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Petra

@petraregeni

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It’s Greek for “rocks” and that’s ironic

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New tradition: go to Europe, collect as many little papers and knick-knacks as possible, bring them home, make a collage, print it, and hang it on my wall 💟

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I spent the week of Christmas hiking through the northern highlands of Guatemala, from Nebaj to Todos Santos. ⁣The scenery was stunning and we passed through incredible villages, but the trek was more than just pretty views.
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This area was one of the hardest hit in the Guatemalan armed conflict/genocide against the Indigenous Mayan people. From 1960-1996, over 200,000 people were murdered, mostly Mayans who were simply caught in the middle between the army and the guerrillas. ⁣
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This history is recent history — I was 5 when it officially ended. During the trek we stayed with local families and heard firsthand stories of the brutal terrors they witnessed, including entire towns burned to the ground and many public tortures. It was heavy to hear, and also very important. ⁣
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This conflict was directly backed by the US government, who staged a coup in the mid-50s and then supplied weapons to the Guatemalan army until the 90s. I could say so much more on this, but when you think of the current “migrant crisis” at the border, remember that our meddling in LATAM politics for decades has directly caused the instability that leads people to flee their own countries seeking a safer life elsewhere. ⁣
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The people we met are understandably suspicious of the government and outsiders, but also incredibly welcoming and kind. We passed through 3 different dialects of the Mayan language in just 31 miles (of the 20+ Mayan languages in Guatemala) and their culture is incredibly rich. ⁣
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Christmas Eve was particularly special, spent in the rural village or Chortiz, where all the townspeople gathered at the church from 6pm until midnight, singing, eating tamales (which they generously offered us), and shooting off fireworks at midnight.⁣
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Humbled and grateful for this opportunity — highly recommend @quetzaltrekkers for this experience.

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friends in the mountains!

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rosé vs apérol spritz: what’s your designated afternoon terrace drink??

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petra and i didn’t accomplish a lot of tasks on our italy bingo card BUT we did hear this song organically so i say BINGO

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La famiglia 🎄

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call us hot not! pretty

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call this place my home

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strangers from oktoberfest

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joe and gary need wedding dates - irish ed.

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Discover Kirghizistan !

Une expérience de trek en haute montagne, à la chevauchée des steppes et à la rencontre des peuples nomades ! 🥾🏔️🇰🇬⛺

#packandgojailoo #travel #travelphotography #nomad #ecotourism #trekking #hike #camp #mountain #climbing #backpacking #kirghizistan #kyrgyzstan #outdoor #adventure #aventure #voyage

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