South America, Here I Come!

“So, basically, 6 months from today I will be boarding a plane and heading to South America to spend a year traveling throughout the continent with my wife. We're getting married in May, giving our employers notice, putting all of our stuff in storage, dropping the dog off at the relatives, packing up the packs and adios America. This is a trip, fully financed by ourselves.

Of course, we plan to do quite a bit of backpacking/trekking while we're down there, especially in the Andes. But we're also doing the urban thing, so packing to accomodate both is kind of a challenge. We'll be living out of our bags. I'm trying to plan so that we would have all of the same stuff on our backs at all times, that includes in the backcountry. There is the chance we'll be able to leave some things with a hotel or keep a room rented while we head out (some of the cheaper accomodations are in the neighborhood of $10 for both of us -- one of the perks of third-world travel) but sometimes we'll probably have to lug everything into the backcountry like the 1 lb PacSafe cable netting that fits over our packs so sheisters can't razor slash our bags when we're in the metro areas. I think I'll end up with a pretty heavy pack in the end but, unfortuantely, I think it's unavoidable with this type of traveling.

Anyway, I'll probably bring this thread up from time to time to ask questions about gear and so-forth. Just wanted to have a dedicated thread for input and where I can post to when we're on the road.

And if anyone has traveled in Ecuador, Peru, Boliva, Chile, Argentina (including Patagonia), Uraguay or Brazil, please let me know what your experiences were -- urban or backcountry. I'd like to hear. And if you've done this type of thing in other countries, please feel free to relay any tidbits of advice as well.

Thanks, guys.”

“oh - congratulations - and have a wonderful, safe, adventurous time!”

“I knew some guys (teachers) who would take off for Brazil every Summer. They always had a blast and said they lived like kings. THEN they'd say talk about how depressing it was to come back to the States and turn back into high school teachers, <G>”

“That is so kick-a$$! Sounds like a blast! That's very very cool you and your fiance have decided to do that.”

“I've been to Peru twice...it's going to be hard to be a tourist because so many people are in need. I would suggest you have plenty of money to give away..ie.buying a kid some shoes or his mom's glasses ect.But you must budget how much you can afford because the need is great. Take a "speed boat" up the Amazon form Iquitios,Peru to some of the smaller villages. My fav is Nauta. Do you speak Spanish?”

“Awesome for you, Rosey and your soon-to-be wife! :o)

I've not been to South America yet, but I lived third-world for a Summer in the Dominican Republic. Much of the "targetted tourist" hype was just that - hype; however, you have to always be aware of where you are and how you fit in (or stick out) in the surroundings.

Wolfsister brings up a good point...in some impoverished countries, you can make friends very easily by such gestures. Often, the favor is repaid 10 times over, by an invitation to dinner, a place to stay, a guided tour of unknown places, etc.

I experienced a way of life that I would never have been able to as a "traditional tourist". I had powerful experiences with people there - enough that I considered living there more permanently for a short time. Though I chose to stay in the states, I am forever changed by this experience...

I wish you guys the best of times! Stay safe and healthy. :o)”

“You lucky bastard! Enjoy, and if you pick up some hot Brazilian chick....... I don't wanna know, the envy will overcome me.

j/k - have fun bro!”

“What are you doing with your dog?”

“Spent a month in Chile a couple of years ago, helping a friend build a reed boat. Chile is absolutely awesome, from the southern mountains up through the Mediterrean-like mid section and north to the deserts. Really friendly people; they speak Spanish that one can actually understand; and everything is dirt cheap. A 1200 mile bus ride cost me $50 with four meals included; a garbage bag full of fresh baked bread was a buck; never spent more than $4 for a meal in a restaurant. Lucky you to have a year down in SA. Have a ball and don't be an ugly American.”

“I've been to Argentina three times. The company I work for has a facility in Quilmes. I love that country. The capital Buenos Aires is a great city. The people are social and very gracious. The women are the most beautiful in the world. Five or six years ago you could walk the streets of BA in the middle of the night and no one ever bothered you. I saw no crime there. Now they are having some very difficult times so I don't know what you might see. But if you get the chance by all means go. I would go again in a heartbeat.

Sao Paulo, Brazil can be very dangerous. You have to be very careful because there are so many desparate poor people.”

“SOme of our scout troop's parents are from Bolivia, Argentina, and Ecuador. I'll ask them for tips for you.”

