One of the most important things on our trip was to integrate the parts of our life that make us who we are with the new experiences we'd have on the road. Music was a big one, which was an easy thing to include in most places on the trip. Another one is snowboarding, which must be planned. It was snowboarding that made us decide to visit South America during their winter time. I started skiing as a 7 yr old and switched over to snowboarding once I made it to high school and found out that skiing wasnt cool anymore. It took me quite a few years of falling on my face, falling on my hip, falling on my knee, and falling on my head, before I figured out that snowboarding would be the sport ... read more

**Disclaimer: This whole trip of blog entries are all being written post-trip, and this entry specifically is being written one year TO THE DAY that we landed in Buenos Aires and started upon the trip to end all trips. ** Matt has been dreaming about going on this trip for as long as I've known him, and Im sure if you asked him, he wouldnt be able to tell you about a time when doing something like this wasnt on his list. I am one of those people who has itchy feet and can't sit still. Im always looking forward to my next trip, fantasizing about all the places i *have* to go, and imagining living in places I've never been. I grew up traveling with my family and it stuck on me. Together we are ... read more

Bryce Marysvale Salt Lake City... read more

December 1st - December 8th... read more

I guess upon arriving in Guatemala, i didnt really know what to expect. After having recently visited the well-travelled tourist-laden tropics of Costa Rica, i guess i was imagining something similar. I had read some about Lago de Atitlan and spoke to fellow travelers who have been there, but nothing can really explain whats it really like to be there, altho i can try. Its more like the rural mountains in Southern Mexico without the coast's collection of Club Meds and Sandals. Panajachel, i guess the biggest tourist town on the lake, is surrounded by towering clifflike mountains on eitherside, split by a "river" in a huge bed of would-be building material. The views of the volcanoes across the lake are startling, and the water mirrors the clouds. The towns collection of both homeless and ... read more