The Grand Finale

I cannot believe it, but the time has finally come. Tonight at 11PM I will begin my journey home. Once back in CO I will be refamiliarized with many of the creature comforts that one begins to miss after a few weeks away from home. Sadly, however, comfort and regularity come at the devastating cost of hanging up my backpack for the time being. The backpackers lifestyle- waking up in a new place every other night, eating strange foods, long bus rides, random inconveniences, etc.- is not always easy, but I will miss it more than words can explain. Returning home, life will be familiar and routine once again, a change that I hope will be less difficult to adjust to than I am anticipating. What it boils down to is that I have never felt more alive than in the past two months. This type of travelling, as well as the friendships, learning, and introspective growth that accompany it, bring me an unprecedented and indescribable joy. That being said, returning home certainly has its perks. I hold the opinion that I have the finest family and friends that anyone could ever ask for. These people (you, the readers) are my anchor in life, the reason I am lucky enough to have a place to call my home. Thus, having missed all of you a great deal in my time away, I find it unsurprising that I am very much looking forward to stepping off of the plane, looking West towards the Rockies, and knowing once again that I am among that which is most important in life, the people who love me. There is so much in Colorado to look forward to, though I cannot help but feel the melancholy that effects every adventurer nearing the end of a journey. The past 2 months have been, undoubtedly, the best of my life, but all good things must come to an end. Or do they? Upon my return, I must answer the most important question of my life thus far- whatś next? For some, this question is met with a simple answer. There are people my age who, for better of for worse, are following a path that is clearly laid out in front of them. I, on the other hand, have found that I thrive on uncertainty, a trait that may very well predetermine a life lived in financial modesty. At this time I am pursuing a one year English teaching job in South Korea, beginning in May of 2010, and prospects are looking quite good. If I am successful in my efforts, I will accept the position and leave Colorado after only 2 short months at home. Thus, my dream to travel the world will be fulfilled once more, but I will again be separated from the incredible people in my life. Check the blog for updates- I plan to continue writing regularly, regardless of where life takes me.

Now, for an update on the trip...
Following our weekend in wine country, we bid farewell to Grace and Dimi and made our way south to the city of Cordoba, where we spent a tiring day exploring the city with backpacks in tow. We could have chosen to stay longer, but the excitement and anticipation for Buenos Aires was simply too much to handle. We reached the city via night bus on the morning of the 26th, and immediately began to understand what all of the fuss was about. Buenos Aires, the ending point of our journey, is a city with many faces. It blends a distinctly aged charm with a vibrant sense of progression, and the result is spectacular. Like so many cities in South America, BA never sleeps. The daylight hours are bustling with the type of commercial energy that can only exist in the world´s largest cities, an atmosphere that can accurately be compared to that of New York City. At night the local and tourist youth come out to party, and do so with relentless energy until the wee hours of the morning. Hundreds of unique bars, clubs, and live music venues cater to all tastes for late night entertainment. I am proud to report that, in our first three days, Gareth and I successfully dropped sleep from the priority list and managed to fully experience both the daytime tourism and the wild Argentinian nightlife that BA has to offer. However, as one would expect, this lifestyle began to take a serious toll on physical health, as well as mental and emotional wellbeing. One thing was clear, it was time for a break, so we headed South to Mar Del Plata for a couple of peaceful and relaxing days on the beach. Gareth, who possesses both disposable income and incredible genrosity, decided to put us up in 5 star hotels for our two nights in the resort town. Needless to say, we soaked up lots of Argentinian rays and got the rest that we so badly needed. Not a bad way to finish things up :)
Now, back in BA for one last day, I find myself waiting, anticipating, and reflecting. I am certain that it will be some time before I fully understand the impact this trip has had on me. However, be sure, I will write all about it when I get it all figured out.


Responses to reader comments:
Dad and Mom- Cant wait to see you! Get ready for a long slideshow :)

Jeremy- There are so many awesome trips to take that will be short and cheap. Lets start planning immediately. Also, lets meet up tomorrow night! Call me around 3pm if you can...

Ryan- Are you feeling better pal? I feel for you, I got very sick a few nights ago and it was awful! And no, it was not because I ate more cow hearts :) I am looking forward to spending some time with you and your sisters in the next couple months. I miss you guys! On a side note, thank you so much for being my most avid reader and commenter throughout this trip. Every time I started to miss home, I turned to your messages to put a smile on my face!

Hilda- Looking forward to seeing you sometime soon in Colorado. Lauren is picking me up from the airport tomorrow and I cant wait to see her. Its only been a couple weeks, but I already miss her!

J Krug- Can we hang out tomorrow night in Denver? Call me manana so we can plan something out...

Katie- I was far from the effected earth quake area, not to worry! See you soon!