The World is Wide, Airline Seats Are Not: Unsolicited Advice

Every great journey starts somewhere if you want more... time to think... take a 20-hour bus ride. (Beni, Bolivia)


This is a Bolivian bus bathroom. Do not use it. The mosquitos do too. (Beni, Bolivia)


Make friends. How else will you feel at home in a strange city? (Santa Cruz, Bolivia)



There are many great places to spend Christmas. This is not one of them. 
(São Paolo Airport, Brazil)



Thinking is good, don't do it too much. (Copacabana Beach, Brazil)



Just look out the window every once in a while.
(Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)



The sunset is probably worth it. Go see it.
(Copacabana Beach, Brazil)



Do the touristy stuff too sometimes.
(Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)



Know how to navigate the subway. You can sit in the perfect grass and play with puppies 
while your friends get lost. (Buenos Aires, Argentina)



Wear white on New Year's Eve. The burger is optional.
(Buenos Aires, Argentina)



Do not backpack South America if you want a consistent sleep schedule. (Iguazú Falls Airport, Argentina)



Go to the Brazil side of the falls first. 
(Iguazú Falls, Argentina)



Bring a raincoat. It's called the rainforest for a reason. (Iguazú Falls, Argentina)



Anyone can charter a plane if they try hard enough. (Puerto Montt, Chile)



Go to Patagonia. Brag about having gone to Patagonia. (Châiten, Chile, Patagonia)



Not all volcanos are oozing lava. Don't be too disappointed. (Châiten, Chile)



Always. always bring snacks. (Michinmihuida Glacier, Chile)



If the ranger says it's a long hike, just believe them, they're probably right. (Michinmihuida Glacier, Chile)



Keep your currencies straight. (Hornopiren, Chile)



Don't play around with the altitude in La Paz. Go buy some flowers though. (La Paz, Bolivia)




Choose your travel buddies carefully. They might be your last straws. (Bolivia SMs)

















Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Inundando

Image
       It was the umpteenth time, in too few weeks. Yet again, flashes of lightning sliced through the sky followed by growling explosions of thunder. The water poured from the sky as if God too was emptying His laundry water. The rising water below and the rushing torrents from above met. As they bathed my whole yard into a muddy pool, I stepped out from under the roof.        It had been an amazing day. Thursdays are always my day off, but this one had been perhaps the best yet. The day started strong with a jungle picnic, followed by a productive afternoon, and a giant fruit salad which I ate staring up at stunning mountain peaks. It was immaculate. Until suddenly, as the day drew to a dusky close, the lights cut out.        Power outages are customary here in Bolivia. They come like clockwork just when you don't want them. Walking back to my house back at Familia Feliz, I groaned as I noticed that still, not a single light welcomed me. Here, no power means no water. No water a
Read more

Locita

Image
           I was walking down the path to the Casa de las Lilas the other day, joking with Milenca and Nicol. As she tripped onto the brick walkway, Milenca decided to let Nicol know she is a  locita,  or a   little crazy. Jumping over a puddle, Nicol bluntly retorted that Milenca is a little crazy as well. Laughing out loud, I thought of recent silly dances, animal noises, and outlandish jokes I had witnessed from the two of them. I assured them that they were  both  a little crazy. In giggling unison, they whipped around to look at me, “Well you’re a little crazy too!” Smiling in agreement, I nodded. They were right. I have been a little crazy this month. I would struggle to say that normal exists here, but if it does, we have been far from it. We, the SMs have traveled to La Paz, put on a graduation, thrown a quinceañera, kept Familia Feliz running without a director, celebrated Christmas, and said goodbye to many of our kids. It’s been a full-time, providing me with memories I woul
Read more