San Salvador: One day turned into a week. But that's not a complete surprise. I really like it here in El Salvador. I've met some great friends here, and feel quite at home. But because I was here a week, i'm going to skip Belize. Truth is I had no desire to go to Belize. I don't know why, but I was almost dreading the thought. So no Belize. Instead im heading straight to Mexico, which I am really excited about!

Tomorrow i'll take a bus from El Salvador to Guatemala City, then to Flores, Guatemala, where i'll spend the night, and finally head to Chetumal, Mexico on Tuesday. I'll spend about two weeks on the coast of Yucatan (Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Cancun, and Chichen Itza). From there i'll head to Merida, Campeche, San Cristobal, then to Oaxaca. From Oaxaca I hope to visit Iguala, where my dad is from, but I need to make sure I have some connections there. It otherwise is a town that most people would not visit.

Then 6 weeks in Guadalajara, with easter week in Mexico City.. After that i'll have about two weeks to see as much of the north of Mexico as possible. I think it'll be a quick three months. I wish I had about 6 months, Mexico is a huge country.

I'm also planning on taking the next 12 days in semi solitude. It's difficult when traveling, but i'll at least stay away from the computer, and any other communication home. So fyi to the family, you shouldn't be hearing from me in the next 12 days.

The trip is rolling along. I wish I could stay in El Salvador another few days, but alas, I must move on. The friends i've met here are great! So now the end of my Central American travels is here. On to North America.

PS, anyone catch the Lakers game today? It was on, live, in El Salvador, and I got to see Kobe do it again! That guy is incredible. But don't forget that the Lakers wouldnt be in that position unless Artest creates the offensive foul on Pierce. What a great game!

Love you mom,

love you fam, love you friends!

Michael

January 24, 2010: Last full day in South America. My plane leaves in the morning, at 6:55am. I was going to stay at the airport overnight, because my buddy left tonight, but I got tired and checked into the airport hotel. A bit expensive, but I couldnt take it anymore, plus I was able to negotiate free internet access. Otherwise its .60 reais per minute. About a quarter a minute, but it can add up.

So this is it! I´m on my way home! It´ll take me three months, but i´ll get there. My plane leaves for Peru, then a connecting flight to El Salvador. From there Belize, then Mexico, then home.

Brasil was great! Spent the last ten days with one of my best friends from back home. We were in Rio for three days (the weekend), then headed to Manuas, which is near the Amazon, then back to Rio for another three days (again the weekend).

Rio was incredible. I´ll post pics soon. We were at a hostel the first night, but it was very crowded, three level bunks, and too many people per room, so we decided to go to a hotel. We ended up at a really nice hotel in Ipanema. Promenade Visconti (something like that). It was nice. A big change from the hostel life. People bringing up your bags, tv in the room, 24 hour concierge service. We really spared no expense. We even had our own driver. Well, he was the hotel driver, but no one else used him except us. We were chaffuered (sp?) everywhere! Although we were a block from the beach, and close to plenty of restaurants, so we also walked often.

We also had great weather!

The amazon was amazing! Fishing for pirainas, swimming in the river, alligator hunting, hikes, camping, all sorts of stuff. It was great. Pics will be up soon.

The trip has been amazing, but as I expected, i got a bit homesick today. Maybe because I want to be home to watch the NFL playoffs? jk. But I knew it would happen. Same thing happened when my brother came out to visit me. After he left I got really homesick. I knew it would be the same when my buddy left. And a travel partner from back also went home recently. We didnt travel together the whole time, but we were never more than a bus ride away from each other. Now she´s home, my friend flew home today, and I feel like, maybe I should just get back myself. But I was prepared to feel this way, and I know by tomorrow I will be fine. Plus i am really, really looking forward to going to Mexico. Especially Guadalajara!

But the trip now is a journey home. . It started in Mexico, and moved south through Central America, into South America. Now im headed to El Salvador, and will travel north, all the way home. Being alone is also something Ive been wanting to do. I want to take at least 10 days in complete solitude. Well as much solitude as possible, anyways. You always have to talk to folks. But its not very hard to meet people on the road, in fact, its hard not to. But at some point in the next month I want to spend 10 days just alone, thinking, meditating, praying, all that good stuff that gets difficult to do back home. Not that I havent been doing that all along, I just want to make it more focused, more intentional.

