A very special trip: the first time on a journey with our toddler. A lesson in living in the now.

Dear Steemians,

With a very good reason, I have been away from Steemit for a couple of weeks. In the month that dictator José Efraín Ríos Montt died, I made a trip through the fantastic Guatemala. What made it extra special is that our toddler of 20 months accompagnied us.

Many people consider a long trip with children impossible. I regularly hear, "should you be doing that" or "why drag your child around the world while they can have a nice holiday at home?"

A child does indeed need little to have a nice holiday. But a long trip with your children is very special. The easy travel pace, the interaction and experience and the open mind of the children make the trip even more special. Especially the latter, that inborn curiosity made me more aware of the environment. My son had the chance to join us while hiking through jungle, to see wild monkeys and to swim in the mystical lake of Atitlán. However, my son had as much fun taking an escalator or spotting some street dogs. Unconsciously he gave me a lesson to also enjoy the little things in life. A lesson in living in the now.

In addition, I get the chance to teach him some things that are not possible at home. I noticed that he found it fascinating to discover that there are people who speak a different language, eat differently, live differently, act differently or dress differently. We live in a multicultural world. That is often interesting, but sometimes it scares you. Because unknown makes unloved. That is why it is so fascinating to immerse yourself in a different culture during a holiday and to look at the people with curiosity, wonder and respect. It gives you and your children an experience "for life".

I would like to share some photos of our trip. I’m not a photographer and I only had a small camera (Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100III), but it can give you an impression of what this beautiful country has to offer.

Antigua

Antigua was once the capital of Guatemala when the country was still a Spanish colony. In 1773, Antigua was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake, but fortunately the ruins of the most beautiful colonial buildings have been preserved. Antigua is the perfect place to start your trip through Guatemala. It is a place like you imagine a colonial city in Central America: colored houses, small streets, a large church and a central square filled with street vendors. From Antigua, you can climb Acatenango or another volcano, learn Spanish, take a little walk or relax. The atmosphere is wonderful and it’s like spring all year round. During the day, it is always between 22 and 26 degrees. Lovely!

We were also lucky to visit Guatemala during the Semana Santa. The Semana Santa is the name used in Spanish-speaking countries for the Holy Week, the week before Easter. In Central and South America, processions take place that show the suffering of Christ and Mary in the streets in a baroque design and with grand display. Characteristic are the large image groups that are carried around on platforms (paso's).

San Marcos (Lake Atitlán)

The next destination on the itinerary was Lake Atitlan. This gigantic lake is seen as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, probably because it is surrounded by a number of large volcanoes that provide beautiful views and great sunsets. Around Lake Atitlán, there are 12 villages that are all unique in their own way. Lake Atitlán has something special that make most travelers stay here longer than planned. The relaxed atmosphere and beautiful surroundings are probably responsible for this.

We stayed in San Marcos. Immediately after arrival, the ultimate peace of mind falls on you and it is so small that you have seen almost the entire village in a 30 minute walk. The narrow paths take you through the many meditation centers, yoga schools and all kinds of retreats.

El Remate (Tikal)

There are people who come to Guatemala especially for Tikal and that is not surprising because this ancient Maya city fits well in the list between Petra in Jordan, Angkor Wat in Cambodia or the temples of Bagan in Myanmar. You will find dozens of Mayan temples up to 42 meters high and the beauty is that you often have to share this place with a small group of other travelers.

As a base we chose El Remate above Flores. It is a small, relaxed little village on the east side of Lago Petén Itza. Some travelers looking for peace and quiet opt to stay here. It is also the closest jumping off point to Tikal. El Remate is especially attractive for swimming, much cleaner and quieter than Flores, and several public docks can be found throughout the village.