Lake Atitlan, Panajachel, Guatemala

Monday, January 11, 2016

Resolutions, Goals, Changes

The New Year is one of my favorite holidays. For me, it lasts all of January because I like to ponder and reflect and take my time about it. It's the wonder and excitement of New Beginnings. The promise of realizing goals, making changes.

This January my husband and I are in the process of moving from Guatemala to Mexico. It's taking a bit longer than the typical U.S. move where you hire a van or bribe your neighbors with donuts and pizza to get it all done in a few hours.

We are going via the local transport system and need 4 trips. But that's the fun of it. At this point in our lives, we are all about adventure and discovery.

Our first trip was to decide where we'd live in Mexico. We had chosen Comitan, Chiapas but we needed to see the town and if we liked it, find an apartment.

We found a hotel downtown for $17 a night and stayed 3 nights. Our hotel was through this glowing hallway and then up the stairs to our second floor room. I felt like a fairy tale queen, or maybe Jack and the Beanstalk.

At night the central park in the historic downtown area was still lit up and decorated for Christmas, even one week into January. It was a happy place where people gathered to enjoy the mild evening, eat dinner out, stroll around the plaza.



A marimba band was playing in the square with chairs set up, inviting us to relax and listen to the music. A few couples ventured into the cleared area to dance.

We weren't brave enough to dance, just sat in awe of this magical night, having fallen in love with Cometan.
The next day we found our apartment, a small but lovely place in a nice neighborhood. Altogether a wonderful start to the new year.


25 comments:

  1. I look forward to lots of new photos and stories about your new home.

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  2. Hi Karen - that's 'sudden' .. I'm sure it's not - but to us it is. Fascinating and enjoy Comitan - love the sign-name ... and all those bus journeys .. cheers Hilary

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  3. Wow! When you make changes, you make CHANGES. I hope you enjoy Mexico, and give us updates on your new locale.

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  4. Wow, movie to Mexico now? A whole new culture to absorb. You liked Guatemala - why the change?

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    1. Alex, I do love Guatemala but after 2 years we were ready to try a new locale.

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  5. Another wow from me! How exciting and what a beautiful place.

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  6. Good luck on that move. That's an adventure indeed. Happy New Year! :)

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  7. You all really are daring. I couldn't move because that would put me all the further from my family. No way my wife would move to Mexico though she'd fit in well I think. She wouldn't even want to move to her homeland of Ecuador. She's an all-American woman now and doesn't want to leave not even for a visit out of the country. I'm okay with that.

    Hope you enjoy your time in your new country.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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  8. Karen, At least the language is the same! We don't have any family left in Guatemala, or Mexico either. Just us, and then whoever comes down for a visit.

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  9. Oh, my. You are gypsies! You're also gutsy, creative, a fully alive.

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  10. That is another huge change. Although after living in Guatemala for the past few years, adjusting to Mexico won't be as difficult.

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    1. Diane, it helps we can still use it Spanish, plus Comitan is only two hours from the Guatemala border

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  11. Oh my! You are as foot-loose as we are. I'm happy you are that way though I was just saying to friends the other day that I knew a woman in Guatemala I hoped to visit. Gah! Guess we'll have to go to Mexico.

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    1. Jan, sorry you and your friends didn't make it to Guatemala. We had 3 family groups who had planned to visit us later this year but hadn't bought tickets thankfully. My sister is coming in 2 weeks and after she leaves, we do too.

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  12. Great start to the new year. A bold one at that.

    You're living quite an adventure, Karen. Enjoy life, for it is fleeting.

    Wishing you the very best of life in 2016.

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  13. A new move, a new adventure. What an exciting and interesting life you live. Inwish you the best on this new endeavor. It looks like a lovely town.

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  14. A new change which means a journey of new discoveries. I love your outlook to life-wish more people had that outlook especially when it comes to New Year's.

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  15. Sounds very exciting and like so much fun! Good luck in your new home! Cheers!

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  16. Hi Karen! I'm trying not to eat my knuckles with jealousy. How exciting to be living in these exotic places. Comitan sound lovely. I wish you the smoothest move possible and an easy settling in your new home.

    Happy New Year!

    Denise :-)

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  17. Sounds like a lovely town. It's snowing in NY and I'm so enjoying seeing the pictures of the warm evening. Happy new year wishes!

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  18. I left a comment. I think it disappeared! I've set up a new WordPress blog, several in fact, that's still in progress. Must have done something wrong....meanwhile, as I tried to post....you say you don't have family left in Guatemala. Did the hotel close? But what wonderful adventures you and Bruce are having among those wonderful people. You sound/look happy. All the best from me and Jen

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  19. I got the above to go through with my google account. Very confusing :( One more note. We're buried I mean buried in snow today, blizzard of 2016, here in Virginia. How I envy you there in that exotic place!

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  20. Hi Karen!
    Well, I guess you aren't gathering any moss. This is fantastic. One adventure after another. Can't wait to see you post move posts.

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  21. This is wonderful, Karen! What a big job moving from country to country. My husband and I plan to move from state to neighboring state, only three hours away, and we're overwhelmed. Of course our move is after 35 years of living in a home where we raised five children. All the luck in 2016, Karen!

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Comments are welcome!