My buddy also brought me some books to read, so I have a lot of reading to do. He brought six books, on a variety of topics, from finance to fiction. Thanks for that Dave, and Eoin! I´ll list the books later, i cant remember all of them right now. Some of the books were recommended by a really good friend and mentor, so i´m lookinh forward to getting started with those.

So the next part of the trip begins tomorrow. There are multiple ways to split up the trip. By city, by country, by continent. But I break it up in visits. First it was Mexico, and Cindy came (one part), then my brother came to Peru (second part) then Clarrissa came to Uruguay (third), then Dave to Brazil (fourth). And now the last part, alone. But looking forward to it.

I love you mom, miss you a lot! Been thinking a lot about you lately. Thank you for being such a great mom!

Love you all,

Michael

January 15, 2010: In Rio de Janeiro! Known as the Cidade Maravilhosa...the marvelous city! And with good reason. Have only been here one fully day, but already can sense the vibe out here. Post 9 in Ipanema is where we hung out yesterday. Every post seems to have a distinct group. Not all, but I think most. Post 9 is a more young crowd, whereas other posts have a family crowd. The beach itself is just ok, but its the people that make it what it is. And the surrounding landscape. Imagine laying on the beach with the Sugar Loaf in the distance. I havent taken many pictures, but I will soon.

I have a buddy flying in today, so I dont want to see too much of the city until he gets here. Soon enough, though.

Before Rio I was at the most beautiful island in Brasil. Well, that according to most, and I would have to agree. Ilha Grande is about 150 Km from Rio, South of Rio. They work in Km here, so not sure how many miles. But the island was amazing. I could say it about almost every place ive visited, but it was true again, just didnt have enough time there. I wish I could have stayed another week. We went on a great hike one of the days through the island and to 4 beaches, finally ending at Lopes Mendes beach, which was the most popular, but not nearly the nicest. There were some secluded beaches that were absolutely amazing.

Before Ilha Grande I was in Paraty. Another beautiful coastal town. Its tough to always remember to appreciate what your doing out here. Travelling from beautiful beach to beautiful beach in Brazil. But Paraty was really nice. I have pics up on Facebook. We took a boat ride to various islands one day, and walked around the Centro another day. The town is great.

And before that I was in Florionopolis. I think its an island, but not sure. There is a Lagun in the middle, but im pretty sure its surrounded by water. I have to go back and check. But, again, it was beautiful. The last four hostels ive stayed in have all been ocean front. Really nice as well.

I think before that I was in Iguazu Falls, which ive written about.

So this is it. Nearing the end of my South American tour! I cant talk about favorites, because everywhere I went I enjoyed for one reason or another. But because im in Brazil, I can say, this was a great place to end.

I fly to El Salvador on the 25th of this month, and hope to visit the orphanage, before I head to Belize. It sounds horrible, but im not really that excited about Belize. Its almost like im forcing myself to go, and convincing myself that its on the way to Mexico, so it wont be that bad. I have to again remind myself to appreciate every part of this great tour.

But after Belize I head to Mexico for three months, which im really looking forward to! I plan to see most of the major cities, lots of beaches, and then stay in Guadalajara for 6 weeks and take an intensive advanced spanish course. College level. We'll see how I do. My blogs those weeks will be in spanish. I cant wait to get to Mexico. I actually had a dream about it the other night.

But, since we must live in the moment, ill enjoy Rio today. (shouldnt be hard to do). My buddy gets here in about three hours, and im pretty excited about it. Its like when my brother came. Always good to get a visit from a good friend. We will be in Rio for a few days, then fly to the Amazon for five days, return to Rio for the weekend, and he will head home, and ill head to El Salvador, which is the beginning of my journey home.

So there it is. About 8 months into the trip! Wow, what an advernture. Hope everyone is well back home. Haiti is in my prayers. Just read a little about it the other day. It sounds bad.

On a lighter note, also read that Carroll left USC for the pros, and Kiffin is taking over. I laughed when I read that. I used to think Garrett was a good Athletic Director, now I know he has no clue what hes doing and just got lucky with Carroll. The basketball program is in shables, and now this. Tough times for USC fans...haahaaaa. Go Bruins! (had to get that in).

Love you all

Love you mom,

Michael

Somewhere near the Brazilian, Argentina border, Brazil: On the road again....

