By 
The muse of an odyssey. A story that begins with waiting to board and time floating in an ocean of clouds. There is no count on the miles brings a sense of nostalgia to relive the moments.
It’s the year of Christ, being thirty-three. It is said that during the year of Christ, people are set to accomplish great things. Though great things were not accomplished, the people and experiences made the life I have lived one of gratitude and appreciation. From the greetings in the jungle of the Amazon to the goodbyes in a bus station in a forgotten city. The memories made have been paved by the miles traveled. The things which are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
It all began with an invitation. Contemplating where to go and explore the world was available. Unable to decide, I got a text from a friend – he was getting married. The destination was confirmed; I was going south again. The trip began with beers and ended with hugs. As I landed, I went and gave him a big hug. Seeing faces new and old, the celebrations were on their way.
Passing through the Urubamba Mountain range, we arrive in the Andes. We visited one of the world’s seven wonders – Machu Picchu. Getting to know the local culture, we ate, drank, and sang until the morning. As I began to climb, my eyes were lost in the beauty of the Andes and the llamas roaming wild and free. The steps were steep, and I had nothing to hold onto. I missed a step and was still momentarily as the blood ran down my leg. An injury had me in doubt about if I was going to make it to the top. Though I had to take it easy for the remainder of the trip, it didn’t deter me from having fun.
With nothing in sight, I use the northern star to guide me. The night sky is lit by the moon, the plane lands, and the smell of wet leaves fills the air. It was Amazonia. I boarded the motorbike that took me to the port. A small wooden boat with holes in the floor was waiting for me. The journey to unknown lands began. After a two-hour boat ride through the Amazon River, traversing inlets and jungles, we arrived at the base. We began to trek inside the jungle. The company of the Yagua and Bora tribes taught me plenty about life. Ikauka Tsuri, a drop of water. While navigating the Amazon, they know that life is lived day by day. Each day is a new drop of water.
This trip taught me plenty about family. How having a beer and a conversation created a bond of friendship and kin. During my time in Cusco, farmworkers protested the ongoing government inflation. I joined the movement when Jose Manuel told me the government was hurting the farmers. Marching down the cobblestone streets with our voices loud, “Siempre parado, nunca arodillado”.
This was my first trip to an unknown land. Canada was like the States, with Toronto having a New York vibe. The only thing I knew was the language and where I was staying. As the plane landed, a new day began, the clock struck midnight, and I was waiting to enter the country. It’s the home of the Vallenato, and the people are friendly. Colombia is a nation with a brisk past and a beautiful soul.
This trip was different… It was my first time crossing the Atlantic. A friend suggested I go on a tour with Our World Too. They are a nonprofit dedicated to taking back the narrative. They offer a hybrid tour where you learn about the nation and enjoy the tourist sites. After talking with Sibu, a travel blogger, I decided to join the trip. Not knowing what I’ll find, a new adventure began.
As I write this article, the words of Ralph Ellison begin to speak, “The world is a possibility if only you discover it.” We spend our time searching for something. Some are for a family, others seek the companionship of others, and some are looking for a home. What are they looking for? Stability? Not being alone? The reasons are fathom to most, including the people searching. Remembering, when I discover who I am, I’ll be free.
As I no longer wear younger man’s clothes, I begin to make memories. Those of children singing, lovers crying, and poets dreaming. Living a life of exploration and adventure. Though I am not discovering the Silk Road, the greats of Perry Fawcett, Che Guevara, and Marco Polo have inspired the sight of new worlds. The Father, Son, and holy ghost accompanied me as I wandered foreign lands and met new people.
At one point, a country plagued with war and hatred was now a place to visit. It was the dead of night when the bus arrived. The streets were bare, and a quiet peace blanketed the city. The day broke, and the sun has yet to shine. At breakfast, everyone met one another for the first time. Learning about the history, we traveled throughout the country to see its heritage. Bon Jovi began to play on the radio, and I tried to start a sing-along; it didn’t happen… We prayed at the Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel (est. 1539 with older foundations), explored the ruins of the Merdzan Glava Fortification (Austro-Hungarian fortification from the 1900s), climbed the steps of Citadel Počitelj (est. 1383), and we celebrated at the old mill in Stolac.
The compass pointed north, not knowing I’d ever go this far. The debut of new land was a masterpiece. The history, Romanesque architecture, culture, and food created an atmosphere of an unknown adventure. The time spent only letting the moon fall from the sky. It was time to leave.
As I entered the museum of Emanuel Vidović, she was quietly sitting at the counter. Brown hair, green eyes, she adjusted her glasses as she looked up. With a friendly smile, she said her name, Amelia. As I toured the museum, a feeling of a heartfelt thank you came, and it was off to see the rest of the city. Time passed as I began to enter the next museum. It was the Basement Halls of Diocletian’s Palace. As I entered the halls, the smell of lavender and jasmine reminded me of her smile. Then she was no longer a memory; she was at the counter. Fate has brought us together. That night we went to dinner and conversed as two lost friends finding one another. The conversation was full of laughter, passion, and emotions throughout the night. The night turned into day as she went to work, and I began the four-hundred-kilometer journey back to where everything started. Zagreb.
A happy coincidence – Istanbul. The plane departed the gate late and missed the connection to Los Angeles. Landed around 14:00 (2 PM), and the night was ours. The mission began after arriving at the hotel – six strangers searching for what the city had to offer. Going as far as our legs could take us, we found shelter in a restaurant several kilometers from the hotel. Without a change of clothes, we lit up the night until the shuttle came to pick us up. Humankind gave us a one-night stand to remember.
Traversing 1,317 miles within four countries, leaving 299,701 footsteps in thirty-five days. Walking in the footsteps of history brings serenity to the air. As each moment passes, a legend is made. Through the stories told, the memories are vivid. Feeling the Cascada de Marinka, Climbing the ruins of Počitelj, and swimming in the Amazon River. A time when you greeted strangers as friends and laughed as a family. The stories of adventure are far from over.
Her smile is tattooed on my heart. The dream came up through the night, and stayed to reminisce about what could be. The twelve-hour flight soared through the clouds. Staring at a darkened screen and an empty cup of coffee, sleep eluded me. Hoping to make the memories of yesterday last. The time had come and gone. Unable to close my eyes as I knew I’ll see her, I became weary. The only thing playing on the radio is those that hit the heart – then played Living on a Prayer. Thinking of that girl that stole your heart with a smile and onion rings.
Full of illusion in the immensity, I’m lost at sea. Each step I take fills A country mile. A soul with no direction, the journey to search for something in life continues. As the minutes pass, the days seem to become one, not knowing when it was yesterday. What are we looking for – a place to call home or rest our weary heads. As we navigate in the deep waters, the answer is more evident than before. It’s the company that makes the long journey seem like a two-minute walk.
Travel throughout the land and see how He originated the creation; then Allah will bring it into being one more time. Surely Allah is most capable of everything. – Quran 29:20
Gillybert 