Back

The silent contrast: Finding peace in quit days | Day 313 of my 2023 Journal

Cecilie Conrad·Nov 10, 2023· 3 minutes

The silent contrast.

Some photos are great. Maybe this one will not go down in history, but it does - at least to me - very well represent the days we live here at Playa. On the rooftop terrace in the sunset, splashing in the cool water, just the five of us.

We are making peace with the facts of life here. This is not the Mexico we came to see; this is not a place where we will ever go back - yet somehow, it is the perfect frame for us as we try to find our feet, our souls, and our peace.

We lived about 15 months in the Mercedes before we flew to Cancun.

We traveled in Spain, France, and Scandinavia, back down to Holland, Belgium, France, and Spain again, then the trip over the Mediterranean to Civitavecchia, and drove to Sicily, where we had some pause in beautiful Vila Nina.

In February this year, we were on a road trip around Sicily before zigzagging all over Italy in March and (half of) April.

We lived for a month at a castle in Normandie, sleeping in the van and hanging out with many travelers, mostly Americans soon to become our new great friends.

Scandinavia again, before another road trip through Holland, Belgium, and France, before we spend six weeks in England, moving around like ants.

As a Grand Finale, we walked 270 km of the Camino de Santiago before we drove back to Catalunia to visit the grandparents, ship and let go of most of our stuff, sell the bus, and pack the backpacks.

We did, indeed, need a pause without having to plan for it.

Playa used to be a slow town by the waters, now it is a buzzing playground for gringos, and we find ourselves to be some of them.

We can laugh about it, and we can observe the little things that seem real - but we are facing our own music: We wanted to go somewhere NOT interesting so we could calm down and stay home and work on our private projects for mind and body.

We did not expect it to be this repelling, but it works.

We hide at the rooftop in the cool waters, ignoring the craziness out there.

And we are learning to appreciate it.

We needed a place where we didn’t want to go out.

And now we have it.

Perfect?

With love

Cecilie-Underskrift-300x133

Cecilie Conrad

Thank you for reading
I would love to hear from you. Listen to your thoughts and reflections - or praise :) It is often emotional to share our lives like this, and we get very happy when we get your feedback. So feel free to share a comment below 😋 

See more images on Facebook

Exploring Queretaro's marketplace reveals insights into personal freedom and community amidst chaos. The chaos allows for freedom. The options allow …Read more
I have to admit it. Now that I know, I will know for the rest of my life. There is no way around it. Once you know, you know. And I know it was me. I…Read more
I hate the binding structures of the traditions holding us all down and under deep waters of hot wine with cinnamon, locking our attention on the con…Read more
Explore the philosophy of radical unschooling from a mother's perspective, highlighting the importance of freedom and personal growth in parenting. Read more
Join us on a captivating Sunday walk through Queretaro, where street scenes, culture, and language learning blend into an enriching experience. Read more
Explore our journey through transit difficulties in Mexico and how sticking to personal values made it a meaningful adventure. Read more
Discover how Playa del Carmen offered unexpected life lessons and a chance for reflection, blending travel with personal insights. Read more
Join me as I reflect on our journey in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, learning to embrace a slower pace & the beauty of unplanned moments. Discover our in…Read more
An awe-inspiring day at the Mayan cities of Chichén Itzá & Coba, where history & adventure intertwine. Join us on our journey to these wonders of the…Read more