ME VOY: Central/South America

I'm Back

2007-06-02T17:04:10Z

See the itinerary of this trip, and details about each destination.

April 12-June 1
I'm home! What started out as an idea/dream years ago was accomplished, and I don't think I could express it all well enough in this blog. Yet, what my eyes saw, ears heard and mind thought along the way has and is engrained inside of me forever, no doubt.
Tomorrow I set off on the second leg of my trip, a homecoming of sorts, Denver to Vegas to _______? (TBD) I hear my nephew is walking like a champ and so I can't wait to challenge him to a race and spend some time with my family, some living out of state, so if you're reading this, clear the couch and stock the fridge--I'm coming As for pix, I got a lot; video, the same.
I heard from my friend Kristin out in Korea, she's happy and livin' life full and with a great guy by her side. (AhSah!) She got me reflecting, more on the people along the way. Over the last few months I've met some amazing people, strangers one moment, friends around bonfires the next, absolutely the best part of this. So, thanks to you all, good times. Its been two years since I graduated from UNC --Greeley, Colorado people, not Chapel Hill, and well, I'm moving on into flight school next month as many of you may or may not know. The Next Chapter of things. Yet, I'm not going to let this last trip escape me too fast, and so I'm at my computer and ideas in truckloads for how to show you what this trip was for me, through the lens.

I'm Back remains copyright of the author COnativeJM, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Heading Home

2007-05-31T05:24:07Z

Se acabo, no mas y ya, me voy, manana. Thanks for checking in with me and seeing my site, no more to post after this about the trip, although I will be putting together a video of it in due time. Yesterday I turned 26! Yeap, among a plane full of confusion, as our plane was unable to land in Costa Rica due to fog, we turned around and in room 607 of the Marriott in Panama with a to-go box for dinner, chicken and broccoli, my birthday began. I moved into another hotel in Costa Rica, on Copa Airlines´ dime after some ¨discussons¨ took place from a flight I was on before that got delayed. One word: Adventure. I´m back in another hostel/hospedaje/hotel, the defining term for each has seemed to blur together wherever i go. Flight to LAX is tomorrow and then home from there.

Heading Home remains copyright of the author COnativeJM, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Machu Picchu

2007-05-22T19:00:42Z

See the itinerary of this trip, and details about each destination.

Hola a todos, I arrived into Peru very recently. I have been trying to see as much of the landscape as possible, and so I take the bus on long land trips. One thing, no matter how comfortable they say the bus seats are, after four days, every man/woman for themselves, but one thing is for sure, I won´t need to visit Blockbuster when i get home, i´ve seen tons of movies!!! I have never imagined Peru to be so beautiful, the landscape is just amazing. As many of you know, I have gotten into making films of my trips, this one is no exception, and so when its done you can see for yourself just what I´m talking about.
I have been busy this morning, booked my trip to Machu Picchu, I can´t tell you how excited I am for this.
Update: Natalie impressed the college up in Glenwood and they offered her a position, she took it. Mom and Dad, they too are trekking themselves, recently back from a trip to Arizona, they then got on a plane and have spent 3 days touring around San Antonio, Texas. So, you can see where I get it from. Everyone, my cousin Charlene has just given birth to her first baby boy, quite eager to join us here on the outside, he arrived early, my prayers are with him and I hope him a speedy recovery. I love you all.

Machu Picchu remains copyright of the author COnativeJM, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Galapagos Islands

2007-05-16T21:35:20Z

over the past 10 days, I have been fortunate enough to start my trip off by swimming with sea lions and i even went searching for sharks--the vegetarian variety I was told! I have been eating 'pescado a la plancha' (grilled fish and rice) like its going out of style. I went into this trip with that sole intention, to eat fish because i like it so much and its healthy, and thinking about how fresh and cheap it is out here, please don´t show me another filet for a while. Linus (Switzerland), The Dutch, Darren and Karen from Canada, Galapagos Intern-Teaching squad and the Vets From MSU, every one of these people have made this trip awesome. And the bonfire on the beach of Isabela was just right, to put a close on a great 10 days under the sun. As for my spanish, if you would have seen the chaos that ensued when we left Isabela, I could tell you that no classroom can teach that, and I am back in Santa Cruz with a good meal in my stomach, a nice room to settle into and so...its not going too bad. From here I will be heading south to Machu Picchu, I am getting excited to see that.

See the itinerary of this trip, and details about each destination.

--CIAO

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Change of plans

2007-05-06T18:46:02Z

See the itinerary of this trip, and details about each destination.

