How time flies - 29.01.2022

Two weeks ago, I boarded the plane from Zurich to Chile—how quickly time passes.

The first two weeks have been very quiet. I went on a few small hikes with Carlos, my host, baked bread rolls, read a lot, simply slowed down, and enjoyed the absolute peace and quiet. And yet, time still flies by. By now, four months, countless kilometers by bicycle, and so many impressions have passed since my last day of work, and I have to admit that my desire to travel has not decreased at all. I absolutely love discovering new places, not having a fixed rhythm or the same daily routine, but instead experiencing something unexpected all the time.

At Carlos’ refuge, there are two dogs, Rocco and Ayu, who are incredibly affectionate and often accompany me on my walks to the “internet rock.” To communicate with the outside world, I have to walk about 1.5 km up the mountain to get phone reception. Somehow, it feels good not to always be reachable, to stop mindlessly checking my phone, or scrolling through the internet. Instead, I finally take the time to read again or simply listen to my own thoughts. The quietness will become a little less in February because several guests will visit the refuge, and two more volunteers will also be staying here.

It is also fascinating to discover how little you actually need to live comfortably. When living out of bicycle bags or a backpack, you truly reduce yourself to only the essentials, and somehow you don’t miss anything. In fact, you often find yourself thinking that you really didn’t need to pack this or that item. It is genuinely fun to optimize the essentials and figure out what you truly need. You start to recognize the value of the things you do carry with you and learn to appreciate them properly.