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OJ CONNECTION

I slept most of the 9 hours from Rio to Atlanta.  Delta wasn't thinking about me and this other guy who were there connecting to our flight to LAX in less than an hour.  We had to go through the passport control line, wait for our bags at baggage claim, go through the customs line, re-check our bags, go though carry on baggage screening, jump on the train to go 3 terminals away, run up every staircase, run down every escalator, and by 12 other gates in order to make it there huffing and puffing just 10 minutes before scheduled take off time.  This is when I realized that I really wanted to get home.  They let us on, but unfortunately our bags did not make it.  I still await the arrival of my dirty clothes.

THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU CAN NOT SLEEP ON THE PLANE ON YOUR WAY HOME

Think about what the highlights were of your trip.  Futbol at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.  Devils Throat at Iguazu Falls in Argentina.  The 13 hour ice trek at Cerro Torre out of El Chalten, Argentina.  Seeing Spegazzini Glacier and Icebergs out of El Calafate, Argentina.

Call me OCD.  But, here are some stats I figured out while flying home.

Time spent on buses = 78 hours     Time spent on planes = 46 hours     Time spent on a boat = 42 hours     Number of buses = 10     Number of planes = 11    

Days in Brazil = 17     Days in Argentina = 31     Days in Chile = 10     Days travelling with Andrew = 19     Days travelling with Steph = 18  Days travelling alone = 14     Cities with Steph = 7     Cities with Andrew = 2     Cities alone = 4   Number of times Entering Brazil = 3     Number of times Entering Argentina =  3     Number of Times Entering Chile = 2    

Number of Photos = 823     Amount Spent on Internet = $115     Amount Spent on Food = $510     Amount Spent on Hostels = $385     Amount Spent on Taxis/Buses = $545     Amount Spent on Air/Boat = $1405     Amount Spent on Miscellaneous & Siteseeing = $2180   

I can not believe how little I actually spent in 2 months especially on hostels and food.  Then I looked out my window and realized I was no longer on vacation when I saw wall to wall houses and cars just before landing.  Better start thinking about my next trip.  What would I do different?  What do I need to remember worked and didn't work?

At the beginning of this trip I was spending 2 weeks in cities and then at the end I was spending 1-3 days.  I felt rushed at the end.  Next time I will plan 3 extra days more than I think I need in each city.  One for faffing, uploading, and blogging.  One for spontaneous activities.  One just in case I can't get on a bus or flight.  I will also book just 1 day in a hostel so that I can get out if it is spider infested.  There is no need to feel concerned about having to sleep on the street.  It just won't happen.  More couchsurfing, volunteering and homestays, but not through an agency.    Bring the Blackberry again.  It was a very helpful backup for internet research and messaging.  Have toilet paper with you at all times.  For some reason they do not believe that it should be provided in public restrooms.  Nor do they believe that it should be flushed.  Always put it in the trash can.  Invent a combination bug repellent, SPF, moisturizer that smells good.

Where else do I want to go?  Bahia, Amazon, Patanal, Ilha Grande, Forteleza, Puerto Arenas, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas, W Torres del Paine, Pucon, San Pedro de Atacama, Salt Flats, Machu Picchu, Galapagos, Easter Island, Kibera, Prague, Guatemala, Columbia, Cuba, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, Ghana, Morocco, Mykonos, Santorini, Isle of Mann, Ireland, Sicily, Antartica, Cambodia, Laos, Fiji, India

Think I can fit it all in during my 3 weeks of vacation time next year?!

PAPPARAZZI

They follow me everywhere.  As you recall, my arrival at the airport in Santiago was blinding as fans snapped photos of me and The Killers.  Well, they were waiting for me again at LAX.  I spotted them on the upper and lower levels aiming their cameras at me.  I turned to the girl behind me and said "I'm not famous.  Are you?"  Apparentley she was.  I think it was Catherine McFee from American Idol.  She pointed behind us and said "Dancing With the Stars" to the photographers.  Soon cameras were off me and Catherine and onto some blonde girl that apparently won that show.  So, look for me in the tabloids.  I am the dork waving at the cameras and trying to jump in front of the American Idol.