Oh the places you’ll go! There are points to be scored! There are games to be won!
And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all.
You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted but mostly they’re darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?
Out there things can happen, and frequently do,
To people as brainy and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen, don’t worry, don’t stew.
Just go right along, you’ll start happening too!”
(Oh The Places You’ll Go – Dr. Seuss)
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.A year on the road, and not nearly enough
so many stones left unturned as I carry out the one purpose that I never doubt: move on
the road is, now and forever, my true confidant
and so.. what’s there when I draw the line?
____________
2 new passports. 3 vaccines. 4 wasted flights due to mind changes. 20 international borders
just short of 75,000 km crossed (or about hmmm… x2 Earth’s circumference!)
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as well as swimming, running, pedalling, rowing, and plenty of (impatient) waiting
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so many crossroads, real and figurative: a myriad of divergent ways
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nights slept in a hammock: somewhere between 30-40
sleepless nights: less than 1/2, more than 1/4
overnighters at airports or bus terminals: about 10
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50L backpack that weighed 14 kg at the onset clocked at 9 kg at the last airport check-in: adopting great lessons in minimalism and necessities!
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2 amazing languages learned and scores of local slang
there is a word in Spanish – vacilando – which does not mean vacillating at all. If one is vacilando, oh (s)he is definitely going somewhere, (s)he has direction, but does not greatly care when (s)he will get there; (s)he enjoys the very journey (- Steinbeck).
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that said, the biggest surprise was: myself, in some situations
the biggest disappointment: Rio carnaval~
the good move: prying a ticket on a Haitian refugee boat
the bad move: not staying in Rio
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favourite photo series: capoeira
favourite inspiration: the blue horizon
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4 ‘WOWs’: Rio, Jeri, Brac, Petra
the best thing that almost happened: Lisbon
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seasons-by-design: 5 summers, 2 autumns and 1 quick winter
I mainly kept it coastal: solar-powered existence!
first swim of the year: January 17th
last swim: December 17th
on 7 seas: Caribbean, northern Atlantic, southern Atlantic, Pacific, Adriatic, Aegean, and even the Dead!
the big blue is an inexhaustible source of inspiration
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favourite mornings: swimming in Croatia or biking in misty London
longest laps: Ipanema-Leblon, return (4km)
best dive: Ovahe, Easter Island – looking for the submerged moai
best surf lesson: Montoya beach, La Barra, Uruguay
favourite night dips: ..a secret (but those who know – know!)
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Would return to: Punta del Diablo, Brac, the Aegean, and London (always)
Wouldn’t return to: parts of Ecuador..
Would throw my anchor in: Cidade meravilhosa
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beautiful, fun, inspiring people met, worked with, befriended and re-visited.
taking with me a collection of experiences that no money or imagination can buy
about 45 travel articles written but so many stories yet to be told..!
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My world in 2012:
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WOW!!! Nice Post! Keep it up!
I miss you and love you too, which is why I am thinking of coming to hang out soon
(:
Looks like a great summary, amazing year and many challenging vagabond achievements. But for those that love you immensely and miss you tremendously…….
one for the books! ((:
Haha what a brilliant post and what a year!
I like today’s post