The Agenda

Like I said, there are a lot of questions. "Where are you going?" and "What the hell are you going to do for 4 months?" are among the popular ones. The first one is easier to answer (see below), so let's start there. In general, I am getting on a plane in January, touring a good majority of the continent of South America, and coming back in Mid-May. I will be accompanied by a good friend Zack Makowsky, with whom this whole idea was dreamed up over a year ago. Like most ideas, it started as a joke. And while drinking. I know for a fact neither one of us thought the other would actually go through with it. As time went on, the reasons why (just a few listed previously) as well as the places we "needed" to go began to pile up. We did some research, found some deals on the interwebs, and now have some plane tickets. All of this is subject to change, but this is the general idea:

Jan 19 - Jan30: Belize - Zack's uncle Forrest (aka Uncle Fo') pretty much lives down there and will be hosting us at the Belize Yacht Club.
Jan 31 - Feb 5: Miami - I realize this makes little geographical sense, but trust us it saved a lot of money and now we get to be in America for the Super Bowl (prediction: Indy over Carolina 34-27).
Feb 6 - Feb 20: Colombia - I know, I know you've heard it's sketchy. We thought the same thing too until we heard great things from many people who have actually been. Cartagena, Santa Marta, and a little Bogata on the way in and out.
Feb 21 - Mar 13: Peru/Bolivia - Starting in Cusco, Peru we plan to hike Machu Picchu and make our way along Lake Titicaca, and down into La Paz, Bolivia.
Mar 13 Mar 17: Lima - Had to make our way back towards Ecuador by the end of March, which required a stop over in Lima. Figured we'd check it out.
Mar 18 - Mar 31: Ecuador - Family friends of mine started a foundation for environmental sustainability that runs trips through the Andes and rainforests of Ecuador. We'll be out in the remote areas, seeing how the Achuar people live.
Apr 1 - Apr 11: Santiago/Patagonia - Lakes and mountains. Not really sure to be honest, but I've heard its cool.
Apr 12 - Apr 27th: Argentina - In and around Buenos Aires, maybe make a trip up to Uraguay. Stop over for one day in Iguazu Falls on the way to...
Apr 29 - May 15: Brazil - Rio, and up to Salvador de Bahia to see where my dad spent a summer in medical school back in the 60's.
May 17th: Bay to Breakers, San Francisco - It's pretty much my favorite.

*If anyone has been to any of these places, has some input, tips, tricks, a friend who lives down there and wants to take in some large bearded men along the way... please let me know. This entire trip has pretty much been built off of recommendations from those who have gone before us.

There you have it. Anyone want to come visit?

I Don't Even Know Where to Start....

If you're reading this it's because you know that I will be going on a little adventure. "Why?" you may ask. That's a great question. I wish I had one good answer. The truth is, I don't have one good answer, but instead many partially-logical, some non-sensical, and a handful semi-philosophical ones. What really matters, and what many of you who know me can attest to, is that this is something that I have put a lot of thought into.

When you get into the "real" world you realize that there are a lot of ways to go about things. The one extreme would be to get right into it and start working, getting an early jump on something called "the career path" and building a financial foundation and professional future. People who go this route often have nice things, boring stories, a routine, 401(k), and perhaps a nice resume. The other extreme might be to float around and Live the Dream for as long as humanly possible, often pushing the limits - whether it be credit cards, livers, family patience, or otherwise. Many of us young professionals find ourselves struggling to place ourselves somewhere in between these two extreme lifestyles. Let's face it, both have their merits and their downsides. In short, this trip is an effort to touch base with the Why-The-Hell-Not? Lifestyle before finding myself too deeply committed Why-Is-It-Only-Tuesday? Lifestyle.

That is little more than a feeble attempt to sum up the reasoning behind this trip. As I said before, I am not 100% sure why exactly I am leaving a perfectly good job, rent-controlled apartment, and temporarily stepping away from a lot of people that I will miss dearly. I do know this, though: I have to do it. The reasons why I went will only become evident along the way, and long after I return. My hope is that this, like the "Tubby Times" before it (chronicling my Semester in London, with yet another oversized comrade), will help not only serve as a record of the happenings, but maybe provide some entertainment as well. I would expect future entries to have a slightly lower level of philosophy, and an higher level of shenanigans. Without further adieu, let wackiness ensue with hilarious consequences.