Cuban model and television host Lisandra Silva recently realized a profoundly personal dream by visiting the Great Wall of China with a small urn containing her late father's ashes, Carlos Silva Sánchez, who passed away on July 18 at the age of 77.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, the Havana native shared photos of this poignant moment and penned an emotional message directly to her father: "We did it, Dad. The Great Wall, China, visiting my sixth wonder of the world. Another stamp for the passport. What a beautiful experience to do it with you."
Lisandra expressed how, perched on one of the wall's windows, she envisioned walking beside him, taking photos, and hearing his jokes: "Even the jokes, you made me see your teary eyes of joy. You live in my imagination. It was beautiful, Dad, you were with me."
Signs and Spiritual Journeys
A touching sign that Lisandra interpreted as her father's presence was the appearance of a butterfly during her visit. "A large butterfly, matching the color of my outfit, hovered around my space for quite some time, you even arrived in style. You never fail," she wrote.
The trip to China fulfilled a wish her father had expressed before his passing: that she take a part of his ashes to all the places she visited, as he had dreamt of exploring the seven wonders of the world. According to Lisandra, the Great Wall represents the sixth wonder she has visited.
Her journey to China also had a spiritual aspect related to her grief. In early September, Lisandra spent time at a Buddhist monastery in the Shaolin mountains, training with monks in martial arts to "transform the energy" of her father. She shared that he had approved this idea before he died.
Overcoming Challenges and Finding Support
The trip was coordinated with the assistance of two individuals to whom she publicly expressed gratitude: "Thank you for sending me with these angels who helped organize everything; you know I'm forgetful, and I couldn't have done it without them."
Before reaching this moment, Lisandra faced some distress. In August, she reported the theft of an urn she had purchased to store her father's ashes, which was sent through a delivery app. She clarified that the urn was empty at the time and the ashes were never at risk.
Prior to her voyage to China, Lisandra also visited Cuba, laying flowers at her parents' graves, demonstrating the depth of her mourning and her connection to the Island.
As of now, her Instagram post has garnered over 38,000 likes and 262 comments, including numerous supportive messages from her followers. Lisandra concluded her post with a phrase that encapsulated the moment's significance: "You are the greatest, Dad. We did it."
Lisandra Silva's Journey to the Great Wall
Why did Lisandra Silva visit the Great Wall of China with her father's ashes?
Lisandra Silva visited the Great Wall of China with her father's ashes to fulfill his wish of visiting the seven wonders of the world, carrying a part of him to these iconic places.
What symbolic event occurred during Lisandra's visit to the Great Wall?
During her visit, a butterfly matching her outfit's color appeared and lingered around her, which Lisandra took as a sign of her father's presence.
How did Lisandra Silva prepare spiritually for her journey to China?
Lisandra prepared for her journey by spending time in a Shaolin monastery, engaging in martial arts training with monks to help transform the energy of her grief.