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

Cecilie Conrad·Nov 10, 2023

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 😋 

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Unschooling and Parent consulting, conversations, blogposts, and podcasts on family life and learning

Hi, I'm Cecilie Conrad. I'm a trained psychologist, mother of four, radical unschooler and full-time traveller. I have lived with unschooling for over a decade and help other families find their own path – whether it is about homeschooling, unschooling, or the bigger question of how you want to live as a family.

I offer guidance, conversations and talks. I call my work grandmothering – not coaching in the traditional sense, but presence, professional insight and concrete help navigating motherhood and finding your way home to your own values.

Am I the right person to help you? You can book a free discovery call, and we'll talk and figure it out.

Unschooling & Parent Consultant
Grandmothering – not coaching. Read more here

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I share my knowledge and curiosity about family life and learning in my two podcasts.

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Read my latest blogposts

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The adventure is the adventure, and we embrace it. After a day as gringo tourists, laughing while watching the first Die Hard and yelling Yippee-ki-y…Read more
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We got a cultural shock. It was a strange thing, the whole thing. How something we expected to be an experience of nature was more like … an amusemen…Read more
The silent contrast: Finding peace in quit days | Day 313 of my 2023 Journal
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,…Read more
Previous 1 2 3 … 9 10 11 12 13 … 48 49 50 Next
The Trouble of Transit and the Benefits of Values | Day 321 of my 2023 Journal
Explore our journey through transit difficulties in Mexico and how sticking to personal values made it a meaningful adventure. Read more
Life Lessons & Reflections in Playa del Carmen | Day 320 of my 2023 Journal
Discover how Playa del Carmen offered unexpected life lessons and a chance for reflection, blending travel with personal insights. Read more
Reflecting on Our Slow-Down Plan at Playa Del Carmen, Mexico | Day 319 of my 2023 Journal
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
Exploring Mayan Wonders: Our Day at Chichén Itzá & Coba | Day 318 of my 2023 Journal
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
How Small Habit Shifts Enhance Our Family's Travel Experience | Day 317 of my 2023 Journal
Subtle changes in our daily habits are shaping our family's journey and connections while traveling in Mexico. Read more
The Unforeseen Challenge: Dogs in Heat While Traveling | Day 316 of my 2023 Journal
Having TWO little dogs, BOTH on heat while in Mexico, of all places, has proven a challenge that will go down in our personal history. We are at a po…Read more
Yippee-ki-yay Mother F****ers | Day 315 of my 2023 Journal
The adventure is the adventure, and we embrace it. After a day as gringo tourists, laughing while watching the first Die Hard and yelling Yippee-ki-y…Read more
Exploring Tulum's Mayan Ruins and Cenotes | Day 314 of my 2023 Journal
We got a cultural shock. It was a strange thing, the whole thing. How something we expected to be an experience of nature was more like … an amusemen…Read more
The silent contrast: Finding peace in quit days | Day 313 of my 2023 Journal
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,…Read more
Previous 1 2 3 … 9 10 11 12 13 … 48 49 50 Next
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