Getting Ready

 We are preparing to go on another long journey, and would like to take you along.  On December 19, 2011, we will leave for Central and South America for a total of six months.  Like last time, when we went to Asia, Australia and New Zealand, we are renting out our home, storing our cars and putting most of our personal items into storage - exhausting!  I know this is a rather early warning, but preparation for this trip will take some time, and unlike last time, I am somewhat nervous about this next chapter in our life.  

The planning of this trip seems a bit more difficult for me. Even though Michael is quite well and recovered from his mitral valve surgery (January 2011), we are both now in our sixties and not as fit as we were in 2008 (my sore feet and his angina).   Also, we are heading into somewhat unfriendly (so I've been told) and uncharted (for us) territory-South America.   Asia was safe. I'd been to China before, and we had lots of friends who had been there and many who wanted to meet us in various places along the way.  

This time, even though we have some reassurances from a few brave souls about their experiences in South America, I have not been thrilled with the stories of less fortunate friends and acquaintances.  I've forgotten the stories of the beautiful people, historic cities and interesting culture. No, I only focus on what I've heard about the snakes, mosquitoes, altitude sickness, Montezuma's revenge, and assault and robbery. I am probably listing these things in the order of importance only to my own psyche.  I know the first four things are a good possibility no matter what precautions I take. I can survive them, I hope.  But mugging and robbery, YIKES!  However, armed only with a firm belief in the goodness of mankind, I will try to push the possibility of anyone wanting to hurt us or take anything of ours out of my mind... as much as possible.

However, since I know that robbery is just as likely as running into a snake perhaps, we will be cautious and do the necessary things to avoid both the snake in the grass (or jungle) and the one on the city streets.  Firstly, we will avoid the jungle as long as going means I might be subjected to all of the above, have to eat bugs and hamsters and have no way of screaming for help.  Secondly, I will avoid the two legged snakes by leaving what few valuable jewels, etc. I own at home and avoid being in the wrong places at the wrong times.  This type of preparation takes skill and research.  "Don't take taxis outside the airport, they scam you, get restaurants and hotels to call the taxis, and so forth."  Because of these warnings, I figure I have to learn the area before our feet hit the pavement. In Asia it was the other way around.

For example, all it took was to have one businessman who travels to Brazil often tell me  "It's not so much if you will get robbed but when."  So Brazil, much to my husband's chagrin, with its beautiful beaches and scantily clad women, was quickly crossed off the list.  But if I continued with that philosophy, I reasoned, we would never go to any of these places. So, ever the optimist, I surmised that one cannot travel at all if you let fear stand in the way.  Heck, if that were the case, I 'd never leave Manhattan Beach. Guess you have heard about the recent rash of "grab and run" robberies that have taken place in Torrance CA.  It seems the price of gold and lack of jobs has pushed some to tear gold necklaces right off of unsuspecting shoppers who are not in the bad part of town after dark.  So pushing fear aside, armed with a man who speaks decent Spanish and fears nothing, off we go again.  

We have purchased the majority of our flights to lock in a good fare.  But only the flight itinerary  skeleton is set in stone. This leaves us room to take our time and make a change in plans should the opportunity present itself.   We would love to hear from any of you who would like to fearlessly join us in the countries or cities we plan to visit. Isn't there safety in numbers??  And if you have traveled to any of these places, please feel free to reassure us and give us some pointers on places we should go and things we need to do while we are there.  If you don't want to be included in this blog please let me know by e-mail and I will gladly remove you from our list.  Check out the itinerary below for further info, and we hope you will keep in touch with us along the way.  Putting all fear aside, and packing only carry-on bags, here are the details:

December 19th -January 3rd Nosara Costa Rica

January 3rd-7th  Panama

January 7th-14th Cartagena Columbia

January 14th-21st Bogata

January 21-Feb 1st Caracas Venezuela and the Margarita Islands

February 2nd-March 1st Argentina (includes Buenas Aires, Montevideo Uruguay,  Iguazu Falls, Paraguay, Cordoba and Mendoza AR).

March 1st-16th Santiago Chile (travel by bus from Mendoza AR over the Andes to Santiago)

March 16th-28th Ecuador (includes cruise to Galapagos and various cities near Quito)

March 28-April 6th Lima (possible solo trip by Cindy to Machu Picchu, any volunteers to join me?)

April 6-11th Nosara Costa Rica

April 11th-22nd Guatemala

April 22nd-May 16th Mexico (to include interesting cities away from Mexico City)

May 16th-June 18th Buena Vista Baja Sur