Reflections back in Australia

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Trip Start Feb 14, 2006 Previous
Entry Trip End Dec 15, 2006

  Melbourne, Australia
Wednesday, January 3, 2007

And so the trip has come to an end and I am back in Australia preparing for the exams that will shape my life for the next 18 months.

So... where have I actually been on this trip
1) Chile
2) Argentina
3) Uruguay
4) Brazil
5) Bolivia
6) Peru
7) Equador
8) Costa Rica
9) Nicaragua
10) Honduras
11) El salvadore
12) Guatemala
13) Belize
14) Mexico
15) Cuba
16) England
17) Scotland
18) Italy
19) Austria
20) Czech republic
21) Germany
22) Holland
23) France
24) Spain

WHAT WAS IT LIKE
a microcosm of life really - Like an entire life lived in only 10 months. At the start I was unsure, had teething problems, excited about seeing everything, rushing all the time.

In the middle I became more relaxed about travelling. Louise and I fought harder than ever but had our best memories. We started travelling at a more relaxed pace and focused on things that were important rather than seeing everything in the guidebook. Really enjoying the process

At the end > starting to turn inward with less interest in tourism and enjoying more time with Louise. Louise and I probably more relaxed with each other than at any other time. Starting to long for the journey to end and (beware pseudo-religious opinion) right at the very end hoping to have the time all over again.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRIP
Hiking torres del Paine
Seeing Perito Moreno glacier
Buenos Aires and Tango classes
Iguazu Falls
Travelling with friends in Brazil
Salt flats of Boliva
Rurrenabaque jungle journey in Bolivia
Machu Pichu
Manu Jungle
Galapagos Islands
Studying Spanish in Guatemala
Working at an animal refuge in Guatemala
Staying with my uncle in London
Seeing Edinburgh through adult eyes
Hiking the Cinque Terra in Italy
Seeing Tommy Emmanuel in Prague
Staying with friends in Berlin and Hamburg
Watching flamenco in Seville
Wandering through the Alhambra in Granada

BUT... the best 2 things of the WHOLE TRIP were:

1) Learning Spanish and becoming fluent enough to enjoy chatting with locals
2) Doing it all with Louise - gracias a ti para todos, te quiero!

I hope everyone is happy and well

This is James signing off and starting the next adventure

Adios!

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