I had a change of mind while in Costa Rica, as beautiful as it was, and it was, I´ve decided to move my way south and do a few things there. Planning this trip has been fun, cause the truth it not too much planning was put into it, I just knew I wanted to go. One thing I´ve had to keep in mind of was the weather, as fast as it changes at home, holds true for what i´m going to expect further south. I´m right now hanging out in Guayaquil, Ecuador, 2nd largest town to Quito (capital), and 1st in revenue, or something like that, due to tourism: new int´l airport and la embarcaderra, hub out to the Galapagos Islands. I mention the weather because I´m going to make my way to Machu Picchu, it´s cold, getting colder.
Along the way, I´ve used numerous sites to understand the route, buses are widespread throughout, getting the correct name of the bus line takes a bit. From Central to South, had to fly in, travel agents recommendations, along with every other site I checked out. I hear that to get through to Colombia from Ecuador is more feasible, i´m checking that out, safety first.

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Arrived in Costa Rica

2007-05-06T18:40:50Z

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I got here safe, talk about a long bus ride, about 4 days from Mazatlan to San Jose, and those of you who know how easily i get motion sickness--aha, no more!!!!! I´ve miraculously overcome it, not completely, but from before, pretty damn different. Ill be staying here for the next month, got some spanish classes arranged through U. of Costa Rica and i have a really nice host family to stay with. As many of you know, this is my first time through this region, right now its raining and then changing out for the sun to have a chance, pretty humid. Update on the family..Natalie, Nathan and Aiden are in the process of moving to Glenwood Springs, and thats one great reason to go visit along with hitting up the hot springs!!! -Ahsah!!! My parents are doing great, Dad´s enjoying retirement and taking up archive duties with the Knights of Columbus and for his First Cavalry Unit (Army) along with Aiden duty 3 days a week. Mom is great, pulling double duty with Frontier and at the salon, all those here say the same thing, ´que son joven.´ --And they are, looking great at 28. --Me VOY, que se vayan bien!!

Arrived in Costa Rica remains copyright of the author COnativeJM, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Beginning to move

2007-04-23T17:31:49Z

Okay, so no big headaches so far, things have been pretty good. The family and I just spent the last week in Mazatlan and we did a lot: mexican fiestas, timeshare presentations (aka ´free breakfast), banana boating and lounging around. Aiden was great, i got a new perspective on the life as a parent when he got hungry at 5 or 6 in the morning, still groggy and wrestling to get a strong sleep in, then Natalie or my mom got him calm again minutes later. It was tough to say goodbye, from 6 to solo in minutes and on a bus to Guatelajara, well its part of it. The bus system in Mexico, fabuloso y total sin problemas. Well, i´m in Oaxaca now, and its pretty warm. Hasta la proxima vez!

Beginning to move remains copyright of the author COnativeJM, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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The Day Before

2007-05-02T17:09:38Z

Its been a long day, as you can imagine lots of things are on my mind. I got back home from Steamboat on saturday, enough time to unpack and get going to Kindra's house for Easter on sunday. If you haven't seen the family for a while, be prepared, there are tons of new additions to the family, literally! But it was awesome, the food was great and seeing everyone was nice. I've been spending a lot of time watching Aiden, moving Natalie and Nathan's stuff out (they're moving to Glenwood Springs in about 3 months), organizing the things that go with me and those that don't, but most of all I've been able to relax with the family. I'm leaving tomorrow, kind of eager/nervous/anxious/excited and all that, normal stuff. I'm going to make it my focus to eat, sleep and breath spanish over the next several months, less english blogs and emails and a little more espanol...see, its beginning already! I've done my shopping, doing the packing and soon I'm off. I'm going to do my best to keep updated pictures going off this site, I'd love to hear how everyone is doing, and remember, check out the map on my site and wherever my tack is, I'll be. Uncle Bob Maes and I are talking about meeting up in Costa Rica, then to Buenos Aires, Argentina in June or July, if you got some time, give me a buzz via email, see what'll work. -nos hablamos pronto!! --ME VOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Steamboat

2007-03-30T22:38:02Z

Part of my video

Steamboat remains copyright of the author COnativeJM, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Steamboat in the background

2007-03-29T08:25:27Z

My time in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA is coming to an end next week. I've been consumed with archiving my season, along with the people that made it what it was. <<check it out>> More to come. Soon, my family is taking off to Mexico for a week, and Aiden will be making his international debut with us, so we are all looking forward to that.
I'll be M.I.A. for a while, as I'll be backpacking my way through central and south america, so this site is going to be my way to communicate with you all, as I will be gone for a while, with no plans to stay in one place too long.

See the itinerary of this trip, and details about each destination.

Steamboat in the background remains copyright of the author COnativeJM, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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