Random Thoughts

Why Haven’t I Been Taking More Photos?

by Sam on September 14, 2011

Quito, Ecuador- Recently there has been a lack in the number of photos I’ve taken and posted. It’s not because I haven’t been anywhere of interest or there has been a lack of places that I’ve enjoyed. Quite the opposite actually. I have enjoyed Ecuador but not for the reasons that makes me want to [...]

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One Year On the Road

by Sam on July 28, 2011

Puno, Peru- It’s been a year since I last spent a single second of my time making any type of income or sleeping under the same roof for any considerable amount of time. I left Cleveland on July 26th and since then I’ve been wandering the northern and southern hemispheres at free will. It’s been [...]

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Sucre, Bolivia – For the last month and a half I’ve had ‘Tarabuco Market’ on my list of things to do while in Sucre. It’s not in Sucre but the 65 kilometer drive makes it an easy trip that’s possible each Sunday. Any of the dozens of tourist agencies in downtown Sucre will sell you [...]

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Two Lives Compared

by Sam on April 23, 2011

The Side of the Road, Argentina I was a happy traveler once again on the move out of Asuncion and out of Paraguay. I moved through immigration easily and was welcomed to Argentina for the fourth time. I was traveling on one of the double decker luxury buses that have come to spoil me. I [...]

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Catching Some Rays

by Sam on April 9, 2011

Cordoba, Argentina It’s been way too long since I’ve caught any waves, sand and sun simultaneously (I think it was last in January). Being so long ago and so close to an ocean in Valparaíso I couldn’t allow this streak continue. Valparaíso itself is no beach town; just a lot of freighters unloading cargo but [...]

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Los Antiguos, Argentina You will be pushed out of your comfort zone. You will be that ‘smelly person’. You will get tired of wearing the same clothes. You will see amazing sights. You will meet interesting people. Your boundaries of understanding will grow. Your standards of what’s ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ will be altered. You will [...]

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Before Departure

by Sam on February 1, 2011

Panama City, Panama Buildings greater than five stories; lots of them. Massive shopping malls. Hooters. Casinos. Fashion boutiques and electronic stores. A truly western world city. Yet, at the same time there are loud, painted school buses with neon lights pouring out diesel exhaust. Street vendors. Walls and barbed wire protecting squat, concrete houses. A [...]

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The Bus Station

by Sam on January 30, 2011

Panama City, Panama While traveling there are day to day occurrences that you take for granted at the time but look back on and smile when it’s all said and done. Of course that jungle hike, volcano trek or night of partying was great but those afternoons of aimlessly walking around in markets or long [...]

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R&R at it´s Best

by Sam on December 20, 2010

 Los Cobanos, El Salvador After two nights of sleeping on the ground Tez and I packed up camp in twenty minutes and made a straight course for the first bus out of El Imposible. We were ready for a shower and a couple days of relaxation and we had heard of an idyllic location: Hostel [...]

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Days in Placencia

by Sam on November 27, 2010

Placencia, Belize The following are some random thoughts and events from the two days I spent in Placencia. New Friends:I spent part of an afternoon meeting some of the locals; Belican Lighthouse, Belican and Belican Premium. Belican Premium and I quickly became best friends as he’s the first that I’ve met with any real kind [...]

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First Thoughts on Belize

November 23, 2010

Placencia, Belize Borders are funny. They’re really only imaginary lines drawn in the earth but it’s amazing how widely cultures can vary on each side of these lines. It amazes me that each time I cross a border a whole new world opens itself up to me. I feel like a 4 year old child [...]

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Guatemala Observations

November 22, 2010

Flores, Guatemala After 56 days today marks my last full day in Guatemala. After almost to two months here I’m ready for a new country but in this time I’ve noticed some things that I think are worth sharing. Some of these may have been true in Mexico and will probably be true in other [...]

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The Dichotomy of Travel Days

November 15, 2010

Lanquin, GuatemalaIt was 3:45 and I was still waiting for the 2:00 shuttle to Lanquin. The shuttle was on it’s way from Coban but was delayed two hours from construction. This was not the way I had planned my day. If my day had gone as planned I wouldn’t be taking the afternoon shuttle because [...]

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Where to Go From Here???

October 25, 2010

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala For the past 3.5 weeks I’ve had pronominales, irregular verbs, the preterito and the personal ‘a’ sloshing around in my brain. I know more Spanish then I did a month ago but I’m glad to say that my time in Xela is coming to an end next Tuesday. Not that Xela was a [...]

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10 Reasons Why This House Does not Belong Here

October 5, 2010

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala Some things just don’t go together. For Example: Pickles and Ice CreamDogs and SweatersElectrical appliances and water Or, this house… From Quetzaltenango 2010-10 …and Guatemala. I see this house everyday walking to and from Spanish school and everyday I have a hard time believing that this house is actually here. I would expect [...]

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Happenings and Random Thoughts

September 29, 2010

Dear God, Did you know that I no longer live in Ohio? No need to keep the temperature so low, the gray skies above, and the rain falling. I’m just asking you to shine a little sun on the area. It doesn’t have to be for too long. Maybe just a couple of days so [...]

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Less Can Be More

August 1, 2010

I was reading Vagabond Journey today and he wrote an interesting series of articles on Mayan fishermen in the Rio Dulce of Guatemala. The last entry especially caught my attention. The fishermen make about $6-$8 a day fishing. The immediate response is that these people must live in complete poverty on such a paltry wage. [...]

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