To share the road with someone dear

15 days of travel with my son are coming to an end today. I enjoy traveling, and I am usually alone , so I have learned to navigate on my own, from carrying my own luggage, eating by myself and having long walks, just me , my camera and my thoughts.
This trip with Marcelo will always have a special place in my heart and will rank up high in my travel experiences.  Not only did we visit some of the most amazing places I have been to , I was also able to share my work with him, and he got a glimpse at that part of my life, met my friends from the coffee world and I believe , he experienced a genuine interest in the coffee world which is so dear to my heart.
During these two weeks together, under different skies and surrounded by different languages, we got to talk about things and subjects we don't talk about much at home... some of them funny, some them more serious and profound.
These weeks, I  have realized how much he has grown, what a funny guy he is and how ready he is for his own flight. Albeit the feelings of nostalgia, that is precisely what a mother or a parent dreams for his child, for him to be ready to take on his own path.
And that he will do today, as he stays in Europe for a two week Global Young Leaders Conference that will take him to 6 cities in 3 different countries.
I am super proud of him and am so grateful to God for this amazing opportunity he has to make friends and learn and enjoy life.
We had fun, we were in awe, we fought, especially about directions and when we were hungry. We walked and walked.... he was graceful to my many selfie requests... and I was glad to pass on some of my travel and photo tips to him.
This road we shared this summer , that took us to Sweden , Denmark, Russia and Austria will forever be dear to me. Happy travels Marce and thanks for being such a great travel buddy. I miss you already and love you always.

Traveling for a wedding- a celebration to love and friendship in Mexico City

In January of last year I had the chance to enjoy one of the most fun trips ever... My dear friend from school was getting married at the end of January, and she had gotten engaged way in advance, which allowed us to plan and save for the trip to the wedding in Mexico City. 
I had visited Mexico City twice before , both times for work, and I had been able to get  a quick glimpse and taste of this amazing, modern and exciting city , the largest spanish - speaking city in the world with a population that some say is close to 21.5 Million people... 
But the excitement and anticipation that brought me to  Mexico City this time was special ... my friend's happiness, and the fun anticipation of spending a few days with my other friends from school that would also be attending the wedding. 
We had never gone on an international  trip with my girl-friends or my guy friends from school... and it proved to be one of the most relaxing , fun , soul warming experiences... Do it!  Travel with your friends ! The memories made are so much worth it. 

During those five days in Mexico City, these are some of the things I experienced: 

1. Friendship will always be a gift to be celebrated, and reunions are the perfect occasion to do so. From group selfies to playing dress-up , from crying at the wedding to dancing all night, sharing and caring -this is what it's all about.

 

2.Oh the food ! -Mexican food is so very popular all around the world... But to be there, at the birthplace of this amazing cuisine is an experience in itself.  It is truly delish, from the snacks to the main dishes to the desserts ... it´s just plain good. My "musts" in the food department while you are in Mexico City: 
Tacos Kaliman--- Al pastor, pure, simple goodness... go! And do order some "Cebollitas de cambray "

Café  de Tacuba

A traditional  coffee shop in downtown Mexico City , surely not to be missed. Beautiful, traditional decor and a perfect place to have " Churros con Chocolate ". 

 At the wedding
The wedding  party took place at the Club de Banqueros, we had a delish dinner with one of the best desserts I had in 2014, we got served chilaquiles for a re-energizing snack around 2 a.m. , and we had the best snack corner with all kinds of Mexican goodies... Truly delish. 

 


3. The sites:
Mexico is a truly Cosmopolitan City, with art, cuisine, museums, music and every sort of cultural expression you can imagine. Don't miss:
a. El Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Murals by Diego Rivera ( they were being restored at the time of our visit )

b. La Catedral Metropolitana-  go up to the bell towers and enjoy a great view of the city

c. El Edificio de Correos- This is probably one of my favorite places in Mexico City. A beautiful architecture , its speaks of a  glamorous , classical time... I can only imagine all the letters that have come and gone through this beautiful building.

 

d. Coyoacán - When you visit Coyoacán, you feel you step back in time... You are still within Mexico City , but it seems like you are in a different place. I really loved it: Street vendors, Street food, trolley cars with a  night tour of the legends of Coyoacán, but if you are short on time, go directly to the Casa Azul - The Frida Kahlo Museum, and don´t miss the central plaza with the beautiful fountain.

e. Teotihuacan, with its Sun and Moon Pyramids  (which I visited on a previous trip )

Travel tips- 
 If traveling from Honduras, take into account your US visa is all you need to be able to enter into Mexico. My friends and I traveled with @Avianca... An airline I have fallen in love with... the newer planes, the excellent on board service... Our connection from Tegucigalpa was quite swift, with only a short layover in San Salvador. The return trip was a bit longer ... there is always room for improvement, but overall I highly recommend Avianca for your travel to Mexico City. You can change currency at one of the many exchange bureaus at the airport, but do some compare shopping as the rates and commissions vary from place to place. 
Mexico City is located at more than 2,000 meters above sea level... take it easy when you arrive as some people have trouble with the altitude. 

 
In a nutshell:  Travel with your friends ! We are already planning our 2016  trip to Roatán, Honduras to celebrate 25 years of graduation from high school ! I have been a solo traveler for years and I love it , but the laughter , the memories, the sharing that was part of this trip with my friends was amazing.
Mark Twain said, there isn´t a surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them . I love these guys !

Happy Anniversary to my dear friend, and a happy February,  to my friends of a lifetime !

Destination: 2015

Happy 2015 !

I love  beginnings, and what can be more wonderful than the fresh-start feeling of a new year?

May this year be full of blessings, of good health , of laughter and love. May we realize we are on the road, and may we come to love this road, the companions we find along the way, the sights we see, the memories we make.
May we honor the tracks we leave on this road, and receive with open arms the lessons , the love, the light . Every day we step  ahead, every moment can be a destination, picture worthy... a memory to treasure. 

May this year bring to us lots of travel, near and far, inside our own minds and memories, through books and songs and movies.  May we discover new places , new countries , new cities, may we see them  with our own eyes or through the eyes and the experiences of others.


In my own #2015travelwishlist  I would love to :

* travel with my son in Europe: Sweden, Russia and Austria

* have my own travel-treat to Istanbul , to discover one of my all time dream destinations

* Travel to Canada,  Korea, Amsterdam , Paris and Seattle

* discover more of Honduras: La Esperanza, Danli, El Paraíso, Copán , Lempira, San Marcos de Colón, Ocotepeque

As far as travel resolutions, I would like to read more about a destination before traveling, share more about my own experiences  and print out  my favorite 3 shots of each place I visit...


In 2013, during my trip to Lisbon, I discovered Fernando Pessoa.

He said,

“Life is what we make of it. Travel is the traveler. What we see isn't what we see but what we are.”

This journey - 2015- has started.  May we make something beautiful of it, with God´s help and guidance.

Happy Traveling !

My faithful travel companions: my suitcase and my fave Honduran bag, by Danilo's Fine Leather. Changsha, China, September , 2014. Liliana Sánchez Iglesias

Sunset in Tegucigalpa, Jan 1, 2015 . Anillo Periférico . Liliana Sánchez Iglesias