48 Hrs Out, Loading...
Let me cook...regular blog posts incoming!
Spent the day at Passport Canada after realizing my passport expired in March of this year - my ADHD brain procrastinated until today (the last possible day) to get an urgent replacement bc that place is hell on earth and an utter waste of my time. I thought up at least 5 different apps that could solve the congestion and complete life suck that was my day being herded from room to room, but I digress. $210, a questionable mug shot and 7 hours later, I pick up my new passport on Wednesday afternoon...supposedly. (I fly out Thursday). Problem...solved? TBD.
I've made myself a to-do list with everything I need to accomplish before leaving on this trip of unknown length to unknown destinations - the last time I took a jaunt like this, I was gone for almost a year & I left in a similar timeframe. This time I know I have to be back in late August for something, so I won't be gone for TOO long...for now.
This does nothing to help me with packing, however. Those of you that know me IRL know that #backpackkat has become somewhat of an ironic nickname, as I have yet to fit my belongings into a backpack for a 24 hour sleepover, let alone a carry-on only voyage!
This should be interesting... (cries in full-size toiletries)
So my goal for this trip is to document often. I’m not going to say daily because I don’t want to feel like it’s an obligation; it should feel like fun — I want to fall back in love with a lot of things again & writing is one of them. If I end up with more than one per day, fantastic! Clearly processing or expressing something I want to share with y’all. I can also appreciate that there will be moments & experiences that are simply impossible to capture…"you had to be there” type deals. And I love those equally, if not more. (I’ll still do my best to recap them, of course…)
Here I am at quarter to 1 am, 48 hours out from my flight, and all I can think about is “I should feel way more panicked” - because I usually am. I’m not sure whether this is a sign of growth, or a sign that I’m forgetting several important steps on my checklist (honestly probably a little of both tbh) and I’m going to figure that out.
Some things I’m looking forward to so far on my trip:
Diving off the caribbean coast of Colombia (tiny island vibes)
Horseback riding on the beach at sunrise bay in Providencia
Salsa dancing in Cali
Seeing the history & architecture of colonial Cartagena
Doing my version of a food tour in Bogota after climbing Monserrate
Waking up in Machu Picchu on my birthday
Petting a Llama in Lima
Seeing the Sacred Valley in Peru
Admiring my own reflection in the Bolivian Salt Flats
Eating Chilean Sea Bass on the Pacific Coast
Visiting Easter Island
World Argentine Tango championships in Buenos Aires
Amazing beaches in Uruguay - sleeper pick
Literally what is in Paraguay? it’s like a kinder egg of a country to me
Okay with that, gonna wrap it up, work on that list & tighten up what’s left to do before I leave (hint: lots of laundry). Wish me luck & let me know if you want to see my packing list!
-BPK