Snowboarding powdered mountains, walking dogs by frozen lakes, snowmobiling the darkest trails, warming up by a fireplace.
♥ Home.
Since the early age of consciousness awakening, I started to develop a strong interest in philosophy. While some were talking over Barbies or the colors of their marbles, I was questioning myself on life: “Who am I? Who is this person I only see in the mirror, but feel so much inside? Why do I think this way, why do I react like that? What makes me like what I like? What makes me distaste what I dislike? What is the meaning of this life?” All those interrogations were indeed part of the human process and they inevitably were a significant part of my growing years.
During my younger years, I was always the quiet child of the pack, blessed with an active imagination. I would dream of many adventures alongside Huckleberry Finn and Jim, navigating a powerful river aboard a wooden raft. In a parallel universe I would be Huck, Jim would be my lionheart, the river would be my society, the raft would be my freedom.
My early existentialism has given me a strong sense of purpose. I had big dreams. I had big thirst. I started to build a lifelong bucket list and worked on making my goals a reality.
When I left the comfortable and safe ground of my hometown, I flew high and proud. I wasn’t scared, I had so much to live and accomplish! I moved from the East Coast to the West Coast of the country, a backpack with a teenage life on my shoulders, carrying the little English that I knew and left for my first big adventure. I then got bitten by the travel bug.
Studying Cinema at University was, for me, money and time consuming. Travels on the other hand, became the best form of education. The most fulfilling lessons I’ve learnt are from the experiences I gained while travelling and from the people I met along the road: a 5- foot tall guide in Nepal taught me strength and compassion; a praying monk in Tibet in a temple at the foothills of the Himalayas taught me hope; kids playing in the slums of India have taught me in the way of wisdom; a little boy in a jungle of Thailand taught me simplicity and pure happiness; a hard working BICI taxi guide in Cuba taught me not to worry because in the end, everything will turn out okay. ”No matter what is going on around you, just hold on and be strong. Smile again, because you’re alive and you can”.
Some might think I’m irrational to be in my late 20’s and not having a successful recognized career, a fixed home and a family with munchkins. Some might think I’m a foolish bum for travelling around and coming back broke, filling my pockets working at some of the most beautiful places in the world, and doing it all over again. But those things that I gain from those unique experiences are worth a life of gold. I am already rich.
‘‘Travels are the only thing you buy that make you richer”.
‘’Work to live, not live to work’’.
So what is it in life that I am searching for? I already know what I want: to be happy everyday. As long as I nurture my dreams, accomplish my goals, cultivate compassion… As long as live less in the past or the future and live more in the present (it is not about the pursuit of happiness: it is about being happy today. While we focus so much on working on our future happiness we forget how happy this present moment really is)… As long as I can open my heart with love, be grateful for what I have and keep myself surrounded by inspiring people, I know I will achieve.
So maybe we shouldn’t focus too much on searching for that one meaning. Perhaps everything that we own, in our hearts and in our souls are really all what matter.
Maybe it’s not always about the meaning of life, but a life full of meanings.
”It is physically and psychologically healthy for a human being to have a strong sense of purpose. The state of mind you have when you’re absorbed in the accomplishment of a purpose is called “flow,” which is an engaged, pleasant state of focus. Those who have learned to develop a sense of purpose and who have learned to become engrossed in the achievement of purposes are the most likely to be happy and healthy. This has been shown in scientific studies and in everyday observations. Happy people are purposeful people because the most reliable self-created source of happiness is taking action along a strongly-held purpose”.-Albert Einstein
Cayman Islands, a great chapter of my life. How I miss this little piece of sand…
We all left home years ago. Some with a backpack on their shoulders aboard a bus or a plane or in a car packed with all the belongings a teenager could have. We were young and innocent. We were hungry for wild adventures and unique experiences. We were searching for flexibility and freedom. We left a home, we left a family, we left all we knew to enter a journey into the unknown.
Years went by and stories we made. Experiences we created with friends that tagged all along. We built a family, far away from home. This is home now. And we are family.
Today is Family Day in British Columbia. The town is grey and the clouds are low. It doesn’t really matter how is the weather outside, as long as we are all together. After a warm breakfast and fresh mimosas, we pack our backpacks with some refreshments and hit the slopes.
As we slowly ascend on the chairlift, we find ourselves in the middle of a cold mist. We can barely see the chair in front of us. We are lost in the sky, floating across the frosty veil.
It is when we reach an elevation of approximately 1,800m that we exit the last layer of clouds and reach the blue sky. We leave behind a sea of clouds where only mountain peaks are visible to our eyes. The sky is blue, the sun is bright.
We go further up and hit the glacier where we settle up our afternoon camp on a dune of snow. We pop the 
bubbles, crack a cold one and cheer to a good life. The scenery is absolutely stunning. I look at my friends, I admire the mountains. There is no where else I’d rather be.