That song popped into my head as I headed to Iguazu Falls in Argentina. 18 hour bus ride from Buenos Aires, but worth it. What an amazing sight. Please look up pics on google, but realize that the pics will never do the place justice. (ill try to post mine on FB soon). Its the most incredible thing ive seen in nature. Ill be in the Amazon in about two weeks, so dont count it against me if I say the same thing then. But the falls were absolutely incredible. I just saw them today, then got on a bus to Brazil, and now im headed to a beautiful beach town called Florionopolis, in about an hour.

Let me recap, moving backwards.

Im here at the bus station after crossing the border from Argentina to Brazil. Border crossings always excite me. You never know what to expect, and you hear all these horror stories about customs being difficult, and thieves prowling. But I made it over with no trouble at all. There is a long visa process to enter Brazil with a US passport, but that was all taken care of weeks ago. I was still a bit nervous, because I told them I was flying in, but instead took a bus. It didnt matter, im in. But the whole border crossing was fun.

Before the crossing I was at Iguazu falls. An absolutely incredible park full of waterfalls, but not just any waterfalls. Probably the most amazing in the world. We got up early today and were one of the first into the park, and saw the whole thing before 1pm. The town itself reminded me of Central America. Sub tropical climate, lush green scenery, and dirt roads. I became quite nostalgic hanging out there. I think I miss Central America!

I have a bus to catch tonight, so I wanted to give myself enough time to cross the border and get to the international bus station (where i am now). So I left Iguazu for the Brazilian border.

While at the falls I stayed in one of the coolest hostels ive ever been to, and at this point, thats been quite a few. It was an old casino, and has been renovated for hostel use. It has a huge pool, and there was a bbq last night, and tango show. I was quite impressed.

Before that I was in Buenos Aires, again. I had to travel from Uruguay back to Buenos Aires, and then to Iguazu. Apparently there were no direct buses from Montevideo.

I was in Montevideo the day after New Years, but only for a day. Its the capital of Uruguay, a nice town, but nothing special.

Before Montevideo I was in Punta del Este, perhaps the coolest place ive been to on my trip. Of course, it could have to do with the fact that I was there during New Years week. It was a really good time.

As I mentioned in my last blog, I hung out with some Brazilians, one of which had connections to every happening event on the peninsula. We got into one of the most exclusive parties in Punta, held at one of the most exclusive hotels in Uruguay, overlooking the ocean. It was nice. The cover charge to get in was 350 US dollars! Way too much money, so most of the guys had given up on the idea of getting in. I on the other hand, always love a challenge, and promised the guys that we would get in and would not pay close to the asking price. The cover charge is a ploy to keep out rift raft, or guys who show up and just cause trouble. Really I knew that Felip, one of the guys, had a connection. He wasnt even sure if he could pull it off, but I assured him he could. I gave him a little pep talk and he came out with 10 wrist bands, enough to get us all in. More than half the guys were still at the hostel, not thinking they had a chance, but me a Felipe went in, and Rubens, went to go get the rest of the guys, and Clarrissa. We made about a quarter of the asking price. Most of the guests inside wore loafers worth more than my whole luggage bag, but we fit in just fine.

The rest of the trip was just as exciting. Laying at the beach all day, driving around town in the back of the pick-up.

Brazilians are very passionate about soccer, and every soccer team has its own little song that the fans sing. We were in the back of the truck one day, and the guys were singing at the top of their lungs. One guy asked me what they sing at Redders games.

Redders games? What? What are Redders games?

¨Yeah, Redders, your team, he said.

Oh, Raiders! Well we dont sing songs at footbal games, sorry.

Then one of the guys mocked, yeah, you chant D-FENSE, and all the boys laughed. But, yeah, theyre right. Its football, not star search.

But I did learn a soccer song from my time in Mexico City. My cousins were huge Puma fans, of the Mexican soccer league, and they won the championships while I was there. I learned the song they sang, and taught it to the boys. It became our theme song for the week. Girls loved it when we sang it them. Check it out on Youtube, it may make more sense. Type in something like: Puma como no te voy a querer.

And thats the song: ¨Como no te voy a querer, como no te voy a querer...¨ and we just kept chanting that from the back of the truck. They loved it. Clearly one of those things where you had to be there.

Im at the bus terminal, so I have to go, ill post more later.

The trip seems to be getting more and more exciting. Brazil is a very cool place. Hope all is well back home.

Love you mom, family, and friends!