Preamble.
Trip Start
Apr 22, 2010
1
9
Trip End
May 03, 2010
New York, United States
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
tomorrow is the day i leave for peru.
tomorrow i set forth on almost accomplishing a goal i set for myself nearly a decade ago. all seven continents by the time i was 30. i can still remember the experience of leaving the country for the first time like it was yesterday. 2000. Europe. Germany specifically. Then Holland. I came back and all i could think about was where am i going next? i had the bug. it was in me. there have been only a few moments in my life when i had clarity about who i was, and what i wanted to do. i knew at that time that i wanted to see as much of the world as i could. settling down wasnt in my cards for a while. if i only live once i intend on taking full advantage of it.
ichi go ichi e.
one encounter one chance.
so, post college graduation badgermatt and i head to asia. japan and thailand. 2 weeks. continent #3 down. it was more than just a vacation. it was learning about completely different cultures. it was seeing how other people lived. it was about experiencing something.
road trip through tunisia put some things into perspective. sleeping in a tent in the sahara and eating bread cooked in the sand by our bedouin guides still is one of the coolest things i have ever done. continent #4. check.
fast forward to 2007 when i head to new zealand and australia. 2 weeks completely on my own on the other side of the world. never really had any specific yearn to step foot on australia but i needed to check it off the list. continent #5 (or at least what i saw of it which was honestly just sydney) was nothing compared to its neighbor new zealand. although i cannot appreciate lord of the rings movies i do appreciate the unrivaled natural beauty of the south island of new zealand. if you go anywhere, go there.
so by the end of the day tomorrow i will come close but ultimately fall short of my goal. i couldnt think of a more spiritual south american destination than that of peru. i look forward to mountain biking, riding a bus for 15 hours, descending upon machu picchu and smelling the crisp air in the andes mountains.
january 25, 2010. i text jon arkin telling him ive decided on peru for my next trip. end of april 2010. "i will actually be in peru for a week in april. not even kidding..." was his response.
so, after months of planning, tomorrow i meet up with jon, my lifelong friend and partner on this lil trip.
now normally i just send a random mass email from whereever i am basically covering off on any interesting thing that i came across and somewhat gloating about being somewhere other than home. a month or so ago a good friend of mine and i discussed life and work and passions and the fact that we were turning 30 over drinks and a hot lunch during "snowmaggedon" here in new york. hes the one that suggested i write a blog this time. so its his fault im doing this. i may not even have a chance to write anything due to shotty internet connection along the way but im gonna at least try.
so... back to tomorrow.
tomorrow.... i begin the last great adventure of my 20's.
tomorrow.... i sleep in a hostel.
...
tonight i pack.
Comments
South America! It's just like America, but South! Love you stay safe bro. Can't wait to hear all about it
When you go on these trips do you eat exotic foods? If so, I really want a recounting of the meals and beverage choices.
Dont forget something for me Uncle Mike!!!!
Be safe in your travels!!!!!!!
If Makayla is asking then I want something too.