Whether your family is affiliated by blood or simply affinities, they are the people that shaped you and rode along with you. They accept you for who you are, they never judge. Treat them with respect and care. Protect the relationships. Give and forgive. Receive and remember. They are the people that will always be there for you.
Comes the end of 2012 and looking back at the days that became weeks, weeks that became months, months that made the year.
As time flies like in the blink of an eye, my goal is to always keep the calendar full and accomplished so each year is a unique chapter with its own flavor, its own story.
It is time to rememorate the highlights of the year passed and cheer one more time for a great life!
Dear 2012:
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to live, work and play in the Cayman Islands.
Thank you for challenging me in obtaining my Advanced Open Water Certificate and the change to dive every mornings.
Thank you for making me taste the life of the rich and famous drinking Moët & Chandon aboard luxurious yachts, every Sunday Fundays.
Thank you for the great occasion to light up a cigar in Cuba and sipped many Mojitos while meeting up with my mother for a weekend in Old Havana.
Thank you for this entertaining road trip in Puerto Rico, from East to West Coast, from historic San Juan to surf town of Rincon, to magnificent inland caves and waterfalls.
Thank you for this nice visit at a friend’s in St-Thomas and all this pampering at the Marriott.
Thank you for the amusing exploration of the island of St-John aboard our roofless Jeep.
Thank you for this return home to Whistler and all those weekend on the lake and wild camping.
Thank you for this latin adventure through Central America, starting in Belize diving the Great Blue Hole with a dozen Black Tip sharks.
Thank you for giving me the chance to explore the Maya temples of Tikal in Guatemala.
Thank you for making me fall in love with El Salvador: it’s sun, it’s surf, it’s sea. I might go back and never come back 😉
Thank you for this attempt to surf in the waves of Nicaragua‘s Pacific Coast.
Thank you for this unique home that I love returning to. My 7th heaven, my soft pillow, my paradise in a snowglobe.
What did I learn through this passed year?
Well, I learnt that even if you jump feet first into the new and the unknown, even if you are scared and unsure, at the end you’ll be doing just fine. By simply keeping your head up high with a positive attitude and an enthusiastic approach, you can achieve anything! Take risks, be scared, get out of your comfort zone and go explore the globe! It’s a brilliant and colorful world out there!
I learnt that sometimes to need to let go, sometimes you need to hold on. It’s finding what’s best for you. Never give up on your dreams. Never give up on yourself. You can do anything. The only thing stopping you is yourself.
I learnt the importance of being surrounded by people that makes you happy, keeps you positive, inspire you. People that are mentally and physically active. People that smile everyday.
Wherever you are, it doesn’t matter what you do. But it is how you do it. Make a list, and make sure you check it. Restore your dreams, plan your projects and accomplish your goals, one at a time. It doesn’t matter how much you do, but as long as you do it. Remember that the only things that you regret are the risks you didn’t take. You only have one life. And it is yours to achieve.
So I thank you 2012 for all the discoveries of places, for the memorable adventures and for the encounters of amazing and inspiring people.
Farewell 2012 and welcome 2013!
Have a great year fellow footlooses!
It is that time of the year again to put our hideous winter sweaters on and raise our sparkling glass to cheer to love, joy and peace at last. Christmas is just around the corner and I am so excited as it is my favorite time of the year. The mountains are thick and white, the air is cold and crisp, the houses are warm and cozy. The tree is fully decorated and illuminated, presents are already stacked up underneath it and the smell of spices, oranges and chocolate just flow through the air.
Coffee Bailey’s, Powder Days, Apres Ski, Snowmobiles
Holidays can run forever, or until you are out of your 26oz bottle of Bailey’s to put in your coffee in the morning. It is a time to get together and be jolly. Grab a cup of coffee, spike it with some love, put on your gears and reach the mountains. Along with your best pals, ride all day on the most untouched terrain. Powder days are usually abundant at this time and fresh runs are always found. Apres ski at one of the best patios in town, perhaps order a Caesar and munch on some delicious nachos. Come back home and soak in a hot tub for the lucky ones, or if you have pooches like I do, take a walk through the park or take your ross-country skis for a ride or even your snowshoes. I usually make sure I have a batch of home made mulled wine or spiced rum apple cider ready to reheat and put in a thermos. If it is your day off perhaps you want to bring the snowmobiles to one of the cabins in the backcountry and spend the night away in the mountains. Snack on cheese fondue and toast the bread on the wood oven. You can hear the snow melt on the roof as the hut gets warmer. If the lake is ready to go (and make sure it is), put on a pair of skates and go for a spin. Fireworks are also always fun to bring to the cabin.
