Timeline: July 15, 2011 to December 15, 2011
Visit 13 Countries: United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, & Argentina
Modes of travel: Bus, train, walking, boat, car, truck, scooter, & return via airline
Route to follow: Paths created by indigenous tribes, Columbus, Cortez, Pizarro, Padre Kino, Fray Serra, other European explorers & pioneers
General strategy: Staying in most countries for two weeks, except Mexico (easy to visit from U.S.), Costa Rica (already explored extensively), and Panama. I will make arrangements to formally study four-weeks of Spanish: one week in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua; one week in either Ecuador, Peru, or Bolivia.
Budget: $1500 dollars a month ($1500 X 5 months = $7500). Contingency budget is $2000 month ($2000 X 5 months = $10,000). In addition, I project to have ready $1000 dollars for the return flight back to the US.
Documentation: I’ll keep a journal of significant events, people, and ideas. I’ll produce a travel blog to record weekly updates. I’ll take a laptop, kindle, ipod, & digital camera – no cell phone.