We've been researching around for interesting things to do and I got really curious what would HNers do if they went on a sabbatical from work.
- Play an obscene amount of video games. I have a huge backlog in my Steam/Origin libraries.
- Spend as much time as possible with my wife. Easy to do as we both love games.
- Start and maybe finish a side project that's been rolling around for a while.
- Visit my family and friends back in Ohio.
- Maybe drive to Vegas. I've only been there once. I've never driven that way west, either.
So really nothing that I wouldn't ordinarily do outside of the travel. I am a simple man with simple tastes :-)
5 years ago I would have played most of the games I had unfinished in my library. But my tastes in everything, especially games, have changed so much that I wouldn’t want to touch 90% of the games in my account…
My grandfather used to say: there are two types of people in the world: those who simply take trips (even if to other countries) and then those who travel (and take in the experience and, hence, grow).
Here's a possible itinerary for you:
Arrive at Guatemala City
Take a 40 min ride to Antigua, a beautiful place. Stay in Antigüa as your HQ.
On day one, explore Antigua, drink the coffee and eat chocolates.
Day two: hike a volcano, called Fuego
Day three: visit a coffee plantation
Day four: go to lake Atitlán and stay in San Marcos for several days. Take in the local festivities as there is always something being celebrated.
Day five: travel by boat in the lake to other towns, like Panajachel. Go to Hotel Atitlán for a great and hefty meal.
Day six: visit a women's cooperative in a town around the lake. Use the tuc tuc service to travel around as the drivers are also great tour guides because they know their towns.
Etc etc.
And according to his/her question. He's just looking for ideas for some cool things to do with his/her time off.
It's so vague. Maybe the phrase you're looking for is it "broadens your perspective". Maybe something else.
And there are better places than Guatemala. Like Costa Rica.
Then build a tiny home (or a boat, log cabin, farm, etc...) and enjoy the sunsets and sunrises.
My wife and I are looking to build a tiny home in the near future. I imagine it to be a highly stress-relieving activity.
I think it's the creation/building aspect. Tiny houses seem to be within the grasp of an individual to build. Kinda of like building an application, it has the same aspects - designing, architecting, building. At least this is why it's attractive to me.
(At least where I'm from, a "sabbatical" is not a do-nothing-holiday.)
I am planning few weeks of such immersion, but I'd love to do it for a full year.