Christmas Eve Dinner: A Classic Whistler Family Feast
As a tradition that runs in most of our families back home, we decide to keep it going and cook a massive feast ready for midnight on Christmas Eve. Cooking homemade food, delicious and savory recipes for 20. As much work as it seems, I just simply love it! While in the kitchen, mixing flavors and ingredients, sipping on wine and Christmas cocktails with a girlfriend, the boys play cards and video games
and the dogs are passed out on the living room carpet. Living in Whistler make us all far away from our families every Christmas. We all left 5,10, 15 years ago. This is our family now. We are family. And moments like this are simply unique and priceless.
After devouring a gourmet feast, it is time to open the presents that are waiting impatiently under the tree.Like big kids we dig in our treats, proud and happy of showing our new toys and accessories. The rigodons paired with the wines and cocktails invite us to sing and dance as the night flies to early hours of the morning.
 |
| The ladies |
 |
| The gentlemen |
We eat, we drink, we dance, we celebrate. We laugh, we cry, we love. What a beautiful night. What a beautiful scene. What a beautiful family I have.
From East to West Coast, from islands to mountains, from big cities to far countries, from white sand beaches to powdered hills, I wish you all Happy Holidays and I hope you all get what you need. As for me, I surely did. And it wasn’t a watch nor a car, neither a raise at work or an envelop filled with dollars, but it was the friends and love and the genuine spirit of Christmas.
Journey through Central America: From San Salvador to Nicaragua
In the silent darkness of a San Salvador street at 3:45 am, my friend and I, along with fellow backpackers, filled out immigration papers while awaiting the 5 am bus from Mexico. The deserted streets of this vibrant city became an unexpected backdrop to our pre-dawn adventure. The thrill of the unknown and the camaraderie among fellow travelers made this early morning escapade truly unforgettable.
Crossing Borders: 20 Hours, 3 Countries
Our journey spanned three Latin American countries in a single day. While I longed to explore Honduras, time constraints compelled us to postpone this adventure to another trip. Nevertheless, we managed to secure the country’s stamp in our passports. After a 20-hour journey, traversing diverse landscapes, we finally arrived in Granada, where Hostel Oasis welcomed us for the night.
Granada: Colonial Elegance
Known as one of Nicaragua’s most populous cities, Granada boasts a rich colonial heritage reflected in its stunning architecture and structures. Our exploration led us to the captivating Las Isletas, 350 small islands formed by the eruption of the Mombacho volcano. We cruised past private islands, owned by figures like the owner of Flor de Cana, witnessing the care bestowed upon them by local families. The murky lake waters, once home to Nicaraguan sharks, prompted us to forgo a swim, mindful of the predators lurking beneath.
After immersing ourselves in the wonders of Granada, we boarded the Big Foot service shuttle bound for the Pacific Coast.
San Juan del Sur: Beach Bliss
Arriving in San Juan del Sur at night, we were fortunate to secure a beach-facing room at Casa El Delfin for $20/night—comfortable and secure. As a typical tourist town, caution is advised when strolling on beaches at night. To blend in, keep valuables at the hostel and avoid standing out, especially at night. San Juan’s bay offers a plethora of beachside restaurants, attracting backpackers, surfers, and even cruise ship visitors seeking souvenirs. The town comes alive at night, providing a lively atmosphere for fellow travelers.
Christ Statue Hike and Pacific Bliss
A morning hike to the Christ statue, overseeing the horseshoe bay of SJDS, offered breathtaking views. We then packed our bags and traveled north to Playa Maderas, known for its blond sand beach and renowned surf spots.
Playa Maderas: Surfing Paradise
Playa Maderas, a haven for surf enthusiasts, provided a tranquil retreat. We chose to stay at Casa Maderas Ecolodge, a short walk from the surf break. With free Nicaraguan breakfasts, a shuttle to the beach, and a poolside happy hour, it was the epitome of relaxation. Surfing, jellyfish stings, and sunset sessions filled our days, complemented by rum punches, lobster tails, and the laid-back atmosphere of paradise.
An Earthquake, a Tsunami, and Sailing Adventures
A seismic event off the Pacific Coast of Guatemala brought a tsunami warning to Nicaragua. While daring surfers rode the waves, we opted for a day of sailing with Nica Sail and Surf. Captain Zach guided us along the Southern Nicaraguan coast, anchoring at a secluded bay where we played Robinson Crusoe on a deserted island. As rum punches flowed and faces lit up, I reveled in the moment amidst the Nicaraguan jungle.
As the journey neared its end, we hopped on a chicken bus to Managua. A guesthouse offered respite for the night, and a food stall provided a final culinary delight—potato cake, fried cheese, rice and beans, avocado slices, and freshly squeezed guava juice. Satiated, rested, memories captured, and pockets filled with experiences, it was time to bid farewell to Central America and embrace the routine awaiting us at home.
Pura Vida!
Photographs taken in Nicaragua. Read the full post: Nicaraguan Surf & Sun.
The surf of El Tunco, El Salvador.
Footloose Diary 