No Plan

Still don't know what I'm planning.
Is it a trip? A visit? A move.
It seems to have something to do with a destination.
I've considered Norway, Myanmar, Germany, and Switzerland.
I've also considered Sri Lanka, Poland, Cambodia, and Spain.
My sister has mentioned Ireland. Thailand is great. Turkey, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and even Nicaragua have their points.
In order of preference my top nine are:

1. Uruguay
2. Ecuador
3. Argentina
4. Panama
5. Malaysia
6. Colombia
7. India
8. Honduras
9. Brazil

There was a time when I did little more than point my toes in a likely direction and take one step after another.

Now I have lots of questions. I question my motives, my sanity, my lack of clear goals and much more.

Questions that occur to me at the moment include:

• Why choose Uruguay?
• Why not stay here?
• Where should I go?
• Why should I go?
• What do I expect to find there?
• What do I expect to do there?
• How long do I intend to stay?
• How does a destination effect my top goals?
• Why do my top goals seem less clear than usual?
• Am I planing to make a new home? Why?
• How shall I go there?
• What if I find I don't like being there?
• Shall I rent out the JT House before I start.
• Should I drive to Miami and sell the Astro there?
• What should I do with my mail?
• What should I do with my utilities?
• Do I have the strength and energy I need?

One thing that I do know that whatever it is I intend to do, now is the time to begin it.

Doubts

Visit destinations in order of recent interest:
Uruguay 19
Ecuador 17
India 13
Panama 13
Argentina 12

~ Do I lack the strength, energy, and alertness necessary for a solo foreign trip?
~ What am I looking for?
~ What is my motivation?
~ I'm pretty sure that part of my motivation is an ancient one of looking for a home. How sane is that?
~ I'm thinking of renting my JT place before I start. Does that make good sense.
~ Should I make a shorter trip to more expensive lands?

Long Foreign Stays

I may be becoming a city person in my old age. For example In Uruguay I would certainly living in Montevideo

In Ecuador I think, that as much as I used to love the beach, like to live inland not much lower than Cueca. So I'd probably live in Quito or Cueca.

In Colombia I think that now I'd rather live in Bogota than in Medellin.

The variety of services in cities seems very attractive to this old man now.

The third country on my stay list, after Ecuador and Uruguay, is India. I am ignorant enough of India to have no idea of which city in which to stay. Probably not it the three or four largest.
I was so frightened of the crowds on my approach to one of those cities that on my first day there I escaped to Sri Lanka. Now even the size of the Quebec City of Canada frightened me away so it is now surprise that my first day lost on the streets of Bombay was a fright.

In India I may need to be carried around in a basket by a guide for the first couple of weeks.

Uruguay

The main reason I like Uruguay as as long term visit destination is for the hot watter spas in the southwest, and for the purity of the air.

You may get a better idea of why others like the country click on www.internationalliving.com
and get their free 'Special Report on Uruguay.

Visit Destinations

I am tentivily eliminateing a number of destinations. I won't mention the ones I am eliminating, but I will start keeping track of my top ten contenders for places worth a longer visit. The top ten contenders of the day are:
#1. Ecuador
#2 Uruguay
#3 India
#4. Argentina
#5. Honduras
#6. Turkey
#7. Colombia
#9. Malaysia
#10. Nicaragua

I hope to write a few words about Ecuador and what has attracted me to it in the near future.

Southern Brazil

Southern Brazil is green and temperate. It is among the very top of world rice growers. and has tremendous beef and dairy industry. It is also well capable of competing with Japan and Europe industrially in many levels.
There are many big beautiful cities in the south and, by far, Sao Paulo is the biggest. Sao Paulo is imposing, energetic, and rich with some scabs of poverty around the edges. That it has over 80 important museums suggests that in has its share of high culture and it, indeed, does. It's beauty is much of the Chicago and Los Angeles. I believe that it still has the largest Japanese community outside of Japan. It also may be the fourth largest city of the world.
Pelotas is the city closest to Uruguay. It is there that I noted three adjacent street-level offices along a business. Between a a bronze placked CPA office and the bronze placked office of a Lawyer,was one that at first thought to be and architect's office. However, on looking closer I read, "Magic and Alchemy."
Porto Alegre lives up to its name; except for the fact that it was raining while I was there.
"Floripa," the beautiful capital of Santa Catarina State, is a gem. I just passed through, but its buildings, island and bridges looked gem-like to me. Its small (less than 1/2 mill), rich, and prettily situated. Like much of the South it is strongly Portuguese greatly influenced by early and strong German and Italian immigration. It is also 100% Brazilian. Still, they have a very clear idea of who Garibaldi was.

Buses

Buses in Uruguay and Brazil are generally quite and comfortable. Usually no electronically amplified sound; seldom movies and I never experienced loud music.
In Brazil some passengers might get as unpleasant as some in coach on a flight. In general cross country buses are better than U.S. counter-parts, even back to the days when the "the old grey dog" was young and strong.

