Lake Atitlán

I spent my days waking up to the sound of the lake lapping against the rocks. The lanchas were chopping through the water starting at 7 am. The sun rose over Volcán San Pedro, lighting up our bedroom through the sliding glass door. The random clucking of chickens in the distance let us know it was time to get up for the day. I much prefer this to any alarm clock. Our apartment sat on the cliffside in front of the lake. Pictures couldn’t quite capture the stunning scenery.

On our first morning, I jumped out of bed and flew my drone to capture some shots of the sunrise. After 15 minutes of flying, I chose to “return to home.” The battery drained fast, and in a panic, I tried to land in the closest spot. Then, it shut off. A calm morning changed to a sprint up the hill to the docks. That was the last place we saw the drone before its battery died.

After searching for a few hours and asking the locals nearby, we gave up and realized my drone was gone. I hadn’t been there for more than 15 hours. I was really angry with myself. Looking at the calm water, I felt punished. I wondered if she took it from me on purpose. I know this is a first-world problem. I’m aware I’m too privileged to complain about it. However, after spending a month here, she gave me much more than my drone could have ever captured.

We arrived here a few weeks after I had been laid off from my corporate job in tech. After 8 years in corporate jobs and over 14 years of steady employment, I was suddenly unemployed. The lake was our first destination on what was going to be a year of traveling. She accepted me graciously as I was with no expectations of what I should be.

The lake allowed me to indulge in my curiosities. The year of curiosity is how I rebranded this year. With no schedule or deadlines awaiting me, I got to decide what my days looked like. Instead of having my to-do list decided for me, it was my turn to create it for myself. This was the place where I started to discover how I wanted to live my life.

The lake was more than water and mountains. It was about the people who lived there. The stunning views are just that, stunning. The locals welcomed us, shared their culture, and invited us into their homes. This made the place special. Seeing women of all ages in their traditional skirts and blouses is special. It’s more than an outfit; it reflects their identity.

Hearing the local people speak Tz’utujil and Kaqchikel revealed their deep resilience. Their people survived, but the cost was immense pain and suffering. Previous governments wiped out thousands of indigenous people during the 36-year civil war. Before their own government, it was the Spanish, of course. The community of Lake Atitlán deserves recognition and celebration.

Thank you for letting us in. <3

Stay Curious,

Carly