A real life Odyssey is not one you can experience just by reading Homer.
While writing this piece, it occurred to me that I did not know what an odyssey was...
Is it a journey of self discovery? Of wandering around aimlessly? Of deep reflection and understanding what it is to truly live?
What is Christopher Nolan actually directing in his move The Odyssey?
So I googled... An Odyssey is,
"a long, adventurous journey, wandering, or quest filled with notable experiences and challenges."
That's at least according to Merriam-Webster.
But our travellers had something to say about their latest Odyssey with Ana Chanis. And full of notable experiences it was.
A True Odyssey
Ana stares into the camera, eyes hidden behind large white sunglasses. As she gets asked to recall her favorite moments within this retreat, she stares into the distance a small smile on her face, and you could feel that behind these glasses, she was reminiscing.
"They knew it was gonna be an odyssey. Words have power and this truly was an odyssey, starting from within [the self], to the outside."
Ana wasn't the only one who had opinions on the meaning of an odyssey, and whether this retreat was true to its name.
"I think the name they gave the trip was appropriate,"
Pedro searched for his words, taking a couple of seconds between each sentence. You could tell that Spanish was his strongest suit yet he chose to deliver his opinion, intentionally, each word carrying meaning.
"I feel overwhelmed in a good sense. This is a place of history... from thousands of years ago. It's a thing to learn about the culture and [another] to come here and experience it."
Ana with her husband Pedro
Strangers Turn Family
This Wellness retreat was not a simple stop and go yoga under the pyramids. It was the meet up of distinct people from different places all over the world, slowing down and experiencing life together.
So we asked our guests, how did it feel travelling with people you've never met before. And all them agreed, they met as strangers and left as a family.
"What really amazed me about the group, it was pretty diverse actually. We got all types of personalities and styles... We sort of became like a little family in the last ten days."
— Rita
"Spending ten days together you really become like a family... [A family] that supports each other, care for each other. Ask every morning how are you? How did you sleep?"
— Ana
"Compartir con todo el grupo. De verdad que conocer nuevas personas, conectar con nuevas personas... Encontré, compartí y conecté con personas maravillosas. Al principio, pues claro, estábamos un poco fríos, pero después he encontrado grandes amigos."
— Cynthia
"I came here alone i just i just knew my yoga teacher and I didn't knew anyone on the on the team or on the group i came it was like a leap of faith it was one of the greatest I've taken. Now I have a new family, like a new Panamanian family that I came with. I have a new Egyptian family with our hosts here that have been just the most amazing people ever in the world."
— Steph
Sailing Along the Riverbank of the Nile
Later our guests embarked upon a journey through the Nile, sailing from Aswan on our very best private intimate Dahabiya, El Nur.
Seleena, one of our guests and Ana's community, did not know before hand what Stamps does, what wellness retreats could be like, and how such a random group of people could meet together and travel in a place they've never been before.
Learning about this trip through her yoga studio back in Panama, Seleena touched foot upon the African continent for the first time. And she can confidently say, she sailed a Dahabiya.
Not only did she set sail on one... she actually drove it.
Never imagining that sailing a boat could be on her bucket list let alone tick it off, it seemed to be one of her memorable experiences.
"I did that! I was on a boat, A Dahabiya, a beautiful wooden boat, sailing down the Nile with friends and strangers and an incredible crew. And now I have this much bigger family... I also sailed the boat!"
She laughs and moves her hands imitating a captain steering a wheel.
"I drove. I piloted... steered. Whatever you wanna call it, I was in charge of the boat for a good solid 2 hours. And I'm not sure another woman can say she did that!"
Seleena sailing the Dahabiya under the supervision of the crew
The Hospitality of Stamps?
In Egypt, the Odyssey looks different from every angle.
Nature seems to clash. The sand dunes around the ancient temples. The green of the palm trees. And the blue of the river stream.
Ana chose Egypt for a reason... or did Egypt maybe choose her? When asked why was Egypt the destination of her choice to host this retreat and why Stamps as her guide,
"I always go to the strangest parts... something I will always always remember, the contrast of the water, the land, the green, and the desert... I could never do it alone. Ever."
So why should you travel with Stamps? Why should you host with us?
According to Seleena, you don't need to stay at a 5-Star Hotel to feel taken care of.
"Everybody has been to an all-inclusive resort where you have somebody who's waiting on your beck and call to bring you a margarita by the pool. Everybody's done that. This was care on a different level. It was, everything was intentional and done with thought."
She stutters and smiles trying to chose her next words but only coming up with "yeahs" and half-finished words.
"I'm running out of words. I'm a writer and I don't have words. That's how magical this trip was."
Not even Cairo Belly could catch up to you when you're with us.
"They get it right. I feel protected. I feel guided. And covered in every sense since we arrived. Everything was at order. so you don't have to worry about nothing. Worries about things that may be out of hand like stomach issues and things that usually happen to voyagers you have to watch out for. Even in that case they take good care of you."
Yoga on the Nile
Maybe the Odyssey was the friends we made along the way. The histories we felt and the kings who reigned, their stories etched on the walls.
This was a retreat of a different magnitude. A truly transformative experience.
"It was an experience that transformed us."
So here we are. Retreat Over. Experience done in practice, but still living on in memory.
Ana laughs as she finished her testimonial.
"As the Oracle told me, do it again."
Maybe in Croatia?
We're waiting for another go with you Ana.
Join our list and stay alert for more Odysseys you can undertake yourself with Stamps.
