How soon is now?
Are you even a millenial if you haven't at some point thought about quitting the day job to purchase a smallholding in the Highlands? This is the discussion that Alanna and I have had numerous times over the last few years, precipitated by a steady diet of Instagram brainrot and Escape to the Country. After much deliberation, we realised neither of us were willing to give up our cushy lives to wake up before 8am and shovel shit (or whatever it is one does on a farm). So we decided to do the next best thing - spend an inordinate amount of money to travel around the world in the vain hope that it will provide our lives some meaning. But only for 9 months, so that the anxious girlie in me has a steady job to return to (hopefully), and a pension fund that continues to accumulate in my absence.
Since we made the decision to go on sabbatical, I have taken a fairly hands off approach to planning. This was anathema to Alanna, who has been hyperfixated on travel research this entire year. Credit to her, as we now have at least some semblance of a route for the first couple of months. Our original intent was to not fly at all, but given non-Cruise ship options to traverse the seas have been woefully curtailed post-Covid, we will have to take the odd cheeky flight.
As of now, the rough plan we currently have is:
November
Cusco, Peru - Acclimatising to the altitude for a few days followed by a 6-day Salkantay trek, tacking on Macchu Picchu at the end.
Lake Titicaca, Bolivia - Having a little downtime on Isla Del Sol after a busy first week.
December
La Paz, Bolivia - Making our way to the city and then down to the Uyuni salt flats.
Atacama Desert, Chile - Partaking in some form of star-gazing, while trying to avoid Shein mountain.
Santiago, Chile - Few days around the city before picking up our camper!
December/January
Patagonia, Chile and Argentina - Campervanning for c.1 month driving from Santiago down to Puntas Arenas. Zig-zagging down Chile/ Argentina and spending Christmas in San Carlos di Bariloche.
By then, hopefully our Spanish will extend beyond ‘dos cervezas por favor', so we might flex these newfound skills in Mexico. Alternatively, my softboi fantasies to recreate Lost in Translation might win out, so we could hop to Japan.
While we got there in the end, preparing for the trip has been a haphazard experience. At times, the laundry list of admin has felt insurmountable, especially given a challenging few months at work. I type this as I am serenaded by the world's smallest violin. In our desperation, we even had to turn to Mr. Bezos on more than one occasion. Our sustainability credentials just get worse and worse.
Over the coming year, the plan is to post here every week or so with our stories, escapades, reflections etc. We may also take turns at penning the blog, although this may test our relationship as I am maybe too adept at being a critic.
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