Hi,
This is to Francesca and any readers of her blog. This is Tori, the girl she traveled South America with. We are guest writing on our blogs. I have been sitting here trying to think of something to say that could sum up our experience. It´s really hard. Especially, because anyone that´s not us will never fully get it. They can read our blogs, look at our pictures and hear our stories, but they will never fully understand. It is really overwhelmingly sad that I am about to go home and will be reliving some of our days in my head and she just isn´t going to be around like she has been to laugh. I just spent more consecutive hours with her then anyone else in my life... and we did get along the whole time (I know I can be difficult to live with).
Not to sound cliche´or over dramatic, but things like this definitely shapes and changes you as a person. I like to think from this experience that our situations and Francesca really taught me to be present in the moment... not let you´re mind wander, slow down and enjoy each moment. That is the one idea that I´ll be taking back with me in real life. And it seems so simple, but really after spending countless hours on a bus, driving through towns made of plywood and no running water you realize you do have it good. I always knew that existed, but seeing it changes your perspective. Having some literally beyond grateful with a forty cent tip is a mind boggling thing. And me personally being able to live out of a carry-on suit case makes you realize all the crap you just don´t need... besides for that piece of Jesus memorabilia you might stumble on.
This part below is really for Francesca.
Evita Peron: 10 am out the window, no sleep, my impersonation.
Snap.
Only $10 and one day our fridge will be full of this, cheese and fruit for juice bebidas con leche.
Meet Me At The Hotel and I Know I Want You are really one song.
I will never eat jambon again.
Favorite drink on earth.
It will always be watching you, but by now it is probably another color.
On this trip we met a lot of amazing people along the way. People in South America just generally seem to be more happy. They say hi, walk down the street with a smile and so on. A lot of people we met commented on the stress of the US. It was amazing talking to different people from every country just to listen to there way of life. The country we both fell in love with the most, especially with the people was Argentina, specifically the city of Buenos Aires.
Below is Facebook banter I just had with one of out friends and one of the reasons I will be going back to BA.
12:13amTori
thank you.. i love it there. i will be back and speaking much better spanish!!!
thank you.. i love it there. i will be back and speaking much better spanish!!!
12:14amTori
i´ll miss you! it was so great to meet you! thank you for being so nice to us.
i´ll miss you! it was so great to meet you! thank you for being so nice to us.
12:15amOjo
it was a pleasure
well good bye and good like... good return and better trip
sorry, good luck
not good like
it was a pleasure
well good bye and good like... good return and better trip
sorry, good luck
not good like
Tori
bye! see you again oneday.
bye! see you again oneday.
Honestly, I´ll be back. I feel compelled to spend more time there, as well as Francesca. It was just so nice to be in a city full of life, with happy people and good food. It is so inexpensive and its was like we were treating our self to this amazing experience even if we were staying in and eating cheese and drinking bottles of champagne in our pajamas. It is something I have to do for myself one more time in my life and hopefully with Francesca if our lives meet up again like they did this fall... it definitely gets harder the older you get... side note speaking of getting older, let´s me take the time out to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FRANCESCA!!!!!
She just turned 24 and we spent some time eating sundaes with dulce de leche at McDonald´s.
We always got to keep it classy.
I could go on forever, but basically this trip was one of the most amazing things I have ever done and I needed it. It was reward to myself for months of hard work and dealing with one dramatic situation. I am so happy Francesca asked me to experience this with her because I don´t think she would have asked if she didn´t really value our friendship. We really had only been friends for less then a year and half the time I was living in Korea. I am going to cry so much tomorrow as I get in a cab to leave and I don´t want know the full effect from this vacation and Francesca till I am sum what settled at home. I know it is only positive. It sucks because I feel like I am breaking up with Francesca... she knows more about me then most from just my daily routine to my actual life. We slept in the same bed for 52 nights and now it is just abruptly ending and we are both continuing on two completely different paths. But the traveling isn´t all fun. It´s tiring, confusing and dangerous at times and if you can survive it you know it will make you a stronger person in the long run and prepared for your next journey no matter how big or small.