“WOW! i am totally impressed rosey. that fawkin rox! man, i am into fish and if i were gonna go there, i'd spend alot of time in and around the amazon, cause that's where all the killer fish come from. oscars, plecostomus, discus, angelfish, ,neons and dozens of other tetras. even freshwater stingrays. that jungle is rough man...it's like a jungle out there.


best of luck to ya rosey. you should make a web page & upload pics every couple weeks from your digital camera. kinda do a journal. you could do it from internet cafe's or a laptop would work i rekon. it'd be cool to share all the killer stuff ya'll are bound to see. (put some good pics of the brazilian nude beaches on there)”

“I'm so excited for you! Ever since you first mentioned on TT that you were planning this, I've been stoked to see "THE" thread pop up. First, congrats on the marriage. Second, you guys must be a totally awesome couple to choose to do this together. Third, holy mac 'n cheese batman! I'm really excited to hear about Patagonia and some of the cities. The small villages will also be cool to hear about.

I also really agree about planning something to give to some of the desperately poor folks down there. My best friend is a Peace Corps. volunteer in Cameroon, Africa right now. I've been sending her a box of small, simple toys(playdough, watercolors, bouncy balls w/ fake bugs in them, tiny dolls) and books once a month to give to the kids in her village. The cost is so small for me. The shipping is the most expensive part and it makes a big, big difference to the kids in her village. Maybe you and your wife can put a few small, simple gifts like that in your packs and give them to some of the kids every so often. Like AmyG said, I bet it gets repaid 10 fold.”

“Bring along your water purifier, and ALOT of filters just in case.”

“Thanks all! You know I'll keep the TT crowd apprised and the invitation to come and travel with us is open! We'll firm up our itinerary more as the time draws closer but it's still gonna be played kinda loosey goosey. Don't wanna limit ourselves! But seriously. Anyone interested in some international travel, think about it. I'm sure we'll be doing plenty of teaming up with other backpackers, native and foreign, to head into the backcountry and travel around the continent.

I've been taking Spanish language classes at the local communtiy college for the past year-plus but the first order once we get into Quito, Ecuador (home base for at least the first few weeks) is to take some intensive Spanish with a private instructor. Apparently there's even a guy down there who's a mountaineer and has a language school that combines the two. Sounds interesting.

The tip on having goods to share with those in need is an excellent idea. I know seeing that type of poverty on a regular basis is going to be something I'm going to have to learn to deal with and I suspect extremely difficult. $1 to some of those people is a week's wage.

But still being a consumer, captalist American, here are my big gear debates at the moment.

Tent. Hmm. this is a toughie for me. I need a lighter tent. I've got a 3/4-season convertable but it weighs around 7lbs+. I think it's a toss-up right now between a 3-season SD clip flashlight and a 4-season Nallo. 4 Season vs. 3 season. $150 vs. $425. I'll prolly go with the Nallo but it's gonna kill the pocketbook. On the otherhand, I won't have to rent anything if we decide to do some serious mountaineering classes or whatnot. The SD has 3 more s.f. of interior room (27 vs. 30) but a way punier vestibule (7 vs 15). Or I could do the SD with a siltarp to cover the packs, rig a vestibule and such. Anyone?

Stove. Thinking of bringing just the Trangia. Nothing to break. Easy to use for two. Lightweight. I'm assuming fuel (gasline antifreeze, dn alcohol or 98-100% alcohol) will be available lots of places. Or should I go the pocketrocket route or a MSR XKG multi-fuel stove route? I don't have much experience with either. Isobutane cans could be hard to find (I imagine most bigger metro areas would have it). The XKG burns anything, which is nice. The tradeoff is weight and it could develop a problem.

Water purifier. I'm thinking First Need. Any other opinions? Something from PUR?

Pretty much everything else is covered.

Keep the knowledge coming!”

“I would kill to do what you are going to do Rosey.

8)

I wish you the best time dude!”

“On the tent, are you expecting snow, rosey? Supposedly, that's the difference between a 3-season and a 4-season, the 4 can handle a snow load. If so, I'd go 4, otherwise, the Clip Flashlight is a great tent. You might want to consider the Clip 3 and a siltarp for a vestibule. Much more room in the Clip 3. But the Clip 2 and the siltarp would also make a great combination, especially if you don't mind being close with the person you're sharing it with.


Oh, and have a great time. It really does sound like a lot of fun.”

“i would just make a fire rosey, ,unless it's prohibited, like when we went to WY. you can make i tiny fire in a small hole to cook with and cover it up when your done. very little impact on the evironment. that'd save ya alot of weight and hassle. my first thought was yeah, it might be hard to find fuel canisters. i love my pocket rocket, btw.

i use an msr miniworks filter. i picked it because it seemed more durable than the others. easy to clean the cartridge too. im happy with it.”

“wow. i'd like to go to patagonia, particularly chile. i'd also like to see angel falls. stay out of colombia.”