Beef and Soccer

Beef has always been big in Uruguay. However, it may now be easier to get some of the best pasta dishes outside of Italy, and adaptations of some of the best European pastries here than it is to get a good cut of prime beef. Still if one looks ....
Little Uruguay competes with Argentina in quality beef productions as it does in futbal. Futbal, soccer, is big here; I've seen major public functions delayed until the end of what seemed rather ordinary soccer matches.

I'm heading to Brazil overland.

Porto Alegre

It is beginning to feel like it is time for me to move less in the jostling, sounding, power of the world and more in the gentle tranquillity, the quiet reality, the silent energy, the beautiful calm of a deep inner undrstanding. Getting old, I guess. It is certain that this 71 year old doesn't have the energy and strength of that 31 year old I was.

I'm in the great city of Porto Allegre and thinking of home. Yes, the history, luxury, industry, trade, sea, cattle, Woody Woodpecker, and general great birdng of this part of Brazil seem less attactive than does my desert home.

Let's see, what have I learned recently, Uruguayans like wiskey, cows, and off track beting. Brazilians like Woody the Woodpecker.

No spellcheck.

Crossing the Border

Hello again!
I am at the Brazilian border in the shopping town of Chuy on the Uruguayan side or Chui on the Brazilian side. The Brazilian side is celebrating the founding of the town today. I stayed here last night at a place quiet enough for me to sleep well at 'only' about $15 US. I'll stay here again tonight so that I may finish taking care of business for crossing into Brazil. Part of the business is paying the Brazilian Consulate over $150.00 for a visa. That is high enough for me to call it retaliatory.

Don't know whether the spellcheck is in Spanish or Portuguese. It is in Portuguese.

What's the Deal, Richard?

Just wandered out of the pleasant Posada Verdun to find this Cyber spot just off the main plaza. Stepped into a place to ask where this cyber place was. The place I stepped into turned out to be a sweet shop and fine bakery. It also turned out that this cyber spot didn't open until 3:30 about ten minutes from the time I arrived. So I stayed and ate three marvelous little filled pastries. Had strong coffee from a glass followed by a little chaser of sparkling water. Coffee was not quit as strong as a demitasse of cafe tinto in Colombia, but it was strong good and hot.

I'm in Minas the little capital city of the State of Lavavilleja, Uruguay. The Posada here not only seems quiet, clean, comfortable, and well run, but also of a price more nearly within my budget than any I've experienced so far in Uruguay.

Spoke long with an interesting young woman. She is studying labor law, making an excellent living as a human resources consultant, active in her university affairs, and has just begun tango lessons...... but, had to let her return to her rock and roll drummer husband.

Speaking of ladies, I left Isis at Dayman without saying good-bye. She had invited my to the spa at Arapay. I had the ill grace not to say ýes´ ´no` or anything. She is closer to my age than the young woman above, a widow, and likes to travel. She lives on the Rambla, which suggests that travel is well within her means. So, whats the deal, Richard?

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Salto, Uruguay

Have we been paying for wars with paper money and electronic money with less backing then ever? Now that foriegners and a significant numer of US citizens are changeing their saved dollars for other currencies or goods, who has all the dollars?
I do see that my dollars are buying less daily.

I took my first look at Lima since about 1963. I Has changed less than many places I´ve been.

Nearly missed, Montevideo, the handsome capital of Uruguay completely in my dash to the hot water spa of Dayman. Only stayed in Dayman two days and am now in Salto.

Hotels here are mostly booked for the week. There is a big cattle show in town. The cattle business is still big, but does not seem to be growing. Crops are being plated on land that was once grazing land. I was surprised to hear that one of those crops might be rice. The gaucho is almost as hard to find as a cowboy who nis a top hand. Still lots of hard riding to be done on an estancia.

A significant number of Uruguayos have worked, and are working, in Australia. Many are permanant residents of that country. The tend to call Australians a cold people. When I ask how cold they are after a few beers in a bar, they agree that they are not cold at all. Mostly what the mean that they find much less mutual entertaning at peoples homes or even group outtings. In most countries of Latin America there is much more visiting and many more get togethers and parties. As a younger man in earlier times I'd quickly find myself the recipient of a couple of invitations. At each of those two get together I'd get at leaset 3 or 4 more invites.

I still have a bit of broncchitis and a bit of an eye infection, but continue to improve.

Panama City

Panama City construction is still booming. For example there are dozens of new condo type buildings of 20, 40, 60, 80 stories. One is 106 stories tall and more being built today. There is a heavy construction equipment convention in the City now.

Just got here.

There is a Hemispheric conference on energy in Uruguay now. Some German interest is evident.

Don´t Know my next stop yet.

Have an English spellcheck again.

