Yel Kaye – Travel Blog, Writing and Photography

I am not a “nester.”

When I hear about friends putting down mortages, buying furniture or cars, or getting married and “settling down,” I feel no urge to do the same. In fact, the whole idea of “settling down” sounds like a silly goal for people so young.

Why then, do I always get nesting urges while traveling?

Whenever I really like a place, I don’t just think “I really like this place.” I start thinking to myself: “maybe I can live here.” Maybe this would be a great place to buy a cheap house, get to know the way of life, and make interesting friends from all over the world. It’s happened in Ouagadougou, Panama City, Mexico City and many more towns. I find it hard to leave these new places because I always wonder if I could make them home. Why does this only happen when I’m in strange “exotic” places and not in the places my family might be happy to see me settle down? Who knows. It doesn’t really matter, because I inevitably always move on anyways.

I don’t think there’s ever been anywhere I’ve wanted to make home like Quetzaltenango. (Or, for short, “Xela.”) For me, it has everything I might want in a city: lots to do, but a small town feel. Interesting locals and foreigners, and plenty of interaction between the two groups. A cheap cost of living, but plenty of amenities (but not too easy as to be “easy.”) A feeling of being somewhere “different” while sort of “home” at the same time. A relatively low level of douchebaggery among the resident foreigners. Plenty of community activism and lots of discussion about social issues. Good nightlife.

And, best of all, there’s a leisurely pace of life, while still plenty of opportunities to learn and “do stuff.” It’s the kind of place where you find yourself lounging in a cafe with new friends for hours, talking about this and that and not becoming stressed about having to run this or that errand.

Since my first day back in Xela (even though I’ve been sick the past week and feeling pretty miserable) I’ve been pretty close to abandoning this whole cross-Central America adventure and setting up shop here semi-permanently. There are places I could work, things to do and a network of friends to keep me engaged.

Well, I know that come the end of August, I’m going to pick up and move on (to Nicaragua, most likely) but I’m sure the next place that I love I will feel the exact same way.

I can’t help but wondering: sure, I can’t really see myself buying a house in the suburbs in Canada and settling down there. But at what point will I give in to these nesting urges and set up a more permanent life in one of the far-flung locales I fall in love with?

Often, I have no idea what these processions are about, but they seem to take place a lot in Guatemala:

Jen hanging out in Parque Central on an uncharacteristically sunny day in Xela:

Parque Central, domain of teenagers hanging out and shooting the shit:

The back entrance to Pasaje Enriquez. This covered walkway is home to my favourite bar in Xela – Salon Tecun, a great place to drink cheap rum by candlelight and greet friends as they walk by: