying in a house that has two things: a bathtub and an oven.
These two seemingly insignificant items may not pop into your image of "luxury," but after staying in a small cabin-like hut (as Jennika did as well during the course) your perspective of luxury shifts. Having survived a shared kitchen that was a constant battle of parasites, amoebas, people steeling the lighter so you weren´t able to boil your morning water for coffee, and an oven mitt in the shape of a chicken that looked like it had crossed the road way too many unsuccessful times, having something like an oven that actually allows you to bake things (such as pizzas or cookies) can send a person into fits of excstacy. Also, battling shared bathrooms with doors that don´t even shut to the stalls and hit-or-miss warm showers (and definitely no more than 5 minutes of soothing temperate water) - a bathtub with hot water - nothing else needs to be said.
So, when Jennika opened her heart and her current home to all of us for a wine and pizza party this past week, we didn´t think twice. Actually, everything in moderation I know, but to be truthful, we had a pizza party with just the Sunnies from our group last Friday night, and then we had ANOTHER pizza party with all of us as well as the new group of Sunnies as well as with some other people from the Pyramids on Wednesday - just a few days later. Two pizza parties in one week = knowing the world is a beautiful place.
And, this thought was exactly what I was thinking the evening of the second pizza party. I was outside gliding back and forth on a swing strung high in an old tree in the yard, looking up at the slowly diminishing, but recently full moon. Harley (now known to myself as Harley Q - as in, "Harley Quinn" the character from the Batman series and the role my best friend Niki will be playing in an upcoming movie) came out to join me. There are those moments in life when your eyes are open as well as your heart, and you can´t help but notice the blessings around you. As we sat beneath the tree, which sat beneath the moon, we could see all the beautiful people inside mingling and talking, with smiles on their faces and I felt so happy. It´s really uplifting to be in a community of people who are all searching for something - the same things we´re searching for, and I´m thinking, probably the same things everyone is searching for deep down inside. We all want to be good people, and have happy lives, and give back to this world. Simple as that. And when you gather all these people together under one roof, sharing food, laughter, ideas and stories - everything seems alright in the world.
Coming off the dreams and good vibrations of the pizza party (the "Buena Honda" as those in Central America would say), the day after we (all of us living in the house on the rock) got up and got ourselves ready for another day of memories - this time with mojitos. Katherine, one of my roommates, had been to this posh "club" on the lake when her dad had visited her back in December. Club Ven Aca means "Club Come Here" - and you won´t have to tell us twice! It is located in Jaibalito and offers a hot tub in an infinity pool (with swim up bar) right on the lake! Also, we knew there was 1/2 priced mojitos at some point - which was enough to get us all, including Jennika, Kathy and Pauli (Chaty´s daughter) on the boat and off for an adventure.
When we got there, we had the place all to ourselves (practically). We spent the day being on vacation from our vacation and had mojitos, margaritas, and food that did not consist of beans, eggs, rice or other typical fare we often have. I ordered a quesadilla filled with spicy cheese, cranberries, jalapenos, nuts and I´m not sure what else, but I AM sure it was delicious. After that successfully went down the hatch, Katherine and I, who I think are bad influences on each other in regards to sweet tooth(s), thoroughly discussed our plan of attack for dessert. There three choices on the menu: hot brownie with lavender cream, home-made ice cream (flavor du jour was coffee) or berries with fresh lavender cream. We went back and forth discussing which of three, or to be honest, which two of the three we would most want in our one decadent excursion. Thank God Harley Q was there and, being a Libra craving balance at all times and, also being a fellow sweet tooth-er who lives life to the fullest - swept in as the voice of reason saying we would get all three. Which we did. Which I will always remember that brownie, and that ice cream, and those berries with lavender cream as long as we all three shall live.
These events feel like the finale of my time (at least at this point) in San Marcos. I´m leaving for Mexico sometime next week to attend a month-long yoga course in Mazunte which is on the coast. In addition to some soul-centering yoga, I hope to do some surfing (or attempt to do some surfing) since Mazunte is located one hour south from Playa Escondido - the famed Mexico beach and pipeline for surfers.
Before I go though, Katherine and I will be house-sitting Jennika´s place (oh yes, the very one with bathtub and oven I mentioned above) and Kathy´s place which is next door this weekend. And yes, to answer that burning question in your mind as I´m sure it is: she has a bathtub as well which will be taken full advantage of. We´ll be bathing and baking goods all weekend and enjoying our last weekend in this beautiful place I´ve called home since March.
I hope the week and weekend treat each of you just as well. And, even if it´s not a luxury at this point, maybe you should treat yourself to a bath or some home-made baked goods. Isn´t the time ripe to be good to your soul, your body and your belly?! As I soak in the bath this weekend, eating my chocolate chip cookies, muffins and numerous other items I have listed out as wanting to bake, I will lift my glass of wine to you (there are no quality baths without a glass of wine to go with it) and wish you happiness and fulfillment in your life - in whatever form that takes!
Lots of love to you all and thanks for reading!
