We are just a few days away from leaving on our journey to South America. Our first stop is Quito, Ecuador. The only plans we have are a plane ticket and a place to stay our first night there. After that, it's all about planning as we go, seeing where the wind takes us. Hearing this you would think, "Dang, these are some relaxed, confident people right here." WRONG! We are both two of the most Type A people (Kathleen especially) on the planet. A few years ago we backpacked through Europe for 8 weeks, planning every stop, place to sleep, mode of transportation between destinations, etc. for the entire trip. And while we got to see a lot of cool places...we ended up realizing that sort of travel did not work for us. There was no room for flexibility or spontaneity. If a place was recommended to us along the way, or if we fell in love with a spot, or conversely, stopped enjoying a stop, we were stuck with our itinerary. Yes, we could have made changes, but that is easier said than done when you have non-refundable deposits on the line. This time, we are letting the pendulum swing the other way, being nothing but flexible, following suggestions of others, and letting our desires guide the way. This is slightly terrifying but also incredibly exciting! Prep Work: This section is being included only because it is something we wish we had when we were doing all of our research. Yes, all of this information is out there but it was not organized in a place or a way that was easy for us to find and reference.
Visas - only need one for Bolivia, which we can get there. Immunizations - Yellow Fever, Typhoid, and Hepatitis A. We were able to get all of these at a pharmacy and did not need to go to a specific travel clinic. This will obviously vary by state. Credit Cards - We have Apartment - we ended the lease on our beautiful apartment at the end of June and have been vagabonds, crashing at our parent's houses since then. Cars - one will be sold and the other will just hang out until we get back. Jobs - we both resigned from our current positions. Travel Insurance - World Nomad's has the best coverage for the type of trip we are taking. Packing - now this is where we get the most questions. How can you possibly pack for 7 months? Short answer, you can't. There will always be situations you can't plan for and things you will run out of along the way. As travel guru Rick Steves always says (and I have to keep reminding my mom), "you can buy it there." While we are eco-concious and do not want to buy a ton of stuff, we do know that we will have to buy some things along the way. So what are we bringing? Packing light has been the hardest thing for me (Kathleen) as I love to plan for every possible scenario, and have options for each one. After lots of research, carrying around a too heavy pack in Europe, and some talking down, here is what I am bringing:
3 Comments
Sherrie Van Hine
7/6/2017 05:07:22 pm
I'm SO impressed by everything you're doing and even more impressed by how light you are packing! When Bruce & I traveled, we had basic outlines and lists, but there was a lot of room for flexibility and spontanaiety!
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Laura
7/8/2017 06:19:03 pm
So excited for you guys!!! Quick question...what kind of pack do you have? And, any tips for picking the right one?
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Kathleen
7/13/2017 07:33:50 am
I have a Kelty Coyote Women's 75L backpack. I went to REI years ago and the sales people helped me pick one out that was the right size for my body. Mine also opens from the top and the front which is nice because I don't have to take everything out when I am looking for only one this, but this does mean it is a little less secure than top loaders. My recommendation is to go to REI or another outdoor store and tell them what you are looking for. They will be able to help you pick the right one for you and your needs. I've had mine for 7 years and love it. It has been to Europe with me twice and been on many weekend backpacking trips. Leave a Reply. |
AuthorJust two kids out exploring this big world of ours. Archives
September 2017
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