The success of a trip can defined by many measure, my weekend in Uruguay, La Barra – truly one of my favorite all time destinations – was not as I expected. The cold was fiercer than I was, and I was nothing but unprepared.  Hence, I spend a lot of time indoors, a lot of time sleeping and an equal amount curled up in bed enjoying all there is to enjoy of a man I truly love and admire “JL Borges”.  Very few writers of his era are able to tease, dance and inspire with the flow and play of words as he does – and actually even less writers are able to do so today.  So other than a top meal at La Posta Del Cangrejo, and a great stay at Le Club, the only other highlight was the discovery of the writer ‘Eduardo Galeano’, I finally bought the book open veins of Latin America, bit of an eye opener – I guess we know all about the history, but rarely do we see it in all its naked truth.  So a cold stormy weekend, turned into the perfect opportunity to enjoy, be inspired and savor time with some of the best writers and thinkers in Latin America has to offer…. am sure there are many more, but I’ll save them for other long rainy days….. 

From Open veins of Latin America:
“We have maintained a silence closely resembling stupidity”  - From the revolutionary proclamation of the junta tuitiva,
La Paz, July 16 1809

The other day, I was heading home as always via the train station surrounded by miserable, badly dressed people – feeling judgmental in an unexplainable way and wondering why….  As I left the station I saw an old lady in a white turban with a chiffon pink skirt and wooly jumper and slippers – I was about to think that this was the worst outfit I had seen yet, and then I saw her face.  She was smiling and looked like the happiest person on the planet and in an infectious way – she really glowed and I wondered if I’d ever seen anyone that content or happy.  It was like looking into the face of Buddha, or what I would imagine that to be like and I realized who really cares what anyone wears or thinks – so long as it makes you happy.  Seemed a lesson she had already learnt a long time ago…. 

Moral of the story ‘go forth be happy’.

‘Pilgrims are poets who create by taking journeys’
Niebuhr

Click to open gallery

This goes down as probably the most amazing place that I’ve been lucky enough to have had the chance to visit.  It was everything I had hoped for – other than all the tourists which seem to come as part and parcel with every site nowadays.  The only thing missing was the dragon which you have expected to fly over head and swoop in any minute.  I also slept on the isle, which luckily not everyone does, so after the last buses leave I had the place to myself and on the last day I got up at 7 – and I had the whole place to myself other than a few cleaners. I loved the hotel I stayed at, more like a room at the inn – very simple but comfortable, friendly, affordable and in a great spot. The food was also real basic, but tasty French as only the French can do. On the day I went up into the abbey I was also lucky it was a Sunday, entered just in time for the church service – which was pretty wow – and of course fascinating and sounded more magic as it was all in French, the sage smoke/ music/ singing all set the stage, I have to say that I have never felt more at peace or even closer to god’ if I would be one to say such a thing.  I really felt swept back to as it would / could have been a hundreds of years ago. It was enchantingly magic and I would highly recommend it to anyone – pilgrim or not! 
To read: The art of Pilgrimage
Hotel where I stayed: Mouton Blanc
A friends B&B nearby: Tulip Noir

I missed the last bus and as information was scarce had to catch a taxi, so as a warning and safe guard here at the bus times to Saint Mont Michel from Rennes:
Mon – Sat:                   9.30, 9.40 
Everyday:                    11.30, 17.30
Except Sat:                  18.30
Saturday:                    18.40
Sun & public days:         12.30
If this doesn’t work out you can also catch train to Pontorson as there are more buses from there or a much cheaper taxi.  Good luck.

http://www.linktv.org/globalspirit/wisdom 

I watched through tears, how can we not in the west feel responsible for where we are right now – the mess that we have gotten ourselves into – and the looming question is can we with the same amount of force wake up and make the changes needed. Can we change our mindset, our hearts, can we learn to listen – re-connect to the planet and let go of our ego. I would like to think so, but I fear there are so many people out there that will not wake up until the moment of true catastrophe – right now we live in a time of warnings. I love this film, I have always thought and believed in the wisdom of indigenous people – for what might sound simple is actually the most profound.  Thank you all for sharing your wisdom, I hope you can get this into schools – where the adults of tomorrow can start seeing the world with new eyes. Anyway, and everyone out there I highly recommend you also take half an hour of your time to enjoy some other cultures perspectives to life and the world in which we live.