Leaving Chel
We planned to leave Chel to return to Antigua at 5AM. That meant packing the night before and being ready to load the last of things into the truck around 4:30. In just over 12 hours, we would stop in 5 towns. Some people get motion sickness but I get motion sleepy. I'm able to rest relatively peacefully and naturally waking up at the most opportune times for a photo or shortly before it's time to make a stop for food. I wasn’t sluggish or tired, just pensive and ready for journey back.
I was moved to tears upon leaving. Having no expectation upon arrival, it was a remarkable experience for many reasons. As we drove off, I had one airbud in and was listening to my praise and worship playlist. We passed over the rocky roads that I’d become used to over the last few days, heard the roosters crow and passed over the rio for the last time while Break Every Chain by Tasha Cobbs played for me in my ear and I breathed with intention so I could hold back the tears. I’m not exactly sure why I was crying but my heart was full of gratitude and appreciation for how I’d been welcomed and a piece of my heart remains there.
Even at this early hour, just before la madrugada (dawn) Chel is awake. Men walk down the roads carrying machetes and supplies to begin the days work. And, the women begin to move about taking care of their homes and preparing for the day ahead. The tiendas are still closed and there is time before the sun rises and the spirit of the Lord has laid a blanket of tranquility over this place.
Sunrise, about an hour and a half after leaving
We picked up a compañero on our way to the city. I’m still intrigued as to how anyone knows where to wait and better yet how do people even know to describe where they’ll pick someone up. Luckily I wasn’t responsible for driving because while some places had become familiar to me after a week, most of them still seemed like the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Having a poor sense of direction is not an option when you live here.
We stopped in Chajul, Santa Cruz de Quiché, Chichicastenango, Sololá and finally arrived back in Antigua.
There were markets selling some of everything. Fruits, vegetables, meat, spices, woven baskets, clothing, and essentials of all kinds. The markets are never quiet or empty. It seems that from the time they open until the day is done, the markets are lively, full of colorful things for sale with people moving about and many things happening all at once.
My favorite part of the journey back was stopping on the side of the road for drinks. We talked to the woman running the stand answering her questions about where we were from and where we were going. She told us of how her daughter was learning Mandarin online and how even at a young age she’d been curious about the world and what life is like outside of their town. Her daughter is an impressive little girl. You could see the sparkle in her eye as she spoke and you could hear the pride in her voice. I was proud too. The woman’s name was Sarah, just like my younger sister so I knew I wouldn’t forget it. It was also my first time having a granizada. There are almost no words for how delicious this treat was. It has a base of shaved ice base but the sweet, fruity goodness that gets layered on top is absolutely everything. Fresh fruit is chopped and some of it is cooked with water and sugar giving the fruit a bit of a jellied texture but then there’s just an abundance of juice and flavor. The closest thing I can compare it to would be a sno cone but la granizada is so many levels of above, it doesn’t even seem fair to mention them in the same sentence. Let’s just call it pure joy!