A Return to Travel
After a year and a half of covid lockdown, we finally had our return to travel. In September of 2021 we gathered for our first post-covid adventure in the crystal-clear waters of Belize. We usually end up in places that are hard to get to, and Thatch Caye was no different. Three plane flights and a boat ride later, we pulled up to our little island and quickly settled in, rum drinks in hand.
Although the trip was filled with so much laughter, time spent bathing in the sun and sea and ridiculous water views from our over-water bungalows, Islands are always a bit tricky and can challenge us in ways we weren’t expecting. We spent one day sheltering from what later became a hurricane after running for cover from the yoga deck to the main building. I’d never heard thunder so loud in my life, and it even elicited screams from some of our group. It definitely cancelled our plans of basking in the ocean, paddle boarding around the island and snorkeling for the day. But it also held a gift – precious, intimate time spent together as a group, growing our bond and trust within each other.
After the day of storms, we braved the seas together, fishing, snorkeling, paddle boarding, swimming and boating. It felt as if covid never existed for a few short days until we donned our masks once again and headed back on our flight home.
I wasn’t sure how we’d all feel about traveling again, especially internationally, after such a long time cooped up in our houses and home towns – but everyone held their own, let down their guard and allowed some pleasure and socialization back in their lives. Thank god for the return to travel!