For all of Francesca´s friends that are not meeting her down here... you are crazy. Money comes and goes, but experiences like this last forever and you should really try to take part of this time in her life with her.
I love you Coca! You are doing amazing things because you are already an amazing person... I can´t wait for you to come home and do all the things we talked about to hopefully end up back down here for a little. I didn´t think I would be this sad, but I am. Just remember to spin it all more in positive light, your Spanish is good and if you need anything at all you know I will help. Now go get your self some hand-sanitizer, keep your bag stocked wit h tampons and chapstick. Oh, and don´t forget to bring a blanket on the bus. I would say drink plenty of water, but you already got that down.
Best save the trip moment:
Walking into the hotel to find an ATM.
I will now officially use hotels i am not staying otu for everything;
internet, bathrooms, taxi service, gift shops, etc.
A special shut out to the Bizcocho winners of the trip:
(people that were not on the trip, but were key players)
Colleen Reagan for the lavender wipes that came in handy on every 20+ hour bus ride.
Robert W. for loving blue boobies as much as we do.
The cast list of all the Key players:
Marcel (I hope that is your name) AKA Braziliano.
Spencer, for taking us out in Rio and giving us the knowledge of Lapa.
Roy, the best hostel bartender, who made very strong drinks.
Santiagoe for making us go out to embarrass our selves trying to Salsa dance.
The airport dude from Rio that help us get on the plane to Bogota even though he might have never actually got on the flight.
Our little tour guy from the Police museum in Bogota, we were able to tell Paublo Escobar was fat from his jacket.
The taxi driver from the border in Ecuador , who chased down the bus in his car to get us to Quito.
Our hostel dude in Quito, who gave us so much information and made phone calls for us and a special shut out to the lady that worked for him and did our laundry, while we desecrated churches.
Andres for being 19 , getting us surfboards and rubbing sand on my jelly fish sting..
Andres´s grandma for dusty empanadas and making us canned tuna pasta.
Don Cherry the best tour guide we never head.
Remi because I am thinking about you right now, you must be thinking of me.
Paublo for all our bracelet and necklace needs.
The creepy tour guide that made us realize never have a drink with the creepy tour guides.
Our eight year old server that took time out of watching TV to go get me a beer.
Karlina and the rest of the television crew for giving us somewhere to go out to in Quayquil and of course for making us television stars.
Ricardo for telling us the next day cabs have been kidnapping people, but you redeemed yourself by figuring out the bus situation to Lima.
The bus guy, on the trip from Arica to Santiago, that fed us the same meal four times and fantasized about doing Coca the whole time.
Every man that honked even if there little kids were in the car.
Everyman that pretended to be a taxi driver to try to get us in the car.
The paragliding guys in Lima that made sure we didn´t fall to our death.
The lady that sold us ponchos to climb Maccu Piccu.
Karolina who made us her best friend in Santiago for the night... You are a Sexy Motherfucker!
And the bearded guy who gave me the scarf to cover my legs, also that same nice.
Lars, our white water rafting instructor.
Our wine tour guide in Mendoza.
The people that robbed us on the subway... you are a little bitch!
Marcello, who made Buenos Aires for us... we can´t thank you enough and you are the best person of the whole trip.
Nameless boys in BA.
Dante and his family for having us over.
Augustine .
The kid who kept our wine glass full for six hours.
Fucking gorilla bird... I will find you one day.
Cristo that was watching us on every hill.
The restaurant workers in Columbia that were so happy to talk to us and ran down the street to get us ice.
To all restaurant workers that ran down the street to get us change.
The women in Quito that made us an amazing breakfast.
Nicholas our server from the amazing restaurant in BA, that proved it´s okay to hang out with your tables.
The old ladies on every bus that watched out for us.
Fucking Australians and the Australian woman and English guy that redeemed Australia as a country.
The large groups of the French.
And of course
Francesca & Victoria
For keeping it classy.
(Tori didn´t exist on this trip)
And I just want to say it´s ironic my shoes were on, even though we each ruined many shoes.
Keep showing them how fun you are!
Love you lady.
Te Amo Meubles.
Te Amo Huevos.
Te Amo Peligroso.
Te Amo Francesca.
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