Posting on a Whim

I am currently sitting in Arica, Chile eating a late hostel provided breakfast and slowly memories of posting to this blog started coming back to me.  I just finished 2 weeks in Lima, Peru of general chaos and now I am on my way to see a lady in Vina del Mar, Chile once again.

(ARICA is all the way on the top of the shaded in yellow.)

If you look back to my trip last year it should note that I rode for over 60 hours on a bus; this trip is being broken up.  A 20 hour bus from Lima to Tacna Peru, climbing into a group taxi for 5 dollars and crossing the border with strangers, and now staying overnight in the border town of Arica (I have been here before) before flying out at 3PM today for Santiago Chile to avoid another 40 hours on a bus.

I have photos of Peru I should post as well and should get back to that once I get to my new apartment and "procure" internet.  

(Here are some shots inside the hostel.  I would post pictures of my "gourmet" breakfast of a bologna-like sandwich but being as how I am a bit southern I used the sandwich maker to fry my bologna so it was delicious and long gone.)

Sibaritico for Completos in Vina del Mar

In a recent post I linked to the video of Anthony Bourdain during his time in Chile.  I live just a few blocks from the site of his "Completo" consumption here in Vina del Mar so the other night (after a few of the necessary liquid appetizers) I rallied some ladies to go partake in some Hot Dog overkill.

If you have not watched the Anthony Bourdain video (a few blog posts back at MY BLOG) a completo is a footlong hotdog with Saurkraut, mashed avocado,  tomatoes, and artery clogging of mayonnaise, that I like to top with ketchup.

Needless to say it was a good night and the next morning I woke up a little rough.  I am still not sure whether it was the appetizers or the completo but I would definitely repeat the process.

Where I worked (notice that it is past tense)

During my time down here thus far i have managed to pick up a few hours working at an English School.  Given that I am without a work visa and the school is a bit behind on processing one I am separating ties to the school and going back to being blissfully unemployed.

It also appears that my time in Chile will come to an end when my 3 month tourist visa does.  Things are more expensive here that most places in South America and I fear it could bankrupt me to stay until Christmas (plus Christmas is in the middle of their summer so it would just feel odd). 

I have now started the planning phase for a trip back to the states.  Could be up to 120 hours on a bus...   more info to come

PERU VIDEOS

Leaving Peru

I realize that I still have a lot of Peru to post about, but I have been a little bit behind with my posts and I am leaving the country early tomorrow morning. 

In a brutal attempt to save money and to punish myself for my hedonistic lifestyle I have opted to forgo the plane and any attempt at sanity and take a nonstop bus journey close to 60 hours from Lima to Santiago.

I have loaded my bag up with my mp3 player and charged up the laptop to watch movies on the trip and try not to go insane.  Wish me luck.... I start on Thursday morning and end my trip on Saturday in the afternoon so I won't be around much during that time.

Leaving the country

THE BLOG

I understand that I should be better with my pictures and posting them on here but I am finally ready to leave the country again and there are definitely pictures to come.

Currently I am in Woodbridge, VA staying with my friend Brandon and his amazing wife Desiree and she is taking me to the airport tomorrow.  I have been hesitant to disclose my travel plans thus far because everything was tentative and like any traveler I did not want to set myself up to fail.

In terms of lateness on disclosure I really couldn't be closer.  I take my first flight tomorrow morning at 10am and I have been packed for a week now.  My first destination is Lima, Peru where I will meet up with my friends Robbie and Flame who are down there currently on different trips but the three of use will unite in the same apartment (just like at Snowshoe) for the first week I am there for some light imbibing at social gatherings (partying) and taking in of the local culture (more of the same). 

After the month of July ends I will be slowly migrating south (although unlike the birds I will be heading into winter conditions) down to Chile.  Hopefully, as of tomorrow my apartment will be booked and I will be living near the ocean in the resort town of Vina Del Mar until at least December of this year.  Granted, I will be there illegally after 3 months so before that happens I will have to cross the border for over one night before crossing back in.

Well now that my travel plans have leaked out I guess I should sleep because it is nearing 12 and I leave for the airport at 5am to catch my first flight down to Fort Lauderdale, Florida where I will wait for my 5pm flight to Lima Peru.  Wish me luck.

My summer

OK, so I realize it is still a little early to actually talk about my summer thus far, but the weather jumped from a foot of snow to hot conditions. Granted, the last week of straight rain and humidity has not been the greatest but to me it is only summer and winter which is sad because I like the cooler air of the spring and fall.


I really haven't documented as much as I should have, but here is a quick summary of what I have been doing (excluding the work aspect of the whole thing).

I have been trying to spend some time outdoors

I did spend some time in my vacation house...


and relaxed in my backyard...


I have been hanging out with some friends...


and focusing my efforts on getting back in shape.... (just note the arm workout and balance training)


So far this summer is a flying by, but not like the last couple I have enjoyed in South America and Europe respectively. I have been working, which "work" is still my least favorite four-letter-word, but I hope to have enough funds pooled here shortly to head back out again on the travel. Wish me luck.

Adsense takeover

I have finally decided to put a few ads on my site. I realize that with the small amount of traffic that I generate this will not actually pay me anything, but I figure if a few clicks on the ads here and there actually net my 15 cents over the next three years or so I will consider it a great sucess.