“hiya, roseymonster :-) ohmygosh, i am extremely jealous!! you're going to have the breast time ever...and newgirl's right, you guys must be an awesome couple. hey, bring me back some "presents," mmmm'kay?
j/k ;-)”

“Oooooohhhh boy! Bought our plane tickets today. About three years ago we got a Delta American Express card and charged everything we could on it for about 6-8 months. We got enough miles for two round-trip tickets anywhere in the world.

Flying out of LAX to Lima, Peru on July 2. I think we're gonna catch a puddle jumper to Quito, Ecuador.

Hot damn!!!”

“Good luck to you, I'm v envious :o)”

“How long are you going to be gone?

Oh, good luck and have fun. Sounds like the trip of a lifetime.”

“Have fun! Be careful!”

“wow - lucky you”

“so what's your itinerary?”

“I feel I should post all kinds of “lucky you” and “have a great trip” type stuff, but what I really want to say is “you really suck – I’m so friggin’ jealous!””

“Have a great trip, Rosey! Take some pix...”

“We budgeted for a year. Maybe longer, maybe less, but we're not beholden to any rigid schedule.

The loose itinerary is based on the weather. July will be in Quito, Ecuador doing intensive Spanish for a month. Aug. will be exploring other parts of Ecuador and probably doing some mountaineering courses/climbing Cotopaxi and some other glacial peaks, getting comfortable with rope travel, etc.

Sept./Oct: Peru
Nov/Dec: Bolivia (though I think we may depart Peru early in favor of Bolivia. Bolivia seems reeeeally cool).
Jan/mid-Feb: Chile/Patagonia
mid-Feb/Mar/April: Patagonia/Argentina
May: Uruguay
June/July: Brazil

Again, playing it kinda loose. And if anyone is up for some trekking and we're around, let's definitely hook up!!

Pax.”

“Check in with us when you can.”

“I know I'll get all lonely for the TT crew :)”

“Maybe we can send you care packages.

TP
Baby wipes
Immodium
Cheeseburgers”

“There's a lotta folks down at the island
That follow that astrology
Some got a chart of the heavens
And some got a fancy degree

But me I got a pick-up
And I drive it like a Fourth of July
And that's where I seen the vision
When it fell right out of the sky...

It said...

Follow... follow the Southern Cross
Leave your luck in Mexico
There ain't no way to get lost
'Cause there ain't no place to go!

So I bought me a ticket to Texas
And I hopped on a plane to Peru
I met a little lady from Chile
And she fed me a tropical root

Now I'm down in Tierra del Fuego
And nothin' around me is right!
I think I got a case of lumbago
But it's better than the Northern Lights!

I gotta...

Follow... follow the Southern Cross
Leave your luck in Mexico
There ain't no way to get lost
'Cause there ain't no place to go!

So I paddled out to Easter Island
About as fast as I could go
I saw an albatross on the horizon
And the stone heads all in a row

I found the secret of navigation
And the mystery of the Milky Way
Now I'm livin' in the constellations
Tell me what more I can say?

You gotta...

Follow... follow the Southern Cross
And leave your luck in Mexico
There ain't no way to get lost
'Cause there ain't no place to go!



"Southern Cross"
©Steve Cash & John Dillon (1975, 1976)
Ozark Mountain Daredevils
"The Car Over The Lake Album" (1975)”

“Have FUN Mr and Mrs Roseymonster! And be safe. Give us a trip report every once in awhile if you can.”

“It's so cooool! You guys have an awesome trip planned.”

“Have a Wicked Awesome Good Time !”

“WOW, talk about a dream trip! have fun and be safe!”

“Alright! Last day of work! 6 hours and counting!! I've been waiting two years for this day!”

“Last six hours, eh?

Have some fun.

Page yourself over the office intercom.

Make photocopies of your ass and send them to all your bosses, with the notation, "See you later, love and kisses!"

If you have any leftover business cards, attempt to make a scale model of the Sistine Chapel with them.

Send email to the biggest dorks you hate with porn attachments and the subject line, "Photos you asked for"

Most of all, remind everyone there that you'll be free tomorrow and they still have to work! hahahahahaha!”

“Better think about it. It's winter down there.”

“Congrats Rosey! This is going to be the coolest thing ever. Post every chance you get!”

“I'm very envious, have fun!”

“Good luck and have the time of your lives! Hope the Hilleberg lives up to your expectations. Make sure that you come back and post your trip report!”

“yay!! that is so freakin' cool, Rosey. i hope you have the breast time ever.
:-)”

“Yeah, what Lyra said, "the BREAST time ever!"”

“I'm still too jealous to wish you luck.”

“have nothing but a blast and remeber us little people stuck here at work!!”

“tee hee hee! :-D”

“Lots of them at carnival time so I hear :o)”

“Gool luck, I'm envious too. Post pics if you can.”