thoughts on travel

yes, travel is about seeing things and places. it is about eating new foods. it is about adjusting to new cultures and customs and ways of doing things. it is about meeting new people--both locals and other travelers. it is about sharing experiences. BUT more than anything its about learning how to survive and thrive outside of your comfort zone. it is about meeting each new inevitable challenge with a smile and figuring out how to overcome it. its the moments you realize you are on the wrong bus or you wander into the neighborhood lonely planet said to avoid at all costs. its the little adrenaline rush of being lost or threatened or confused. but somehow it all works out. then you can breath. and what you are left with is the confidence that you can do anything and overcome any challenge. you have a little more faith in the universe and in people and that everything will work out in the end. and then you have a story to tell. because what is a travel story without some challenges and obstacles to overcome?

the other night i was in a hostel in mendoza, argentina and i overheard some girls talking that they had been on this 3 day tour in that place then were heading from there on another 5 day tour to somewhere else and from there they were joining another tour...BORING! they could never get lost. they could never be confused. to me, that just loses the adventure and the real POINT of travel.

brief summary of the past week or so:
-left Chloe and valpo (sad day :( )
-Santiago, Chile- couch surfed (CS) with a sweet girl from Ecuador, went out to a party with a bunch of CSers to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the website, went to a ¨gringo¨ themed party with a guy we had met the night before, checked out some urban agriculture projects with a guy a emailed after coming across his blog.
-Mendoza, Argentina- bike and wine tour with 3 irish guys and a danish girl i met in my hostel, hanging out and resting up to recover from a bit of a cold after many late nights, couch surfing with an incredibly creative and fun guy, enjoying the beautiful autumn like weather!
-Córdoba, Argentina- currently traveling with 2 girls i met in mendoza from germany and denmark, spent the day enjoying the history, art and culture of the city.
-Next stop: Salta, Argentina tonight then i will begin a several day journey heading up to Cusco, Peru in a hurry because i decided to get up there for Inti Raymi, the festival of the sun and Cusco´s biggest festival of the year, which is next week.

I love the freedom of traveling alone!

Abrazos!