It occurred to me the other day, that this time last year, I was fresh back from a trip to Chile.
Early December 2012, I quit my day job and spent the night freaking out about what happens next. M and I had been talking about me moving out there for months, and I'd been resisting based on how much I loved D.C. and how great the city was for my career, despite making me sort of crazy and spending far too much time commuting for two years.
The next day, I woke up and said, game on world, you're mine. I'd been wanting to go back to South America and I wanted to see Patagonia before everything melts or becomes the trendy vacation spot.
So, I booked a flight for the next week. For 10 days so I could be home for Christmas before moving to Montana.
I'd gone to Italy in January 2012 to visit a friend, but Chile would be my first all out solo adventure abroad since Slovenia in 2009 and I hadn't been to South America since Peru in 2008. As much as I pride myself on my adventurous, fearless spirit, I was nervous as hell. Did I mention I don't speak much Spanish?
Early December 2012, I quit my day job and spent the night freaking out about what happens next. M and I had been talking about me moving out there for months, and I'd been resisting based on how much I loved D.C. and how great the city was for my career, despite making me sort of crazy and spending far too much time commuting for two years.
The next day, I woke up and said, game on world, you're mine. I'd been wanting to go back to South America and I wanted to see Patagonia before everything melts or becomes the trendy vacation spot.
So, I booked a flight for the next week. For 10 days so I could be home for Christmas before moving to Montana.
I'd gone to Italy in January 2012 to visit a friend, but Chile would be my first all out solo adventure abroad since Slovenia in 2009 and I hadn't been to South America since Peru in 2008. As much as I pride myself on my adventurous, fearless spirit, I was nervous as hell. Did I mention I don't speak much Spanish?
In about 48 hours, I had planned out the bones of a trip and it looked like this:
+Fly out Dec. 10, 2012 to Santiago, which involved many plane changes and an upgrade to first class from Copa Airlines!
+Arrive in Santiago very early Dec. 11 local time, explore/sleep/kill time then catch an overnight flight to Easter Island. Spend the day exploring Easter Island before catching another overnight flight back to Santiago. Then catch a bus, not yet booked, Puerto Montt, where I'd actually booked a hostel (this whole plan did not go at all as planned once in country).
+From Puerto Montt, board a ferry on Friday through Patagonia. It's a four day/three night trip and I managed a discount somehow. This was the part I was absolutely stoked about.
+The ferry arrives in Puerto Natales on Dec. 17 and I had a hostel booked for that night. No plan for this town, but must catch bus to Punta Arenas to catch a flight to Santiago to get home.
Over the next week or so, I'll take you on a mini trip down memory lane in Chile. Prepare for a whirlwind, just like the actual trip!
+Fly out Dec. 10, 2012 to Santiago, which involved many plane changes and an upgrade to first class from Copa Airlines!
+Arrive in Santiago very early Dec. 11 local time, explore/sleep/kill time then catch an overnight flight to Easter Island. Spend the day exploring Easter Island before catching another overnight flight back to Santiago. Then catch a bus, not yet booked, Puerto Montt, where I'd actually booked a hostel (this whole plan did not go at all as planned once in country).
+From Puerto Montt, board a ferry on Friday through Patagonia. It's a four day/three night trip and I managed a discount somehow. This was the part I was absolutely stoked about.
+The ferry arrives in Puerto Natales on Dec. 17 and I had a hostel booked for that night. No plan for this town, but must catch bus to Punta Arenas to catch a flight to Santiago to get home.
Over the next week or so, I'll take you on a mini trip down memory lane in Chile. Prepare for a whirlwind, just like the actual trip!