90 days of travel!
I can’t freakin’ believe it. We’ve been on the road for 90 days now. We spent a great deal of time in the Yucatan in Mexico, spent briefer times in Cuba and Belize, and have totally fallen in love with Guatemala. We only stayed there for a week before coming to Utila, Honduras, our current island home. However, once we’re done with Utila and have explored more of Honduras, we’re on our way back to Guatemala to spend a significant more amount of time exploring that country.
Tigger states that our current home on the former English island is a tie with Cozumel as his favorite place so far on our great adventure. He likes the reefs here, the friendliness and kindness of the people “most of the time,” there’s lots of yummy food, and that they have really great pizza. He liked Cozumel for the coral reefs and plethora of iguanas (although we do have those here on this island, too). He has become the dive shop’s unofficial mascot. He keeps everyone laughing and amazed. The boat captains think he acts just like a local boy in the water, and I’m quite envious of his comfort on the boat, especially when I have to get on the outside and move along the narrow ledge while the boat rocks like crazy so I can untie the boat from the buoy. He acts like he’s been around the water his whole life. It’s really pretty amazing.
Utila will be our home for some major experiences. For one we spend our 90th and 100th days of travel here. Tigger turns 10 on August 23rd when he will, at last, get to do scuba outside of a pool. Meanwhile I’m working on becoming a divemaster and then an instructor. I’m hoping to work on the island for a while after that to get experience under my belt. While I’m doing my training, Tigger is either playing on the boat, snorkeling while we’re diving, or playing near the dock with friends. He has enjoyed the extra independence being on a small, mostly English-speaking island has afforded him. We rent a small apartment, and when I’m up at 5:30 AM preparing to head to the dive shop, he’s snoozing away. He gets up, has a leisurely breakfast, maybe watches some TV, and then he heads to the dock to play. I don’t think he’s worn a shirt or sandals since the 2nd day we spent on the island. He’s definitely in his element here, and I’m often quite jealous of his life.
When we set out on this big adventure, one of my biggest goals was to simply get more living into my life. I wanted to escape the typical 9-t0-5 work life. I wanted to have more meaningful time with my son and to actually have time to raise him rather than school & daycare being the majority of his day. I wanted him to have the chance to have experiences that only travel can provide and to be a global citizen. How are we doing with that goal? Damn well, I’d say! So far one of his biggest lessons he’s learned is that the world is filled with wonderful people. Yeah, there are some real stinkers thrown in there for variety’s sake, but by and large there are truly amazing people out there. When he turns 10 he will have visited 5 countries so far. I know many adults who haven’t experienced that many places. And rather than seeing just the typical tourist sights, he’s had the opportunity to also get to know the locals, spend time with them in their homes, play with them, overcome language barriers, and accept that cultural differences are simply different ways of doing things rather than looking at them from a place of judgment. Spending time in hostels and hanging around the dive shop has given him exposure to people from New Zealand, Canada, Belgium, Guatemala, Colombia, Israel, the UK, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Austria, and many other places. Today while walking home he was reminiscing about a couple of experiences in some of the countries we’ve been to. It warmed my heart to get a tiny glimpse of my dream for him coming to life.
It hasn’t been all wonderful naturally, but when you compare all of our experiences, the positives drastically overshadow the occasional icky one. And really, how do you get through life without some . . . not so fun experiences?
Almost every day of the last 90 I have had a moment of reflection where I smile and think “Wow, this is really my life.” It feels like we’ve been nomads for a lot longer, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. And nothing on earth could replace the experiences and the time we’re having together. Even if that’s all I could walk away with from this big adventure, I’d still consider myself richly blessed.
And thank you for virtually accompanying us on our journey. It’s so incredible to get to share our excitement, joys, and even crappy travel days with so many people out there.
September 22, 2011
Congrats on 90 days. It really IS your life! 🙂
September 22, 2011
Thanks!
September 16, 2011
That seems as a unforgettable life time experience!So gorgeous pictures!
September 16, 2011
Thank you!
September 6, 2011
A very VERY happy 90 days to the two of you. So proud of the journey you are taking Tigger on. You two are a great pair!
September 6, 2011
Thank you!
August 25, 2011
Loved reading about your travel. What a great experience and time for you and your son!
August 25, 2011
Thank you!
August 25, 2011
Whose is this cute little furry hand?! Cute cute cute!
peter
August 25, 2011
That belongs to a spider monkey. J
August 24, 2011
The spider monkey photo with tiger is so sweet!
August 24, 2011
Thanks! I love it as well!
