Laura Davis

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Peru Here We Come

October 13, 2017 By Laura Davis 8 Comments · · · · · · Read & Respond

Tomorrow morning, Karyn and I fly to Mexico City and then to Lima and then to Cusco. We’ll stumble off the airplane at 11,000 feet and be greeted by a driver holding a sign with our names on it. An hour and a half later, we’ll arrive by van at Sach’a Munay, our home for the first ten days we’re in the Sacred Valley.

Karyn and I are flying in early to acclimate and to meet our True Nature tour guide, Brenda. Brenda will introduce us to the Sacred Valley and the three of us will get everything in readiness to welcome 18 travelers—arriving from all over—next week. Brenda will be our guide to Peru. Karyn will teach the yoga and I’ll be the writing instructor. I love being part of a team.

But even though my bags are already packed, even though I’ve already started taking chlorophyll to adjust to the altitude and probiotics to help my gut prepare for a new cuisine, it’s still not real to me that we’re leaving tomorrow or that we’re going to Peru. The whole thing feels unreal, like a fantasy.

It was only two days ago I wrapped up the Writing as a Pathway Through Grief retreat in Bolinas, that I said goodbye to my beloved co-teachers and all our amazing students. My heart and tendrils of my brain are still processing that retreat, still holding each participant in my mind’s eye. Remembering the intimacy and the love and the honesty of that circle.

I didn’t really intend to do two big things back to back like this, but it’s just how it worked out this time—the retreat centers were available only in October and I said yes to both of them. And so here I am, teaching two big retreats back to back. I guess you could say it’s an experiment in how to apportion my time between writing, teaching, and traveling. Trying to find the right balance. Trying to find the right mix.

My pit stop back here in Santa Cruz has been brief. And it’s been taken up with tracking the fires to the north, email troubles–the fact that I’ve been trying to set up a vacation responder keeps triggering me as a spammer and Google keeps shutting down my account), unexpected crises, and lots of small problems demanding attention and solutions.

I’m doing the best I can to resolve everything, but at 10 tomorrow when we get picked up, whatever is left undone remains undone.

NOTE: Be sure to read all the captions under the pictures the story continues there.

One part of my brain is trying to anticipate this:

But really my brain is still stuck in this:

No wonder I love to travel.

Filed Under: Peru, The Virtual Vacation

« Previous Post: A Final Adventure on the Danube
Next Post: Last Words Before Travel »

Comments

  1. Thia says

    October 14, 2017 at 4:35 am

    Wow!! Amazing all you aim to do! I’m not a fan of flying those long distances yet you…go the distances! xxox

    Reply
    • Laura Davis says

      October 14, 2017 at 6:25 am

      Thanks Thia. I’m killing time in the airport in Lima. First two thirds of our travel has gone off without a hitch. Been playing lots of cards in airports….

      Reply
  2. julie Tave says

    October 14, 2017 at 5:29 am

    Bravo Laura
    we all know that organisation frees one up to be free and creative…those are very fortunate attendees. will look for more ….take care. your fan in France, Julie

    Reply
    • Laura Davis says

      October 14, 2017 at 6:25 am

      Thanks Julie. It is a lot of work putting on these events. Now comes the pleasurable part–the trip itself!

      Reply
  3. Hazel Muller says

    October 14, 2017 at 7:19 am

    Dear Laura,
    Since I can no longer travel myself I love living vicariously through the blogs you so generously share with us. They always so interesting mostly because you share with us the “real life” things you experience not just the tuouristy things. I will be watching, thank you for all the sharing you do..

    Reply
    • Laura Davis says

      October 14, 2017 at 2:12 pm

      You’re welcome, Hazel. I’m just relaxing on the couch at Sach’a Munay, our first retreat center. It was a long trip, but finally, we’re here. Thinking about the next blog post while I savor the coolness of the late afternoon here.

      Reply
  4. irene sardanis says

    October 14, 2017 at 7:54 am

    Oh, Laura. You’re amazing. I love learning about your workshops and wish I could hear the writers read their stuff.
    I’ll be at Lit Crawl in SF reading from my piece in “Magic of Memoir.” Good journey to Peru.

    Reply
    • Laura Davis says

      October 14, 2017 at 2:12 pm

      Good luck with your reading and congratulations. I hope you get a good response!

      Reply

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Like this Virtual Vacation?

You can also read about Laura’s travels to:

Peru 2017

In which Laura and Karyn and 18 writers explore Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of Peru.

Serbia 2017

In which Laura leads a workshop at the Incest Trauma Center.

Greece 2016

In which Laura explores the wonders of Crete and Santorini with a wide-eyed group of Write, Travel, Transform adventurers.

Vietnam 2015/16

In which Laura, who grew up during the Vietnam War, goes to Southeast Asia and finds out what Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are really like today.

Commonweal 2015

A journey toward healing loss and grief in a magnificent Northern California setting.

Scotland 2015

In which Laura returns to Scotland with a new group for another jaunt through the wonders of the Scottish Highlands.

Scotland 2013

In which Laura attends the Edinburgh theatre festival and leads 14 writers to a magical retreat in the highlands of Northern Scotland.

Bali 2013

In which Laura visits Australia, and spends three weeks diving, exploring, and teaching in three regions of Bali.

Florida 2014

A journey into old age in America in which Laura brings her 86-year-old mother to Florida so she can see her last surviving sister one final time.

Mexico 2014

In which Laura attends the San Miguel Writer’s Conference and explores the artistic towns around Patzcuaro.

About Laura Davis

In the course of my career as a communicator, I have also worked as a columnist, talk show host, radio reporter, radio producer, blogger, editor, and speaker. Words have always been at the core of my work and my self-expression. Read More . . .

Photo taken by Jason Ritchey

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Retreating with Laura: Julie Sheehan

Julie Sheehan

For many years I put off my dream of writing and traveling. I told myself the kids were too little, my husband could never survive without me, that I couldn't possibly be so selfish. I couldn't imagine realistically stepping out of all of my responsibilities and roles. Then I started attending Laura’s summer retreat at Commonweal in northern California and that became an annual gift to myself for the next three years.

When the opportunity to travel with Laura internationally came up, my Land of Later mentality said I could never pull it off. But when my friend got cancer at age 39, I decided to stop taking life and it's endless opportunities to grow, live, nurture and explore myself for granted.

My children were 6 and 9 when I began allowing myself the luxurious pleasure of taking 10 days to two weeks each year to travel abroad with Laura, to spend time with like minded, soul searching people who share a passion for living and writing, to have all my meals prepared for me, to have the space and freedom to stretch out of my cage and check in with who I am, what I want, and how best to get there.

Laura is a skilled and nurturing teacher who encourages her students to take risks, to grow as human beings, and to be vulnerable. She has provided me with a forum where I can gain all my CEUs and learn techniques on how to become a more engaging writer, all while completing yearly emotional rehab.

I return home from each of Laura’s trip a little wiser, a little more open, and a lot more compassionate. I greet my family, friends and daily life with sparkly, clean energy and a renewed patience, brought about by way of re-writing old stories that I needed to let go of. I come home ready to move forward in my life.

A retreat with Laura Davis is one of the best gifts I ever received and gave myself. It took many years to realize that I was worth the time and financial investment, but now there is no looking back.

Julie Sheehan, Livermore California

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