This line is from a poem by Fernando Passao which I included in the "Hopeless Refuge" post a couple of weeks ago. It comes to mind as D and me laze in our hotel room in the middle of the afternoon until the mid-day heat fades. (It's currently 83 degrees outside)
Shouldn't we be doing more? Wanting more? We're both quietly content lying on top of our newly maid-made bed (getting under the sheets would be far too decadent and hot) reading, writing and watching a videos on our iphones.
The room is cool and shady with a fresh breeze coming through an open/shaded window.
Getting comfortable doing nothing is hard work!
We've been traveling for a week so far and I'm just starting to get the hang of it.
On Sunday, while we were waiting outside the Teatro Juarez before an exciting modern dance presentation.(2 Segundos), we met a man from Maine who lives in Oaxaca four months a year. He said that each year it takes him about three weeks to really settle in. He described the process as moving from him "doing Oaxaca" to Oaxaca "doing him."
This made sense to me. Every time I travel I'm amazed how much time it takes for relaxation mode to kick in. To find a place of calmness that makes it okay to not always be doing things.
This is our fifth visit here. We've already done our tourist duties. The things we've seen and done have been memorable and worthwhile but for most, once is enough. (The extordinary Monte Alban is a clear exception to this)
What do we do now? How do we let "Oaxaca do us?"
At this point, spending this peaceful afternoon in our pleasant room, waiting for nothing, seems like a good plan.
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