As we begin the preliminary planning stages for our dear trippy dip, it is clear this thing is going to happen. There is far too much imminent glory around the idea for it to sour. The pisco will not remain unquenched from those sweet distant nights south of the equator 2 years ago... South America, you can try'n feed us all the amoba-infested fishy deliciousness you like, we're coming back with a vengeance and, at least for me, a newly-adopted vegetarian
diet.
So our plans, right. Kiley and I are on Christmas vacation now. We've been number crunching and it looks like this: Fly into
Panama ($380), cross the border to South America
-
Columbia, to
Brazil,
Bolivia, and then soar back on up to Cuenca (
Ecuador). From Ecuador, we'll bee-bop back to the
States (~$700) If we have exact dates soon, a multi-city plane ticket would total $586 on
student universe. However, if we are to switch the departure date, this could potentially cost another $400 so we're doing all we can NOW. With this all down, we can color in the lines with time. HOT DAMN! (what is the etomology of that saying?) Might I say here that Kiley did most of the number crunching... She's doing a great job so why not let her keep it up!? (Thanks, Ki)
Deciding factors:
-Will maria get a job this summer?
-Will Becky Bowman join us in Panama?
-Will Julian the German guy meet us in Brazil?
-Will it be possible to drive a motorcycle across borders? (eh, wishful)
-Extra costs: will we have the money even for this shoestring?
-How long can we legally be there?
Things to think about:
Counchsurfing. Travel Guides. Hostels. National Parks. Purchasing good gear. Volunteer opportunities. Taking a Quechua language course while in Ecuador. Grad school. Books to bring.
Loans to pay off and interest accrueing. Friends left behind. Finding zenes. How will I get music down there? How much technology do I actually NEED? Fulbright. A doggy dog companion?
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ReplyDeleteFor when the time comes that Sue (Maria's mom) and my mother (Deanna) will read this, I will say now that I am committed to making safe decisions, both before and during this adventure. If that means that I might have to knock Maria out and carry her on my back- it will be done. :) A motorcycle? Don't worry, she doesn't have me convinced yet. Couch surfing in South America? Not happening unless I know the couch's owner. And, if any radically inappropriate decisions are made by the both of us... I just won't tell you.
ReplyDeleteAs for the trip- Right now, as Maria said, numbers are being crunched, I am working at Spectrum over xmas break to buy a plane ticket (which Maria and I plan to do in January), and I am also compiling information on different sites we might want to visit.
When are we leaving? Becky, tell us your dates so our travels can overlap. Panama, Colombia, Brazil, wanna join?
My goals in this adventure:
1. Enjoy a trip with a good friend.
2. Be as free spirited as possible (especially after just graduating).
3. Visit Julian (Best guy friend from Germany) in Brazil, as he will be
doing his volunteer project there.
4. Return to Cuenca, Ecuador where I studied/lived for 7 months to
visit the friends (like family) I have there.
5. Learn.