Day 0: South America, go!

When did night transition into day? Maybe when we left for the airport? I took about a half-hour nap somewhere along the way, but other than that, I was trip planning, right up to 3:30am, when we had to make the final preparations for the trip to leave for the airport for our 6am flight.

K's mom was very mom-like in making us not one, but *two* mini-meals each and putting them in disposable to-go boxes (that were given to her when one of their neighbors moved recently). Yummy fried rice, dumplings, noodles with leftovers from dinner, almost like homemade bento boxes ^^

The flight to Miami landed a bit late but we were ok with our 3.5 hour connection. This guy behind us on the flight though... he had a "connection" with a departure time *earlier* than our flight's original arrival time. He claims he bought it from the airline's website as one flight package, but it sounded a bit odd. I was wondering if maybe he really bought the flights separately and just messed up the timezones in his head ^^;

All was good and well, until I discovered the forgotten chocolate that I was supposed to eat at SFO sitting in my jacket pocket, now melted and a big mess. It took me a while at the airport's bathroom sink to get that cleaned out T_T

We ate our bentos -- yummy ^o^

The touchdown in Quito generated the most cheering I've ever encountered on any flight. The landing wasn't any different from any other flight I've been on, but maybe people were just really happy after such a long flight, and maybe that's just the way Ecuadorians are?

Upon exiting customs, I thought I heard K's name. And I did! We had set up an airport pickup with our hostal, which turns out to just be them calling the radio taxis that we could have gone up to ourselves. I had read about it on the LP forums -- right after coming out of customs, on the right, is a bunch of booths for taxis -- but I figured since it was late at night and the very start of our trip, it would be ok to just shell out a little extra to have peace of mind. I think it might have been around $10-12(?) directly at the booths; our hostal charged us $20 ^^;

I chitchatted a little with the taxi driver as we made our way to central Quito. K says he was impressed with my Spanish but I'm sure he could carry on the same basic conversation in French. It's sad that I can say so little after three years of high school Spanish. I shouldn't have left it to rot for 12+ years. But I'm happy I did a little reviewing before the trip ^^

10pm. Yay! Arrived at the hostal ^^ There was a girl and guy waiting for us it seems. The guy spoke better English, but it was still interesting communicating. We understood the basics though. Breakfast hours and don't throw toilet paper in the toilet (actually, regarding the toilet paper, there was a sign in the bathroom in Spanish that we had to go back down and confirm the meaning of). Oh, and that we would be leaving tomorrow but then coming back for another four nights.

Zzzzz...

Day -1: "Homeless"

I really wanted to write during the past several weeks, but time just didn't want to be my friend. Every week (or few days) was a new development and it all sort of went by in a blur. And now, here we are, in South America! (Well, this will be backposted to a day earlier ^_~)

Recap...

end of May:
K says, yes, he wants to travel to South America next and finally gives me the enthusiastic nudge that I needed (was in a travel-blah funk). I go crazy visiting all the nearby libraries that I frequent, checking out books about South America. It's all in preparation for further brainstorming and planning, but June is a not nice month time-wise...

June:
Semi-last-minute trip to Seattle. Yay!
Return back from Seattle, and drive to Yosemite the following morning.
In Yosemite for a few days, return, clean up house a bit for C & J to visit.
C & J visit for a 1.5 weeks. Super duper yay! ^o^
End of June.

beginning of July:
Major brainstorming. Turns out August into September is a good time for South America. Eek! Initial itinerary.

mid July:
Looking at airfares and air passes, more itinerary and route planning. Cut, cut, cut stuff we can't fit in.

July 24:
Round-trip tickets and oneworld Visit South America pass bought!
- SFO -> Miami -> Quito
- Buenos Aires -> Miami -> SFO
- Quito -> Lima -> Cuzco
- Iguazu -> Buenos Aires

July 28:
Uh oh. Read that Peru declared a state of emergency on account of weather. Apparently it's been the coldest winter in several decades in many South American countries?? Go? No go?

July 31:
Received rent increase letter from landlord >_<

Aug 2:
Started looking at current rental market and what's out there.

Aug 4:
After more deliberation and research, decided to go ahead with the trip. Should be do-able since it shouldn't be as bad as what we experienced during Boston winters!

Aug 8:
Decided there are other places we could potentially live at for less, and we could save on two months rent during the trip. Actually pitched not charging us rent for the two months that we'll be gone to our landlord. Rejected. Turned in official 'moving out' letter. 2.5 weeks to start of trip!

Aug 9-22:
Lots of packing and hauling of boxes to K's parents' house for storage. Lots of trip planning. Craziness.

Aug 23:
Movers moved our furniture and big items for storage.

Aug 25 evening:
Done. Moved out. Keys left in mailbox. "Homeless". Our flight is at 6am tomorrow morning. Still trip planning.

Ok, from the expected definition of 'homeless', we aren't really. No, we won't have any place to really come back to after the trip, but it's not like we'll be sleeping on the street, and we'll certainly have the means to find a home. But, this *is* the first time in my life when I won't really have a physical home.

Outside of all that, I suppose home is where K is ^^