The journey begins

Well, I can say I officially started my trip. Landed in El Salvador this afternoon - 31 degrees and sunny! Awesome!! Leaving the cold winter of Canada behind somehow makes it feel that much better.

The flight was alright. I sat beside this lady from Nicaragua. She is visiting her father who just had a stroke. Next to her was another lady from El Salvador. She spoke no English and was quite funny when talking to me in Spanish. It was always followed by a blank look of confusion at the blank look of confusion on my face (why don`t you understand....gringo!) The middle lady was translating for us which was quite nice. I was invited to dinner with her family if I was traveling to her home town near Ciudad Segundo Montes - unfortnately, I`m not heading that way.

Anyways, the lady next to me was telling me about this Rum from Nicaragua - stating it is some of the best in the world (obviously, right!?). One guess at to what they were serving on the phone - yup, that Rum. When she figured this out - one more guess at who was drinking this rum from Nicaragua! A little bit of rum later I was speaking Spanish! Who knew!?

I decided to book myself into the Sheraton Presidente in San Salvador for a few nights - spoil myself a little before heading into the dark world of `budget travelling`. I got a shuttle to the hotel which is about a 30 minute drive AND a man holding a sign with my name on it at the airport...it is all about the man with the sign. Last time this happened was when I was in Prague, Cody and Kari met me at the airport with a sign that read TRON...memories.

There is a wedding going on this evening which I might try to join...you know, engage in a little wedding crashing, should be fun. I have to make sure there is rum so my Spanish comes back.

Plan is to do some sightseeing on my own for the next couple of days - visit a few museums, see parts fo the city that I don`t have to worry about getting mugged in. A buddy gave me some contacts here which I will try to get in touch with. One of which is in El Tunco, on the coast. Hopefully head there for a week or two, learn how to surf, again - try to get some of that tan back that I lost from Calgary`s uber long summer.

This blog will be read by people who are wasting time at work, putting off shoveling the driveway with all that snow that falls - I hope it`s a lot by the way :o), or my parents who will read it multiple times a day. If you want a personal email, I am using shawn.hoffart@gmail.com Email me and I´ll get back to you when I have some extra time.

Adios para ahora.

Itinerary

Itinerary

November 26, 2008
• Depart Vancouver, Canada to San Salvador, El Salvador
• Possibly travel to Honduras for up to a week
December 18, 2008
• Depart San Salvador, El Salvador to Lima, Peru
January/February 2009
• Chile
• Argentina
• Brazil
• Possibly Uruguay and Bolivia (time permitting)
March 1, 2009
• Depart Sao Paulo, Brazil to Capetown, South Africa
March 24, 2009
• Depart Capetown, South Africa to Madrid, Spain
May 30, 2009
• Depart Istanbul, Turkey to Cairo, Egypt
June 10, 2009
• Depart Cairo, Egypt to Beirut, Lebanon
June 20, 2009
• Depart Beirut, Lebanon to Dubai, UAE
June 24, 2009
• Depart Dubai, UAE to Chennai, India
July 5, 2009
• Depart Chennai, India to Bangkok, Thailand

Not confirmed yet:
Aug 5: Bangkok - Manila
Aug 24: Manila - Sydney
Nov 15: Auckland - Fiji
Nov 22: Fiji - Calgary

T minus 16 days

So, the 'to do' list has started and final preparations are finally being checked off the list. A quick general overview of what has to be done before I take off:

• Book Machu Picchu tour (for Dec 2008)
• Cancel phone, utilities, cable, internet
• Notify bank, VISA of plans and what will be expected on this trip in terms of finances
• Purchase travel insurance
• Purchase backpack (saw a really good one that has wheels and a handle so I don't have to throw it on my back the entire time $350)
• Clothing
• Email friends in El Salvador

Since I'm moving out of my place and back to the parents for a week or so before I leave, this list includes getting all that sorted out as well.