:internal links:
*all travel pics*
my travel route: mapped
en espanol
en portugues
xml'ed
:recent posts:
- No More Titles [27/10/03]
- Fair and Balanced Facts
- Hotel Cali? [20/10/03]
- Cali Dreaming [13/10/03]
- Requiem for New York [07/10/03]
- Parking centrally [01/10/03]
- Yankees suck? [29/09/03]
:archives:
- September 2003
- October 2003
- November 2003
- December 2003
- January 2004
- February 2004
- March 2004
- April 2004
- May 2004
- June 2004
- July 2004
- August 2004
- google news UK
- boots n all - travel site
- backpacking tips
- unelectable
- quality UK ezine
- bloggie awards
- centrist a-rab news
- top art
- top baseball blog
:sites i like:
This is my blogchalk:
United Kingdom, London, English, German,
Male, 21-25, Travel, Writing.
Travel blog of a year-long round the world trip.
Currently in London, UK.
(the first leg of my trip in a nutshell -- route as originally planned).
Fear and Leaving in America [30/10/03]
The last night I spent in Berkeley I felt afraid, leaving its creature comforts behind for the unknown. Then in the clear blue California sky the next morning most of those fears evaporated in the bright sunshine. Volunteering for the overbooked flight to Mexico city landed me a free US-domestic flight voucher, an upgrade to first class for part of the way, a free lunch and a short rerouted visit of LA - which is currently covered in a heavy, red and nicotine-coloured smoke.
The whole valley was smothered by the forest fires that have been ravaging the area for the last few days, the Hollywood sign in the hills barely visible. Very creepy. (see picture)
Another stopover followed, this time in Mexico City. This humungous city is the most amazing sight from a plane at night time: seemingly endless, twinkling lights covering the ground like fallen stars in all directions as far as the eye can see. I was moved. And then, when I tried to fall asleep, I became scared again of the unknown and all the horror stories people spread about Caracas.
6 A.M. the next morning, barely having set foot in Caracas and brimming with optimism, I was gently introduced to my fears. My backpack apparently did not make it and may still be in Mexico, I was told. "Come back tomorrow and maybe it's here." Hmph. No cash machine would give me money on any of my cards and one was acting suspiciously, probably stealing my PIN. Everything at the airport was closed as it was too early and I didn't know where I'd stay for the night and how I'd get there. And, for those who don't know, my Spanish sucks.
Way too many bad omens for a city I've been frightened of for the past two days and I hadn't even left the airport. And I was hungry. Hmph.
After two hours of lounging around, waiting for stuff to open up in the airport, the sun finally started to really heat up the air. And with it, all my troubles evaporated, yet again. My bag miraculously appeared (no idea where it was spending its time), the bank opened up and gave me cash, I found a place to sleep, I was nibbling on provisions from the US and stolen from first class, and I wasn't abducted by the infamous 'pirate taxis' everyone keeps chatting about. And my Spanish improved.
I think those are GOOD omens.
Or maybe it means something else, like that I should not be out in the dark. I guess I'm afraid of the dark...
[which may be why I was up in the middle of the night writing overlong travel stories about nothing. Please post a scathing comment below if I should be more succinct in future... ]
The whole valley was smothered by the forest fires that have been ravaging the area for the last few days, the Hollywood sign in the hills barely visible. Very creepy. (see picture)
Another stopover followed, this time in Mexico City. This humungous city is the most amazing sight from a plane at night time: seemingly endless, twinkling lights covering the ground like fallen stars in all directions as far as the eye can see. I was moved. And then, when I tried to fall asleep, I became scared again of the unknown and all the horror stories people spread about Caracas.
6 A.M. the next morning, barely having set foot in Caracas and brimming with optimism, I was gently introduced to my fears. My backpack apparently did not make it and may still be in Mexico, I was told. "Come back tomorrow and maybe it's here." Hmph. No cash machine would give me money on any of my cards and one was acting suspiciously, probably stealing my PIN. Everything at the airport was closed as it was too early and I didn't know where I'd stay for the night and how I'd get there. And, for those who don't know, my Spanish sucks.
Way too many bad omens for a city I've been frightened of for the past two days and I hadn't even left the airport. And I was hungry. Hmph.
After two hours of lounging around, waiting for stuff to open up in the airport, the sun finally started to really heat up the air. And with it, all my troubles evaporated, yet again. My bag miraculously appeared (no idea where it was spending its time), the bank opened up and gave me cash, I found a place to sleep, I was nibbling on provisions from the US and stolen from first class, and I wasn't abducted by the infamous 'pirate taxis' everyone keeps chatting about. And my Spanish improved.
I think those are GOOD omens.
Or maybe it means something else, like that I should not be out in the dark. I guess I'm afraid of the dark...
[which may be why I was up in the middle of the night writing overlong travel stories about nothing. Please post a scathing comment below if I should be more succinct in future... ]