Panajachel, Guatemala
Saturday, March 24, 2007
After a month in the hotel I moved out mid-March and moved into a dream! Yes, I'm in a small round room in a small tower on a knoll in the middle of a garden. There is another room above me, but the tenant is out of the country. It is in Barrio Norte on Calle Principal and my spot has an easterly view of the canyon toward the river and south down to the lake. My Cerro de Oro and glorious sunsets greet me each day. The entire room is all of about 7 meters in diameter with a gas cook-top, double sink, small fridge (no microwave or oven) - sorry not much room for borders! The bathroom behind the only straight wall coming into the room has a shower and toilet. My twin bed is along the other side of the straight wall. The dining room is a small table outside on the front door on a covered patio since there is no room for a table and chairs inside! There are 2 WONDERFUL dogs: a quiet male, Barny, mostly white with some black about 6 inches smaller than my Kali was but with the same build; the other, Brindy for her brindle coat, is a large female who is part Grate Dane
. Both are very friendly, well behaved, unlike some we know, and very welcoming and affectionate, especially Barny. My tower is in the middle of a glorious garden of trees, flowers and vegetables. Yes, I pick my own lettuce and herbs! There are 2 other tenants on the premises, in separate buildings, but I rarely see them. The owners are fabulous. Linda is American, and her boyfriend is Australian. He's a mechanic, engineer and Jack-of-all-trades doing repairs to cars, appliances and creating great solutions to any mechanical challenge that comes his way.
About a week or so before I moved in, I started with an unusual head cold that had been brought down from the States and circulating through the hotel and its employees. It was the one that lasts forever and can't be treated, but I am grateful that mine has't been severe as some reports I've heard. It's just a pain in the neck now. Thanks to the cold, I have taken to reading a lot and slowing my life down considerably.
I have a new task, though temporary, planning for our Women's Spirituality Retreat during Semana Santa. This is truly a gift at this time. It's fun, creative and a wonderfully positive thing in which to immerse myself in my new glorious spot.
See next entry...