August 24, 2011
Thanks! I love it as well!
August 17, 2011
This is my first time here and I absolutely love this post! I have the exact, same sentiments toward child rearing. Hubby and I have been traveling for 2 months now with our 11-month daughter. We’re heading to Central America in a few months and this article got me more excited!
August 17, 2011
That is so awesome! So glad to hear you’re starting her out early. J
August 15, 2011
Well done unique travel site-very interesting/informative..nice photos.
Travel Safe- WORLD TRAVEL UPDATES-FOREIGN TRAVEL GUIDE:
http://www.travelaskthelocals.yolasite.com
(Feel free to post on our forum)
August 14, 2011
I often said that if we had to call our whole adventure off even before we left, it would have been worth it for the lessons we learned. Every day of our journey, I felt the same way. Enjoy what you have and what you’ve learned for what they are – and look forward to more. But if the “more” doesn’t happen, you’ve lived and learned – and that’s what counts!
August 14, 2011
Amen!
August 14, 2011
I wish I have a Dad like you. Your son would have experienced a whole lot more than other kids. He may miss something when compared to them(such as tv and computer games), but his horizon would be wider and one just couldn’t learn them from books.
Your son should be proud of having a adventurous Dad 🙂
Regards,
Skyee
http://china-attractions.info/
August 14, 2011
Thank you!
August 12, 2011
Wonderful to discover your site and to find another parent who is single handedly parenting and traveling the world. Nice to know I’m not alone. 🙂 I truly admire yours and Tigger’s spirits will be following your adventures! http://www.havesonwilltravel.com
August 12, 2011
How wonderful you’re on your own adventure right now! There are several of us out there doing it. How cool!
August 12, 2011
Thank you!
August 11, 2011
I think you really enjoy your holiday in these places, in Asia, we need to travel for more than 25 hours to reach south america, i hope to visit these places one day:)
Simon
August 8, 2011
This is incredible; what a wonderful experience thus far! I look forward to reading more, a lot more 🙂
August 8, 2011
Thank yoU!
August 5, 2011
Love, love, love what you and Tigger are doing, creating, and becoming, Talon….
PS – That last photo of Tigger symbolically speaks volumes to me! How happy I am for this little man to have you! (and visa versa, I’m sure!)
August 6, 2011
Thanks, Barbara. DEFINITELY vice versa. He enriches my life in ways I never thought possible.
August 3, 2011
Great update! Tigger is going to be one heck of an adult with all these amazing life experiences. Good on you, Dad!
August 3, 2011
Thank you. I sure hope so.
August 3, 2011
It has been an adventure on this side of the keyboard, seeing the world through your and Tigger’s eyes. Glad to hear he is learning so much more about life than he about the proper way to write cursive or reading “To Kill a Mockingbird”
I think you described the magnitude of the situation when at 10 years old, Tigger will have been to 5 countries, and here I sit, 31 years old, and I have only been to 3.
Cheers to you two on 90 days and an exceptional next 90 days.
August 3, 2011
You better get cracking mister! J
August 3, 2011
LOL It will be (at least) 7 or 8 countries as of January, we are going on a cruise through the Southern Caribbean, leaving from San Juan PR. Cannot wait!
August 3, 2011
Make sure to come by here, m’kay? J
August 3, 2011
Love what you are doing for both you and your son!
August 3, 2011
Thank you!
August 3, 2011
Such a fantastic experience for both of you, but particularly for Tigger. I used to daydream about having that kind of childhood when I was young. Good on you for giving him what will be such a fantastic platform to build his life on.
August 3, 2011
Thank you!
August 2, 2011
How cool that Tigger is embracing that local feeling. I’m jealous of his childhood too! What great memories you guys are making! I bet you have to pinch yourself to believe this is your real, actual life!
August 2, 2011
Yes I do. Almost daily!
August 2, 2011
Great post! And yup, sharing the experience with your son is… the best EDUCATION you could ever hope to give him, and the greatest GIFT you could ever give yourself (ask me how I know!) 😉
August 2, 2011
Totally agree!
August 2, 2011
Happy 90 days! Tigger is going to grow up to be and even more amazing person (he is already pretty damn cool). What an amazing gift you are giving him.
August 2, 2011
Thank you! I sure hope so, but, as you said, it will be hard to improve on how he already is. J
August 2, 2011
Wow… think about the incredible foundation you are creating for Tigger. All these experiences are priceless.
Side note: We have to get Guatemala on the list; we hear so many great things.
August 2, 2011
It definitely can only help him in my opinion. J Yes, Guatemala is a must visit in Central America!