People as Places as People

The people you meet in the world really make the experiences what they are.  So often it’s the case that one’s feelings toward a time or place depend on with whom that time was shared.  Or, sometimes, you share the time with only yourself.  Those instances are uniquely special as well, although no one would know it but me.  Like, if I fall in the woods, and no one is around to laugh at me, was it really funny?  

I have met so many people in my Getting Around that are more memorable than the actual place it’s self.  Like the grumpy old Italian man who we shared a day at the beach in Tulum, who was so astounded that I actually enjoyed myself in Isla Mujeres, he couldn’t believe it.  “It is a shit!  Dee whole place!  A shit!” he expressed while wildly flinging his arms in the air.  “Vat could you possibly like!”  Well, I met some really great people, Marleen from Germany, Jonathon from Israel, (both who I would meet again in my travels...) Also Polo at Mango Cafe from D.F., mmm some of the best meals of my life, AND shared some great times with one of my best friends, I loved my time on Isla!  But I can understand how a grumpy, unfriendly old guy may not have the same good fortune as someone as bubbly and approachable as moi.  He was great quality, though, otherwise he couldn't have been so memorable!  

We just spent a few days at the Earth Lodge and while it was in an astoundingly beautiful location, with rustic but inspirational accommodations, my days will be remembered by my time spent with Tom the beautiful Israeli Gypsy cook.  I spent each night helping what little I could with preparing the family-style dinner, sometimes even just providing the sound effects for adding spices and frying potato balls.  She hadn't had any company in the kitchen and I was loving absorbing her good juju that we really appreciated one another's presence, which is the first key, love the one you're with.  I remember a guru telling me once, in a jewelry shop in Rishikesh, India "(bobble bobble) As long as you are breathing, and surrounding yourself with good people, then everything you are doing will be right (bobble bobble)."  Well, I must be doing everything right, because I am constantly finding myself surrounded by the Vegan Prime Rib of Peoples!!  Sad for the grumpy old Italian men of the world, but happy for the rest of us!

Other people.... you just want to disappear entirely.  These people sort of form the backdrop of a situation.  Like yesterday, we went with Tom to a hot spring outside of Antigua about 30 minutes by chicken bus.  We were four western ladies, in bikinis, in Guatemala, and we could even swim!  We certainly had all eyes on us.  The staring, laughing, leering, commenting, overload of attention from the men gets to the point where you almost want to give them a little show, something really to talk about... how about a song and dance number, or synchronized swimming, yea!  These two teenage boys who thought they were super cool kept leaping from a point on the hill about 14 feet high doing heart stopping face first belly flops into the lukewarm, 6 foot deep pool.  Heaps cool.  But it really made the whole experience what it was, not just a trip to a hot spring, but a cultural experience, not just for us but for the locals there bathing (let's hope that's all it was!)  After, at the bus stop, waiting for the bus home, we see a beautiful old woman coming down the hillside with a giant bundle of sticks balanced on her head.  Behind her was her even more elderly husband, gingerly making his way down the mountainside.  With a wooden leg.  They slowly hobble and wobble their way down the road, the same way they had done it all their lives.  Enjoying one another's presence.  So many times it's not where you are, but who you're with that makes it worth while.  

Like the Modest Mouse song "People as Places as People":

"But we were the people that we wanted to know,

And we're the places that we wanted to go."

Wishing you were here,

Jojo Frijol