The link to Darcy’s Blog
ijustfeltlikewalkin.blogspot.com

Hi Rolene,

I wanted to tell you that it was a pleasure meeting you and playing music with you. And thank you for the trip to the market, which I wouldn’t have taken had it not been for you! I apoligize for not writing sooner. Margaret and I have been on the road in Xalapa and Oaxaca. We are staying in a hostel here for the moment, but are looking for an apartment-hopefully we will find one soon and then you can come and stay with us! We both miss the casa and hope to return at some point. (Do you happen to have Enrique’s email address, by chance. I didn’t get to say goodbye).We have started volunteering with the parteras, and although it is a little slow, we really like the work that the organization is doing. It’s called Nueve Lunas in case you are interested in checking it out. Please send word when you are in town. I am so impressed with all that you have done and are doing and how much energy and drive you have. You are an inspiration!

Much love,
Renata

I had a wonderful time with Rolene on the Walk with Earth trip. It was wonderful to talk with Rolene about everything under the sun. She was exactly the person I needed to be hanging out with at this point in my life. I took all of our experiences and conversations to heart and have shared them with friends of mine who I thought might benefit. My trip with Rolene was really life changing.

As well as being emotionally and psychologically helpful it also gave me the boost and encouragement I needed to really work on my Spanish. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to explore Mexico outside of the beach and Cancun scene with which it is frequently associated. Over these last few weeks at home I have thought about my experiences in Mexico and enjoyed sharing my stories with friends and family. I will always remember the remarkable hospitality and genuine friendliness of the people we met. But what I appreciate most is the deeper relationship and friendship I established with Rolene. I definitely want to go again!

Emily Schwartz

Rolene, here is the long promised list of birds we saw, always remembering that
I am a novice birder on some of the identifications,
Love, Kathy Down

Roseate Spoonbill
Caracara
Frigate Bird
Great Tailed Grackle
White Winged Dove
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Yellow Crowned Night Heron
Osprey
White Tailed Hawk vs Harris Hawk
Gull (Heerman’s?)
Hooded Oriole
Brown Pelican
Violet Green Swallow?

I am on my way home when I am writing this, driving through a hilly, desert-like landscape in the rising sun and memories of the past three weeks come rushing back… I am filled with gratitude and joy and want to try and express it to You.

What a beautiful, BEAUTIFUL experience this was – Thank You.

I find it quite difficult to come up with any words to describe exactly how I’ve felt but I can say this honestly – I would happily go back and continue the walk any time. Such a unique way to see a country and get to know the people living there - we hardly ever have the opportunity to see the same way when we pass though a place as tourists, always rushing to a certain destination or another…

Part of my soul is a Sufi wanderer so it was marvelous to share this journey with a fellow Sufi Spirit. I truly admire Your natural gift to open your heart to local communities everywhere and help them feel comfortable to open theirs too, allowing a true exchange to take place. To me this is where traveling really begins to make sense… I feel that your walk sets an example that many of us could learn from to understand how to better connect with each other and with nature and to be willing to not just take away from places but give a piece of ourselves in return. Walking with you has put me in touch with exactly that space within myself and I am truly grateful for that.

I have also cherished knowing You and sharing all the sacred spaces inside us – a mirror to my soul that I do not often have the opportunity to look into. Thank You for that mirror, for your openness, and your love. I sincerely hope we can continue to nurture and grow this relationship and when the time is right again, share some more of this beautiful journey…

Infinite Strength, Infinite Health
Infinite JOY and Infinite LOVE
on your Walk,
Dora

May Peace Prevail on Earth
May Peace be in the Americas

REFLECTIONS OF TWO WALKERS – Susan Ovington and Jan Hartsough

This time it was for real! After years of planning and a number of delays, the date of March 9, 2008 for the start of the walk seemed certain. The two of us, senior members of the Walk With Earth board of directors, rode down to Mexico in the support vehicle with Rolene, to walk with her for the first two days. It was exciting and at the same time a little unreal to participate in the beginning of Rolene’s long-awaited dream. We couldn’t have asked for better weather: clear skies, warm sun, sparkling sea and pleasant breeze. A ceremony with press conferences and TV interviews took place on Sunday morning in front of the cement marker on the Mexican side of the US/Mexican border, near the beach outside Tijuana. The marker is flanked on both sides by a heavy-duty metal fence, rusty and ugly, manifesting separation between the two countries. But the words of hope and enthusiasm expressed spoke of unity and cooperation between the two countries and let us imagine a future without barriers.

By the end of the ceremony a small crowd had gathered and around 60 people joined us as we (more…)