Starting Out

I have been free from work a week, and I already feel different. Different in a good way, mind you - I am in that grey area where I have no plans for any given day. The stress of work is now completely gone, as seen in my ability to sleep through the night. I think I should start breaking my days into 30-minute blocks, à la the protagonist in Nick Hornby's About A Boy. Rest assured, securing a good cup of coffee accounts for at least one of those blocks.

Christmas comes together starting today, and I am looking forward to seeing and playing with my niece, who has just started to walk (though she really prefers to run!). A party up the valley tonight will be a great chance to catch up with old friends - friends I sorely miss since moving from the Okanagan back in 2000.

The post-holiday holiday plans remain pretty fluid. Every time I hear an account of a different South American or Central American trip or experience, I want to alter my itinerary to include it. Already I get the sense that the planned two-month trip will extend into three or four, and could well consume half a year before all is said and done. Chile fell on and off the plan, but is now back on - I get the sense it will be a good first stop in South America, and may allow my travel shots to kick in before heading into Bolivia and Peru. Volunteer opportunities (Nicaragua/Costa Rica) and stunning hikes (Guatemala) and beaches (Belize) await in Central America.

The political situation in South America is fascinating at the moment, as numerous countries have opted for socialist leaders and governments. I look forward to talking to locals and gaining a perspective on the continent's move to the left, and witnessing the changes that may take place while I am there. It's a given that the Maple Leaf will be in full view throughout my travels, to prevent getting pegged/targeted as American. I imagine I will come across many Americans travelling under the same flag.

There are numerous resources available online for travelling throughout SA, and once I have a better index of these I will publish them for your persuing enjoyment. My primary source for news is the South America Daily, and a great hiking resource is the South America hiking section on Internet NEED to Know.