The Mother of all Trips

[Shep1302]

Hello Gringos!

I haven't posted for a while because I have been busier than a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest. I will bring you all up to speed and then tell you about my super badass trip coming up.

I have been married to Clara for a little over a year now. To fill you in on the back story, I am the guy who went to Medellin, Colombia in April of 06 and pretty much met my wife the first night I was there. She is a 29-year-old Paisa and has been living with me in the states for almost a year and a half.

I had a couple of really cool things go my way lately. The Veterans Administration decided that they are going to fund me to go to law school in the fall of 08. They are going to pay for the whole thing: tuition, books, and a decent living stipend. I have been working on setting this all up for a long time and it finally paid off.

Therefore, since my law school applications are now in, Clara and I have some time to burn. Clara and I never really had much of a honeymoon, so we are taking a big trip to Latin America.

We are flying into Natal, Brazil on Jan 18, 2008 and flying out of Cancun, Mexico on July 15. In that six months, Clara and I are going to backpack down the Brazilian coast into Argentina, cross to Chile, travel up through Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia where we will visit the in-laws. Then we are going to fly to Panama city and backpack up Central America to Cancun to fly home.

This will be somewhat of a new experience for me. I will be traveling to Latin America with my wife (looks like the candy store is closed and seeing it all through a much different angle.

If you guys have any suggestions on what we should see on our extravaganza, let me know.

Shep

[HonkyTonk]

Shep, sure is good to hear from you again and to know that things are going well with Green Eyes.

Hell of a honeymoon Shep! You'll see more in that trip that most will see in a lifetime. With the countries you say you'll visit, there's the most beautiful waterfalls on the Ar/Chile border that I have ever seen on film. It's more like 50 waterfalls in a canyon leading to one big one. Breathtaking to say the least. If I was in the area it would be a must see for me!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...kstorenow78-20

Tinto posted this link awhile back but I didn't know where the waterfall was till I did some research. Check out the video in the link at 1:08 minutes. Breathtaking! If I'm mistaken on the location of the falls, maybe somebody can straighten me out.

Don't be such a stranger on here Shep! Everybody has really liked your no nonsense posts and your saga from newbie to married.

Best wishes to you and Sra Shep!

[Tinto]

Hey Shep!

Great news on the VA footing your education. It's also nice to hear about your success story with you and your wife.

Man, talk about a trek! Are you sure you want to go the backpack route though? I'd much rather fly or take one of the nice supercama buses to see the sites rather than hoofing it.

As far as what to see and do I would highly recommend Iguazu Falls along the Brazil/Argentina border. You should check out the archives on other places to see in Brazil especially posts made by Nuno and more recently, by our fearless leader, Ray.

I've been to Argentina twice and really enjoy it there. I especially liked the Patagonia region but also enjoyed Buenos Aires and Mendoza. I did a couple trip reports that you might find helpful.

As far as Chile goes, El Capitan might want to chime in as he knows that area well.

Keep safe and keep us posted!

[HonkyTonk]

There you go. Tinto already straightened me out. The falls are on the Brasil/Ar border.

There's no way I could be anywhere close and not go there. Tinto, have you been there?

[Tinto]

Tonk,

I have not been to the Falls yet but everyone that has said that it is amazing. Bueller is one board member that has been there and he was very impressed. I hope to make it there one day. (Instead of checking out the Falls I went in the opposite direction to Patagonia as I missed that area on my first visit.)

BTW, Shep, if you plan to do any flying check into purchasing an airpass before you leave. It will save you a bundle.

[HonkyTonk]

Shep, there's also no way I'd miss a hike on the Inca trail to Machu Picchu. A must see is also the Amazon Jungle/River. I've been to both places and was awed to say the least.

[LastLion]

Shep, what more couold you ask for than a gal who will hike across latin america! I think that is the fricken bomb.

I have a lifelong friend who is backpacking from Alaska now they are in peru, they have been thru every country in the americas, or will have when they are done

! They sent me an email on how much they loved Colombia and the people! They are less than 2 years married. She told me one thing, she said the trip has really strengthened the marriage which was already kick ass! So I hope that goes double for you!

Experiencing the world and the different cultures is about as good as it gets for me, I can only think it would be better with my life partner at my side!

Buen Viaje SHEP!!!!!

[Micky10]

Shep -

Great to hear all is going well and a trip that will make all here jealous, I know that I am. The bigger question I have is how did you get jack **** out of the VA? Not that I have an attitude problem with them, but; Every ten years or so I think I will give them another shot. Being the arrogant ******* that I am, everytime their first question to me is so ****ing stupid I can´t help asking them what dumb mother ****er gets paid to come up with this bull****? My brother tells me I am the idiot and should play the game and get my dough, and I am sure he is right. They are just such dicks, I can´t stop myself. When you get your law degree maybe you can file for me, as long as I am involved, I will never even get to first base. And back to the subject; do not wait so long letting us know how things are going. For sure you will have to give us some reports from your trip when you have the time. Good luck with all.

Love - Micky

[Shep1302]

Tonk, Tinto, Micky and Lastlion: Thanks for the suggestions and good wishes. I am going to work on a loose itinerary and float it by you guys before I head off into the bushes. Clara and I are also going to keep a blog of the whole thing. When I can, I will post links to it on Gringotalk and give you play by plays of the adventure.

This is going to be the trip of a lifetime and I am very excited about it.

Micky: I put off going to the VA for two years after I got back from my second tour in Iraq. I didn't want to go in there and deal with the bull****. As you well know, there is a lot of bull****. But I decided that it was in my interests (health care, veterans preference points, disability and comp, voc rehab benifits....) that I decided to wade into the waters last November. I got an advocate at Disabled American Vets because the whole process was a friggen mystery to me. They helped a lot in organizing my VA claim. Then they let me know that if I had a 20% rating, I was eligible for Voc Rehab through the VA. Normally, its a program to train vets to be car mechanics and carpenters and stuff like that. I went into the Voc Rehab Councilor and said "I want to be trained to be a lawyer." She nearly fell out of her seat. I was told "probably not" and "no way in hell" for almost five months before they gave in. I had to take psych tests, IQ tests (cheated on that one), personality tests, and all sorts of other bull****. But in the end, they finally said "OK Shep, were going to fund you to go to law school." It was a very painful and emotional process (getting told no by pencil pushing bureaucrats is insanely frustrating), but I got it in the end.

Now I can go to law school and not look down the barrel of 120K in debt when I pass the bar. This really opens up my career options and gives me a lot of freedom when I graduate. I am very grateful for the opportunity.

All that said, the VA is still a pain in the ass.

Shep

[Supermary]

Hey Shep!! That´s great Sounds like you are in for an absolutely great time!!