Well after more than 3 months of exciting, unrelenting, enjoyable traveling in South America I have finally returned home. I enjoyed Brasil, Argentina, and Chile equally for their unique characteristics and really hope to get back to these countries in the near future. If there's one thing I learned on the entire trip it is that the independence that traveling provides is priceless and shouldn't be put off year after year until it's too late. A dollar used, a hour spent, a breath breathed in another country brings so much more excitement than back home.
glad to back and next time I'm taking y'all with me,
Stewart
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
The Guidance Counselor was Correct: I am Destined to be a Professional Schemer
Sleepless in Santiago
Ok here`s the deal...for all those who anticipated my long awaited return back home last Wednesday, hold your horses. I`m currently admits one of my grandest schemes of all-time, and rest assured this one is 100% legal.
Long story short Delta, my new favorite airline, has overbooked their daily flight to Atlanta from Santiago by 30-50 people per day (depending on the day). Hence they need volunteers to be bumped so they can accommodate the people that actually have to make it to work the next day. But for us young folk (our reoccurring group is about 10 strong by now) opportunity is knocking and we are more than happy to sleep in hotel rooms, eat 3 gourmet meals a day, and go to and fro to the airport to either pick-up a check of US$500/600 (depending on the day) or a Delta voucher of US$600 PER DAY! I`m currently on day six (and counting hopefully).
In ode to Andrew`s final blog post numerically highlighting the highs and lows of his trip, I will do the same only focusing on the last 6 days all made due by the graces of Delta Airlines. (I know this all sounds cocky, but let`s face it, I`m kinda going delirious at this point in this surreal fantasy of mine)
Days bumped from flight: 6
Average cost of hotel per night: US$275 (after two nights the hotel bill has far surpassed the total amount I spent on hostels in my entire 3 month trip).
Average cost per meal: US$30
Trips to or from the airport in car service: 11 (each at US$25 per go)
Sum of checks received: US$2,200 (covers apprx. 75% of my entire 3 month trip)
Sum of Delta voucher(s): US$1,200
Money of my own spent per day: US$10-15
When flights are overbooked in Santiago, we celebrate. When flights are overbooked in Buenos Aires, they riot (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22630041/?GT1=10755).
So I know I miss y`all and everybody misses me, but hey what`s another week or so after being gone for 3 months. And besides screw you, this is the best post-graduate job a St. Ed`s alum could ever hope for.
Ridin` this burro until it collapses,
Stewart
Ok here`s the deal...for all those who anticipated my long awaited return back home last Wednesday, hold your horses. I`m currently admits one of my grandest schemes of all-time, and rest assured this one is 100% legal.
Long story short Delta, my new favorite airline, has overbooked their daily flight to Atlanta from Santiago by 30-50 people per day (depending on the day). Hence they need volunteers to be bumped so they can accommodate the people that actually have to make it to work the next day. But for us young folk (our reoccurring group is about 10 strong by now) opportunity is knocking and we are more than happy to sleep in hotel rooms, eat 3 gourmet meals a day, and go to and fro to the airport to either pick-up a check of US$500/600 (depending on the day) or a Delta voucher of US$600 PER DAY! I`m currently on day six (and counting hopefully).
In ode to Andrew`s final blog post numerically highlighting the highs and lows of his trip, I will do the same only focusing on the last 6 days all made due by the graces of Delta Airlines. (I know this all sounds cocky, but let`s face it, I`m kinda going delirious at this point in this surreal fantasy of mine)
Days bumped from flight: 6
Average cost of hotel per night: US$275 (after two nights the hotel bill has far surpassed the total amount I spent on hostels in my entire 3 month trip).
Average cost per meal: US$30
Trips to or from the airport in car service: 11 (each at US$25 per go)
Sum of checks received: US$2,200 (covers apprx. 75% of my entire 3 month trip)
Sum of Delta voucher(s): US$1,200
Money of my own spent per day: US$10-15
When flights are overbooked in Santiago, we celebrate. When flights are overbooked in Buenos Aires, they riot (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22630041/?GT1=10755).
So I know I miss y`all and everybody misses me, but hey what`s another week or so after being gone for 3 months. And besides screw you, this is the best post-graduate job a St. Ed`s alum could ever hope for.
Ridin` this burro until it collapses,
Stewart
Monday, January 7, 2008
El Fin de Viaje
To put it short and sweet, all good things must come to an end. I`ll be back in Austin on Wednesday. Thanks to all who commented and read this blog, which has hopefully influenced some of you to go out and explore the world.
Love,
Stewart
Love,
Stewart
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
The Death of a Blog
A very happy 2008 to all! Can you believe that in 2 more years we will have concluded a decade which there has yet to be a consensus nickname for? Anyway, with only 6 more days left on what has been an amazing 3 month-long trip, I will be headed back over the Andes to Mendoza, Argentina. Here I plan on fitting in all the things I have missed out on so far: drinking, eating, and resting. And hopefully I´ll get in some vineyards tours, either by bus, bike, or horse (i´m pretty sure all are legitimate options).
With my camera down I will still have to pursue my photos the old hassle way by nagging fellow travelers to email or let me borrow their cameras for a quick shot. Hence, this might be one of the last blog postings since I understand the bore of my pictureless blogs. See you all soon back home.
to 2008,
Stewart
With my camera down I will still have to pursue my photos the old hassle way by nagging fellow travelers to email or let me borrow their cameras for a quick shot. Hence, this might be one of the last blog postings since I understand the bore of my pictureless blogs. See you all soon back home.
to 2008,
Stewart
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