So if you aren't feeling to busy feel free to click on a few ads to hopefully get me up and traveling again. With any luck I could be back on the travel as early as July of this year.

Decisions, Decisions

I am currently in Riga, Latvia and I have some decisions to make. Originally I took this most recent trip to avoid high fares home from England in early August and hopefully make it to Spain but it is coming time for me to decide what to do.

Here are some of my choices:

Go to Tallinn, Estonia (THIS IS THE FIRST STEP OF ALL THE CHOICES)

1. Head to Helsinki Finland and fly back to England en route to the USA
2. Head to Helsinki and fly back to England before going to Spain and then the USA
3. Slowly make my way back from Tallinn to Enlgland by land and extend the trip
4. Choose a major city or two and just go there before England and the USA
5. Work my way back to Spain and then England before the USA

Not sure which way to go but I should have it figured out by tomorrow. Oddly the thought of home is sounding good after about 7 months and if I can save a little cash I might get to go travel again a bit sooner.

Prague

After being in Poland I have found my way back to Prague but sadly haven't got to post nearly enough due to no wifi at the hostel so right now I have found a cable from the wall to post for a sec.

The city of Prague is one of my first real conquests in life (2003 I think) but I lost all the photos so I have taken a few more this time around.

Here I am up at the castle overlooking the city.


This is the famous Charles Bridge in town.

From across the Charles bridge though the castle really is a sight to be seen. I am hoping to get the chance to post more on here but I am staying about 3 days everywhere so I might have to just collage it all into a video in a couple of days.

Off to Berlin, Germany tomorrow... wish me luck

Off to Eastern Europe

Tomorrow I will finalize my move from Birmingham by flying to Prague in the Czech Republic but I have no plans on staying there long.

I plan to leave the city the same day to head up to Wroclaw, Poland for a few days before returning to Prague. That said, my day looks something like this (if all goes well)

8am Wake up
10:30am Head to airport
12:50pm Fly to Prague
4pm Arrive in Prague (2 hour time difference)
5pm make it to the Prague train station
6pm Catch a train from Prague
8pm Arrive in Nachod (Border Town)
8:30 catch a bus across border to Poland
9:30pm - 10am Hope that there is a connection sometime in this range for me to make it from Kudowa Zdroj up to Wroclaw
Meet the person from the first couch I am surfing at 2pm in the middle of town.

I don't speak the language, I haven't allotted time to sleep, I am trying to do it all on the cheap, and I am making it up as I go. I LOVE TRAVEL

Fixing my sleep schedule

With a big weekend ahead of me and a new adventure starting next Wednesday to Eastern Europe I am now attempting to fix my sleep schedule. It has been my recent habit to fall asleep around 4 or 5 in the morning and wake around 1. This will not work if I move ahead a couple of hours in my travels because then I will become entirely nocturnal. So, to remedy this I plan to stay up all night and into tomorrow.

Wish me luck because it could be a long night.

Leaving Luxembourg

Here are some parting shots of Luxembourg. I am too exhausted at the moment to type anything more about it because I stayed up all night until my bus at 2 in the morning and my flight at 6:30 from Germany...

Endless Travels

Over the past few days I have not posted because I have been endlessly traveling. I left Panama and spent some time in Costa Rica before heading through Nicaragua and Honduras en route to a night in El Salvador and now I find myself in Antigua Guatemala.

The first trip involved a 3 hour border crossing into Costa Rica


Some shots of Costa Rica


These are all in San Jose



Yes I was there and I even found a nice Irish Pub in town that sold Guinness and put the NFL Playoffs up on the screen so life was quite nice there.

The Panama Canal VIDEO

Panama City, Panama - 09

It is official. Jonny Walker will be continuing the Adventure in 2009. I have booked a flight to Panama City and will fly there for a visit in January.


I am still researching things to do there.


If you know anything about the city please email me with info.

Easter Island - Video

Cusco Peru - Video

Montevideo

Somewhere during the beginning of my trip I decided that I was going to go to Montevideo, Uruguay. Nobody told me about it, I think I just looked at the map and decided that it was the spot for me. Now about 3 months later I have actually reached my destination. It was worth the trip.

Here is a view of some of the city from the commercial port


Here is a shot of the center of the city. You have to love to see palm trees.


Another shot of the center

There are small commercial streets abound and some of the best restaurants I have encountered on my trip. It has also been nice to be slightly off of the normal tourist track to take a few days to cleanse my system all while enjoying clean water and a beach.

Easter Island... Shots of Big Heads

I am now on the Isla de Pascua... or Easter Island... or Rapa Nui... OK so there are a lot of names, but there are even more Moai (AKA Giant Heads). I will save the history lesson. Just check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Island for all your needs.

When the Island was discovered all of the heads had been toppled. There are different theories for this, but some of the heads have since been propped back up to their rightful place.

I have taken a ton of pictures. Most of which don´t have me in it, but this is my website so I am in the photos. They should all be posted when I make it home, or on my facebook when I get the chance.


Me with a toppled Moai

They are quite abundant

Look like any of your relatives?

They are quite a sight to behold

I think I fit in fine right here. This trip has been amazing thus far. I have tons of picutures, but upload times are horrible... plus the beach is calling me. The sun is shining and the water was great yesterday. Wash, Rinse, Repeat. Back to Santiago on Thursday.