On the 14th of December, 2013, Isabel Guerrero
and Raul Dance are getting hitched in Lima, Peru. I bought a one-way ticket back to
Kentucky. This blog is a record of how
I’m getting there.
Plenty of folks that I’ve shared this idea with have
expressed that they fear for my safety.
I spent yesterday afternoon with my dad and he touched seriously on the
physical danger that could result from ignorance or unpreparedness. A few things were learned from our chat. Importantly, I should: find
a travel partner, have a clear travel itinerary to ensure that the routes and
modes taken are at least not outright dangerous, and let those that care
about me know that I’m taking it seriously.
Welcome to the planning phase. Not all of my ideas are good ones (as much as
this truth disappoints me), so hopefully the inclusion of many more brains working
together will be able to make this trip as safe, enlightening, and fun as
possible.
My goals of the trip:
To meet and learn from people of America whose culture I
know next to nothing about
To see and feel the landscapes from which these people have
been shaped
To gain a better prospective on how we are all connected
The itinerary as of now:
Santa Barbara, California
Austin, Texas
Mexico City, Mexico
Merida, Mexico
Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras
Costa Rica
Panama City, Panama
Colombia
Lima, Peru
The itinerary will be updated to be more specific as I
digest comments and learn more about places and people of interest. If you have ideas about of how to meet any of
the goals, how to stay safe or know of good places I could lay my head, please
comment.
-Daniel
Thought I'd send you a little info that would help the planning process. I'm sure there's lot's more out there so I'll send more links and info as I find them.
ReplyDeleteFor all your questions there is no better forum than The Lonely Planet Thorne Tree Forum. You can probably find a companion if you can be specific about your itinerary.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/index.jspa
You may want to start at Lonely Planet Thorne Tree Forum Mexico FAQ. They have forums for any country you want.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=103903
On the FAQ page there is a Transportation link. Click on "different world" under Transportation to all you need to know about bus traansit. For itinerary planning you can't go wrong with Bamba Experience. Their Hop on- Hop off options quite literally list the points-of-interest bus stops from Mexico City to Panama City, Cartagena to Quito, and Qito to Lima. In Mexico and Central America you select destinations based on the kind of experience you want. http://www.bambaexperience.com/HopOnHopOff.php
I'm not suggesting you book through them, only take advantage of their itineraries because they've already identified the points of interest. They book you on public bus systems anyway.
There is a lot of violence in Mexico mostly connected to the drug war that is now in its 80th month. If it were me, I'd get the hell through Mexico with as few stops as possible avoiding everywhere north and west of Mexico City. 40,000 to 100,000 people have been killed in the last 80 months depending who you ask (thanks to the insatiable appetite for cocaine, heroin, marijuana and meth in the US and Canada-yes, our demand for product is the cause of the violence). Foreigners are killed and injured in the crossfire. You'll want to know where most the dangerous areas are though no place is free from the fighting. Travel Weekly publishes a weekly travel warning map at http://www.travelweekly.com/mexicomap/.
The Mexico Gulf Reporter - a news aggregator and blog by American Ex-patriot Journalist Edward V. Byrne provides unsanitized news while most of the top online newspapers leave out the bad news because it hurts the tourist industry. Learn more at http://www.mexicogulfreporter.com/.
Daniel and Future Travel Companion(s):
ReplyDeleteMy world traveling friends provided information useful in keeping safe:
1. Do not INVITE muggers!
2. Take as few valuables as possible (especially electronics--phone, iPods, iPads, etc.)
2. With your camera: be very cautious about whipping it out.
3. Never keep wallets or phone or valuables in accessible pants pockets or at the top of an exterior pocket in a backpack. Especially in cities and crowded areas.
4. Take/wear a leather money belt to keep your passport and the majority of your money in when traveling. Friend stated: Money folded up lengthwise in thirds in my belt and often carried between $500.00 and $1,000.00 in cash, depending on how long I was going to be gone. Some places wouldn't take credit cards when I would be out in smaller towns away from the capital cities. The money was safer on me than hidden in the hotel room.
5. Make a few copies of passport and ID and any necessary immunizations and keep a copy in each bag you have, in case you somehow lose one. eave a copy at home or email it to yourself just in case.
6. Do NOT hitch hike unless you have been in the area several weeks and your new local friends you trust provide guidance.
7. Water/ICE: don't drink it unless it has been boiled or purified.
8. Take a prescription of Cipro (antibiotic)for severe diarrhea.
9. Have personal contacts in every country.
10. Have an itinerary and let those who care (and worry) know where you are and if your itinerary changes, let these people know this as well.
11. Learn to speak Spanish, even a crash course as soon as possible. Even basic stuff is a huge help.
Danica Novgorodoff recently travelled to Columbia. She would be very happy to talk to you (she provided some of the inputs in this comment): danicanov@gmail.com
I will provide other names/contact information as I get them.
Good planning will make your trip wonderful.
Love,
Mom
From your good buddy, Steve Reeves:
ReplyDeleteTravel by day. Don’t travel alone and take turns napping. Try not to go out at night or take a cab even for short distances. Research each country to find if officially licensed taxis display a symbol (Peru does) – don’t ride in unlicensed cabs. This does not mean that you might not be robbed but again trust your gut and pass up the cab driver that looks suspicious.
One of the guys I (Steve) worked a dig with in Belize decided to fly into Guatemala and bus down to Belize. He fell asleep on the bus and woke up to find that his pack was missing. Of course, no one on the bus saw anything. He did have his passport and some extra cash in the wallet he carried inside his clothing. Carry extra money in several places and photocopies of a passport. Even seasoned travelers make mistakes. Work to minimize them.
Don’t go unless you speak Spanish.
Buy a cheap watch but otherwise wear no jewelry. The same goes for cheap glasses plus an extra pair. Simple clothing and pack light. Do not put your name on the outside of your pack. If wearing new boots paint them to make them look old to minimize their resale value.
In any city there are “bad” areas of town that should be avoided. Always be aware of your surroundings and people near you. Always expect the unexpected (my kids called it Dad playing “What if…” Example: You are sitting at a table having lunch with your phone on the table. What if some distracted your attention to your right as their partner grabbed your phone from the left? Expect it to happen. Secure your belongings.
I’m sure there are plenty of places on the internet to learn of various scams. The crooks practice often so they are very good. Beware of people offering to be your friend or begging.
There are wonderful people that live in this area of the world and I’m sure this will be a great adventure for Daniel.
Final advice. Fly to Lima. Go to the wedding then spend a couple of weeks seeing Peru. It is an incredible place unlike any other place I have visited. More details on this upon request.
Steve (posted by Lauri Holder)