Travel-Stained Life

As we have traveled, we have learned new things constantly. This list will continue as we go. Some of these things may already be common sense, some may be funny, some may be helpful. Whatever they are to you, we hope you enjoy!

1) Always have your host’s address and contact info. before arriving to the country, it saves you an explanation to immigration. (T&T 9/1/09)

2) Practice your squats before traveling (will not go into this, but it has something to do with the bathroom). (T&T 9/2/09)

3) Never underestimate the value of a good pair of walking shoes, they will help you scale mountains and mean city streets without blisters. (T&T 9/8/09)

4) When traveling, think of your watch as a pretty wrist decoration, not a time piece. No one runs on your time, no one. (T&T 9/8/09)

5) Make sure to have enough space to hang your clothes to dry after handwashing them. (Mexico City 9/14/09)

6) If you see people who are lost because they don´t understand the language and you can help them, please do. They will appreciate it more than you know. (Mexico City 9/16/09)

7) Never take pictures in the airport in front of security. It becomes a big deal and could lead to camera confiscation. (Mexico City 9/21/09)

8) Pack a light pair of dress shoes. Flip flops, hiking shoes/sandals will not do for weddings or dance clubs. (Panama City 9/26/09)

9) When you are warned to take time to adjust to elevation changes, please do. Otherwise, you will be sorry. (Quito 9/28/09)

10) In Spanish, the word for ¨cute¨and ¨monkey¨are the same. Be careful when complimenting someone´s baby. (Quito 10/6/09)

11) Make sure to have plenty of motion sickness medication on hand if you are traveling by boat when rough seas are possible. You will be really really sorry if you don’t. (Galapagos 10/14/09)

12) Beware of people on buses who move you away from your assigned seat and insist that you must stow your hand luggage in the overhead compartment. There is no reason to let go of your hand luggage, don’t do it! (Guayaquil 10/19/09)

13) Do not expect long bus rides to provide rest stops or bathrooms for women…and pack a flashlight if you have business to attend to at night. (Peru border 10/31/09)

14) Sundays are important days for South Americans in small towns.  If arriving to a town on a Sunday, do not expect to find lavanderias, panaderias, or cheap restaurants open and at your disposal.  (Arequipa 11/7/09)

15) Never take a warm shower for granted.  (Puno 11/20/09)

16) There is nothing like jumping in a warm bed in a clean hostel after spending the night on an uncomfortable and smelly bus with no bathrooms.  (Potosi 11/26/09)

17) Pack a raincoat during day outings if it´s the rainy season in the Andes.  Don´t let the morning sun fool you…twice!  (Potosi 11/28/09)

18) Have snack food on hand at all times in Argentina and hope for a kitchen that you can cook in on Sundays because nothing opens until 8 p.m. or so.  (Salta 12/6/09)

19)  Bus companies in South America will say anything to get you on their bus, even if it’s far from the truth.  Go on and ask if they have HDTV’s and free laptops for everyone on the bus…I dare you.  (Ciudad del Este 12/16/09)

20) Have lots of good books on hand in the event that you’ll have to wait for hours on end because the bus, train, ferry (you name it) stops working.  (Sinai Peninsula and Red Sea 01/10)

21) Everything you ever thought you knew about anything in this world will be tested and lots of things you didn’t know will be learned.  First and foremost…forget media-generated fear.  (Amman 2/1/10)

22) There is never enough time to do everything you’d like to do on your list and your list gets longer as you travel, not shorter.  (3/1/10)