Thoughts Sidle

It's Uruguay. I've decided to head toward Uruguay.

The air is pretty clean and clear in western Uruguay. Even Montevideo has pretty good air quality for a capital city. I know an interesting hot water resort area in the country. Not much possibility for river, lake, or canal travel, but two out of three seems good. (see earlier post)

There are good places to visit or stay that are less expensive than Uruguay, but I believe Uruguay is cheaper than, say, Mexico these days. It is not as exotic as Mexico, but it has its attractions. One might call it the Belgium of South America. Also Porto Alegre, Brazil and B.A., Argentina are not far. Uruguay's athletes play ball with the big boys, but it is a small country.

Just because I am heading toward Uruguay is no assurance that I will arrive. I intend to travel slowly so as to give myself abundant opportunity to be distracted.

My first day of travel as I leave 29 may be my most strenuous, but it will be slow: I'll get a bus in 29 and take it to Yucca Valley. From Yucca Valley I'll take a 2nd bus to Palm Springs. In Palm Springs I hope to transfer to a bus that will take me to Indio.
With luck, in Indio, I'll be able to catch a Greyhound to the Mexican border at Calexico.
I have taken the above route, leaving 29 in the Morning and arriving in Mexico City early the next morning. I probably won't try that this time. Instead I will probably spend the night in Calexico or across the border in Mexicali. Then in the morning take a Mexican bus directly to the Tijuana airport and take the first reasonable flight to Ciudad Mexico.

Might stay two or three nights in the Mexican capital. From Mexico I can catch a flight to, say, Panama or Venezuela and on to Brazil. Could take one of the wonderful luxury buses from Brazil to Uruguay.

I can enjoy Montevideo for a week or so and then head for the"termales." There I'll spend much of my time in trunks and bathrobe. I intend to sip mate and eat well too.

But who can say; I might find a lovely villa in the highlands of Panama. I might decide to take some Spanish classes in Merida, Venezuela. Or I might meet a woman of that great Japanese-Portuguese mix in Sau Paulo. Met a girl like that in California many years ago and still have occasional dreams. Then again, I might meet an elegant German-Brazilian matron in Porto Alegre. Women do seem to appear in my dreams.

Its' a trip!

Thoughts of the Adriatic and the Black Sea do sidle into my imagination, but I intend to move my body toward southeast South America.

Travel Where?

I've been thinking.
I've kind of decided "what." Now seems like a good time to consider "where."
Being awake, alive, alert as I follow my nose or toes is a way. I've enjoyed and learned that way.
It's not the way I have been thinking of.
Recently I have been thinking of attractive ways of looking for a home. That has led me to think of Thailand. Thailand is a place of helpful, beauty loving people, who respect their elders. They give value for value. The food is tasty and wholesome. One may find an elephant in ones alley or ones seat in peculiar temple. The dollar goes far and there a lots of fine things to learn. I enjoy the wide variety of interesting people one can find there.
Looking for a home has also led me to think of Uruguay. Uruguay is a land of farms and ranches and people willing to let you be. They are also willing to help when asked and they speak pretty good Spanish. There is plenty of fresh air and clean water there.
They have lots of meat, plenty of vegetables, and they're mostly organic. It has a compact stately, bright, cosmopolitan capital. I like the hot water spas there.

More recently, I have been thinking or Europe. I admit that the thought of the prices there brings a film of perspiration to my brow. Still there have have been reasonable flights to London from NY. I remember one very inexpensive flight from NY to Luxembourg via Iceland. Took a very nice layover in the unspellable capital of that country.

I could go to Portugal from England and from there on to Holland and up to Denmark. If the weather seemed warm enough I could head on to Norway and from there to Russia via Finland. If the weather were turning cool when I got to Denmark I could heat to East Germany and from there rapidly south to Turkey and beyond.
I'd like to check out a lot of old Prussia and a lot of the hot water health spas of Eastern Europe. With days in hot water I could handle cold weather.
If the weather were already getting cold when I got to Portugal I could head to Morocco and then overland to Egypt and then on south as far as necessary.

Ah, well.

A Plan

I have no tickets or visas yet, but have the start of a plan: Fly to Colombia, probably into Bogota rather than Medellin. I can see the Gold Museum and the Salt Cathedral while in the Capital. Mis Piasanos de Antioquia no me van hacer falta.

From Colombia go to Merida de Venezuela to take a look at the surrounding small towns.

From Venezuela to Bolivia to take a pretty good look at that land-locked country. Venezuela and Bolivia are both new territory for me. Right now Bolivia seems very attractive. Maybe I can see the reality of the Tamengo Canal with my own eyes.

Relaxing in the hot water at Salta, Uruguay again doesn't seem a bad idea either.

While I'm thinking, I'll pack a bag.
If I go to North Africa, South Africa, Indonesia, or Maldova I'll enjoy my own toothbrush and a change of underwear.