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Jennifer Eagan's avatar

Wow! I had a similar experience with Michel's tale of adventure in Quintana Roo. But I happened upon the book in a Goodwill not long ago - after our time spent living in Puerto Morelos. It was just as thrilling of a read after knowing how much the coast has changed in those short 60 years. If you're familiar with Cancun, Cozumel, and Belize you will definitely want to read this book. If you're not, it's just as intriguing. Thank you Jeanine!

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Hola Jennifer!! So great you too found Lost World. Such a great book, the real adventure deal. It boggles the mind to think how primitive it was.Thanks for reading, como siempre, and your fantastic support. Xo

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Mike Leavy's avatar

Wonderful, isn't it, how serendipitous life can be. This is especially true if you travel. What a great story, thank you for writing and sharing it!

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Thanks Mike. Yes, putting yourself out there must up the ante on life’s adventures. And serendipity—is that luck mixed with fairy dust? Because it usually does stir the pot, and in a good way.

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Mikel K Miller's avatar

Wow, Jeanine, this is an amazing adventure story! Thanks for posting it. I will try to find the out-of-print book online so I can read it. Best regards.

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Thanks Mikel. Truly it is amazing. And when he mentioned Puerto Morelos in the book, it just seemed—like serendipity. Some libraries carried it long ago. I’d scoured second hand stores for the book store to have a few copies. Then those all got passed around town bc everyone wanted to read it!

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Jennifer Silva Redmond's avatar

Another great post. Congrats on your Substack growth. That's incredible!

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Thanks Jennifer!

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Lucinda Blackwood's avatar

Connections, tangents, intersecting circles...serendipity. I believe when you are open to all of it magic can happen.

Wonderful story, Jeanine.

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Thanks Lucinda. You know, I am thinking that more and more as I condense my memoir, of all the wonderful people we've met, and like, why us? I guess we were just ready for it.

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Claire at Backpacking Bella's avatar

What an amazing story! Both Michel's and yours. Life is incredible when it serves up these kinds of connections. Thanks so much for sharing this, Jeanine.

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Oh, you are very welcome, Claire. Meeting George (and finding out Michel's TRUE backstory!) was unbelievable. George had gone to the Sorbonne too, right after the war (WWII), both he and Ferlinghetti could use their veterans bill to go to a domestic or foreign university--they chose the Sorbonne! And for George, the rest was written in stone--he bought Shakespeare from original owner, Sylvia Beach, who stood up to the Nazis and hid all her fabulous books, who befriended ee cummings and published him, who was friends w/ Gertrude Stein, Hemingway et al. And then she sold the store as she aged to George!! And now his daughter, Sylvia (namesake-Sylvia Beach) and her husband run the bookshop.

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Marty Hiester's avatar

¡Viva Quintana Roo! 🌅 great story Jeanine! Gracias

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Thanks Marty. Peissel was one adventurer!!

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christina fang's avatar

Wow! Thank you! I loved this piece!

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Thank you so much Christina! PS, tomorrow's is on Maya Warrior Queens of the Yucatán, Part 2. It's a goodie!

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Lois Thomson Bowersock's avatar

What a fascinating tale! It's amazing how small the world is for kindred spirits. Thank you for sharing this incredible story, Jeanine. It is very inspiring.

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Thanks Lois. Meeting George was such a happy accident.

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Jan Cornall's avatar

Fascinating story Jeanine. The world is a small place really especially when serendipity comes into play!

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Thank you, Jan. Serendipity is like magic dust, no?

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Jan Cornall's avatar

Yes, it surely is, always there for us if we are open to it!

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Paulette Bodeman's avatar

What a fascinating story and the serendipitous connections. Thanks for another amazing post.

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Thank you Paulette. Serendipity indeed.And our sweet new CA friend will play a part in mentoring us by giving tips and tricks on storing books in any kind of weather. Thanks for reading!

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Paulette Bodeman's avatar

I always look forward to your essays. Oh, that will be awesome to learn.

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Clarice Dankers's avatar

What a lovely story, Jeanine. It's amazing how a book, a trip or a chance encounter with someone can change the trajectory of our lives!

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Thank you Clarice. It truly is. We were wild about Mexico and surprisingly, many ‘older’ people we met had either had their own Mexican adventures or their parents did. I think it’s bc CA shares the border and it’s an easy trip. How’s your hand doing?

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Diana Paez's avatar

Wow, amazing story! And what an exciting life lived by the author! This is such a beautiful way to honor him. And congrats on your almost-1000 🥳

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Yes, Michel was really something. I felt so honored that he reached out to me to thank me for the review. And also his life shows how adventure and travel can influence our future choices. His went 180 degrees!

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Barbra Bishop's avatar

Really love this piece about your Mexico/Yucatan adventure! Destiny can't be denied! What a thrilling sequence of events for you. I have read this Lost World book (thanks to you!) and definitely found it fascinating. The spirit and resolve of Michel, completely unprepared, to just keep on going in the face of many, often frightening, challenges was remarkable. Thankfully, he was rewarded in finding humanity and honor in the Maya who helped him, and those incredible ancient cities he discovered, and the many other discoveries and exeriences he had along the way. What an amazing life he lived! I must re-read this book. Another thrilling piece from you--Thanks!

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Thank you, Barbra. You are too kind. The thing I love is I somehow continue to stumble onto things connected to the Maya world. An all the better if they’re a bit offbeat and not common knowledge. It’s great because I learn something and can share with others.

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David W. Zoll's avatar

Great post Jeanine! And wow, 1000! Amazing and well deserved!

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Thanks David! Appreciate it.

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Tinashe D. Ndhlovu's avatar

Another great post Jeanine, I just love how you bring a story to life.

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Thanks Tinashe! Much appreciated.

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