Thursday, February 3, 2011

Buying Stuff

Serious cash outlays in the past few days.

Is the travel industry like the wedding and baby industries? It's a major opening to convince people that they need to buy particular things in order to make their travels comfortable and enjoyable. The thing is, I've fallen for it. (sighs)

I booked my airfare today and am happy/ashamed to admit that, yes, I paid a little more to get more direct flights. What can I say? Being in my 20's and dirt poor allowed me to take weird flights at weird times going through weird connections -- which was its own adventure. But now, I figure I've paid some dues (literally and figuratively) so I can take more sane routes that get me there in the middle of the day as opposed to dropping into some strange airport at 1:35am.

My route feels really solid and really exciting: San Francisco, CA - Rio de Janeiro - Overland On My Own - Sao Paulo - Manaus - Iguazu Falls (Brazil side) - Overland On
My Own - Iguazu Falls (Argentina side) - Jujuy Cadillal - Overland On My Own - San Miguel deTucuman - Buenos Aires - Cusco - Overland On My Own - Lima - San Francisco, CA.

I depart on February 27 and return to the Bay Area on May 18 and even though this seems like a good chunk of time, it will barely enable me to scratch the surface of these and surrounding destinations. South America is B-I-G.

And now I'm buying travel junk left and right. Let's see, what is the very best and most comfortable flip flop I can buy? $$. How about a good dressy sandal for those sultry nights in Rio? Another $$. And of course, I need to get a couple of pairs of convertible, quick dry, bug repellent travel pants. $$$. And a wrinkle-free travel dress. $$$. Brazilian visa? $$$. I see the montage in my head of a woman on a shopping spree. You just see her manicured hands doling out stacks of bills which are collected by hungry retail clerks. Cut to a cash register racking up a larger and larger number on the digital readout.

I'm happy to say that I'm helping our economy recover in my own special way.

But at the end of the day, I'm really ok with it all. In fact, I'm feeling pretty satisfied with my travel purchases. And of course, I just keep thinking to myself, "I'm sure I'm almost done buying stuff. It won't be long now, right?"


3 comments:

  1. FUN FUN FUN! So happy and excited for you. Can't wait to hear all about it.

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  2. Two things -- first, the best flip flops in the world should be bought in Brazil (Havaianas) at a fraction of what they cost here.

    Next -- Interested in learning to surf while in Brazil? Check this place out: www.easydrop.com I have a friend who did it (she's 42) and I'm seriously tempted.

    I'd highly recommend going to Punto after Cuzco -- and even taking a tour bus (which I did with my mother) because they stop at some really cool things along the way.

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  3. Oh, one more thing -- remember you have to lug around everything you bring. Really, pack light. Very light. You don't really need anything but a credit card and a passport where you are going. You can get everything there.

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