Wondering & Wandering

Nazca, Peru. Chichen Itza, Mexico. Mont Saint Michel, France.

Listening to Will Hornyak’s great storytelling performance of his year in Peru as a journalist in his early twenties got me thinking of the wonders of the world. Will’s experiences, people he met as well as befriended, events he witnessed and his wondering wanderings were remarkable.

These three places are only three of the stunning, amazing, magnificent wonders in the world that call to me.

The Nazca lines are incredible. Approximately 2,000 years old. How were these huge designs, some miles in size, created so perfectly so long ago? No one knows. Will reported underground irrigation systems have also been discovered!

The Pyramids at Chichen Itza are approximately 1,200 years old. To walk around them, to touch them was amazing. How were these huge structures built with the enormous blocks of rock? No one knows.

Photo MDessein 2002


Mont Saint Michel. The abbey was begun approximately a thousand years ago.
The island itself has a long history. I am now thinking I want to go back and spend a week or so on Mont Saint Michel, walk where the builders and designers and centuries of people have walked, worked, prayed, wondered, lived.

Inner courtyard of Mont Saint Michel Abbey. Photo MDessein 2002

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Lest I go on too long, you get the drift. Amazing things are built and created each day now. Yet the wonders created millenia ago still seem far advanced of us in many ways.

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The creativity, imagination, and ability of humans is humbling. However, human’s capacity for harm is stunning. That dichotomy is also millenia old.

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When I have some answers, you can be sure I’ll let you know.

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(Yup, my book, When I Was a Rock Star is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book. And! getting closer to finishing my novel!)

6 Comments

  • Robin Dachenhausen

    January 18, 2025 at 9:36 pm Reply

    When I wake up every morning, wondering where my world is going to go to? I’m believing that it’s going to hell in a handbasket. It’s story such as these that remind me that we did have problems in the past and we overcame them. Perhaps we can overcome whatever is in our future with a little patience and kindness and perseverance

    • Mary

      January 19, 2025 at 12:21 pm Reply

      Yay Robin. My, oh my, right? Thank you.

  • Joy

    January 19, 2025 at 7:56 am Reply

    How awesome is your talent….not only interests so varied, but the passion to translate stories to plans in your future.

    • Mary

      January 19, 2025 at 12:21 pm Reply

      Hi Joy! Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts.

  • Judith in Munich

    January 19, 2025 at 9:08 am Reply

    Thank you, Mary, for the reminders and inspiration. I, too, loved hearing about Will’s adventures and lessons in South America.
    A recording of the evening with Will can be found at:
    https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/rdwNWv9AHB2jzbDzDphiv5p8OZZDMTO24IhgL1c8IFzKNY9Jw0PmmXZtXfpswV5b.RlDHfbfP6SpKylgs
    Passcode: 58TdzLC.
    Seattle Storytellers would appreciate a donation at seattlestorytellers.org , if you do watch. Thanks.

    He is also appearing in Portland on Jan. 31 — see the Portland Storyteller’s Guild website
    Seattle Storytellers would appreciate a donation at seattlestorytellers.org , if you do watch. Thanks.

    • Mary

      January 19, 2025 at 12:22 pm Reply

      Hi Ms. International. Thank you. Good to hear from you and for the info.

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