Experiencing Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, and Joyce Maynard

I have just returned from a memoir writing workshop retreat, called “Write By the Lake,” at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, with Joyce Maynard. A long (we never say old) dear friend, Valerie, went exactly one year ago and told me to immediately sign up. I did.

As I learned at the retreat, I am making a list of the words that describe the experiences of spending a week in rural and rugged Guatemala at Lake Atitlan and with Joyce Maynard, surrounded by thirty- four varieties of birds and hundreds of varieties of tropical plants. Will I be able to re-create this for my reader?  As Joyce instilled in me, I can only try.

Last year, I went to Santorini, Greece. Another caldera. I had never heard that word before last year and now I visited a second caldera. Another place with a deep lake, surrounded by volcanoes. Another place of great beauty, remote, primitive yet luxurious, and surrounded by an ancient culture.  

There is a choice here at Lake Atitlan to not spend a week immersed only in nature and culture, but to spend a week taught by an incredibly skilled writing teacher, an expert in the writing of memoirs. Both experiences start with a visit to Antigua, one of the three ancient capitals of the Mayan civilization.

 I could have joined Joyce’s retreat, called “Life at the Lake,“ and had even more of learning Mayan culture, history, art, and spirituality with the shaman, the women’s cooperatives, the experts in Mayan medicine, hiking and excursions, even an interview with a local fisherman, and the wonderful staff at Casa Paloma, teaching us Mayan traditions. Of only Rosa, always smiling and busy cooking and baking, feeding us natural Mayan delicacies and drinks every meal. Of only enjoying massages by the Marias, in a tent, next to the sounds of the lapping waves of lake and songs of the birds. And shopping! I cannot forget visiting interesting San Juan village and shopping.

I could have chosen just tourism and relaxation. I chose memoir writing immersion too, and a room with the least amount of stairs up the mountain, named Estrella.

I come home with my head spinning with more knowledge about writing a memoir than I could have imagined, with memories of the camaraderie and community established by fifteen women, ages twenty seven to eighty two, from every walk of life, each day and every evening, exploring our personal stories and sharing what many of us have not shared with anyone else in the world.

Joyce Maynard is a hurricane to be reckoned with. With no holds barred, she roils around us, challenging us, softly, and some would say sometimes somewhat brutally, to write our truth so that someone will want to read it.

For me, personally, starting the day as a yogi in serene and memorable surroundings, with a brilliant and a loveable yoga teacher, a fellow lover of travel, Cora Wen, I have also found a future travel partner.  I plan to join her exploration to South Korea, where she, who also owns a travel agency, Fit4Travel, is planning a medical dermatological retreat (including a tour of the wonders of South Korea), everything we’ve been reading about on Instagram.  An unexpected surprise in a week of unexpected surprises.  

A mixture, not a compound, as we all stay individuals, but somehow we fifteen will be connected forever. Connected by the beauty, the luxury and the primitiveness of Joyce’s home, Casa Paloma, San Marcos La Laguna, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, and the privilege of being taught by Joyce Maynard.

Exhausted, and ready to come home to civilization, Fuego Volcano decided to make me remember the power of the raw nature of Guatemala. We arrived at the airport at Guatemala City hearing that Fuego was spewing lava and lava dust every fifteen minutes into the air, making flying treacherous. With airlines canceling and delaying, those of us who chose to leave, while some chose to stay longer, watched the clock and the window where the winds allowed our airplanes to take off. Only two hours and ten minutes to Fort Lauderdale, an inexpensive JetBlue flight, and home.

And who is Joyce Maynard and why choose to spend a week with this natural phenomenon? She is a famous author who has written over two dozen books and numerous other works, and you have heard her name intertwined with J. D. Salinger. However, I will remember her as a gracious hostess in her beautiful home, giving me the gift of new skills and making me believe I can write my memoir. 

I will always have the joyful memories of the week in Guatemala, Joyce Maynard, and those who made the journey with me. If you want such an experience, you too may need to plan a year ahead. With

Joy,

Mema

For specific availability, pricing, and registration contact Megan at lifebythelakewithJoyce@gmail.com or visit joycemaynard.com

Joyce also hosts a New Hampshire Memoir Retreat for those who wish to stay in the United States.

To contact travel agent and yoga teacher, Cora Wen, go to corawen.com and fill out the form on the Yoga bloom contact page (Fit4Travel or Yoga Bloom) or contact Cora Wen at cora@corawen.com.

 I am not in Joyce’s or Cora’s employ. I write this blog post to share experiences you too might enjoy.