Wanderlust

Ahh, Wanderlust. My permanent state of mind. Even while stuck in the robotic routine of mainstream society, for those of us who can’t get enough of traveling, it’s hard to keep the daydreaming at bay. For the past few weeks, I can’t seem to stop little thoughts of Brazil from floating around my head. Where at in the world is your mind going when it’s been wandering lately? 

xx SLW 

(picture above from Free People)

How to deal: loosing touch

     Ever since my six month journey around South America, I have been ever evolving as a person. That trip awoke me in a way that I wasn’t expecting, and my life has been slowly changing for the better ever since. I am learning to focus on things that are important to me, instead of wasting so much time not living in the moment. A huge part of learning is also failing. I’m currently trying to stay on task and save as much money as I can so that I can travel again next Winter (hopefully for a few years!), however I find myself getting lost and veering off course every now and again.

     Next year, and foreign countries both seem so far out of my grasp sometimes that I’m not sure if it is worth it to work so hard right now. Maybe I should focus on making a life for myself here? Focus on making friends here instead of keeping in touch with those from my past? Go back to school? Get a “real” job? Maybe I shouldn’t spend all of my time planning and thinking about future trips that seem lightyears away?

     Writing tonight has made me come across so many pictures of my trip that I hadn’t looked at in a while. There were a few certain pictures that literally made my face light up, and I could feel butterflys in my stomach. I remember this familiar feeling while looking out the plane window as my plane flew into Cusco exactly a year ago this week. It is amazing how pictures can help you relive so many emotions, and memories fly around your head, making you let go of any doubt you had. The thoughts that maybe this isn’t that path for me flew out the window the moment I saw a picture of my class from Aldea Yanapay, and remembered how eager they were to learn, and how humble and thankful they were to have a school, and to have us there teaching them. This is exactly how I want to feel for the rest of my life. There is nothing that school or a regular job could teach me, that is greater than that you learn from traveling. Experiencing culture and being with real people in real places, that is exactly what I long for. If a year has already passed since leaving Miami last year, another year will surely go back just as quick. For now, I will just have to keep looking at my pictures, and reading my journals every time I start to doubt myself and veer off of my course. It will all be worth it in a year.

xx SLW

working in Cusco, worth it ?

     I had every intention working while I was in Peru, because I didn't come to travel. I came to Cusco planning to stay at least four months or so, and had about $1200 with me. Being around so many travelers who were going so many places made my mind run wild. I thought to cut my trip a little short, and travel around instead- having no plan in mind at all. This being said $1200 can fly by- even if you are only paying about $120 for rent. I don't mind working, but hate starting to work. I went around to a few bars and restaurants, but everyone wanted some way to guarantee that you wouldn't leave in a few weeks. The best thing to do for travelers in my opinion, is to work in hostels. You can find jobs at other places, but once you balance out the pay with the hours worked it barely makes it worth it. Peru is one of the cheapest countries in South America, so if you plan on leaving after working, your Soles won't cash in for much. 

 I got a job working as a bartender at Mama Africas- a club in the Plaza de Armas. I was so nervous to start, because I hadn't bar tended in a while and my spanish isn't the best. Franzi, a girl from the school was going to waitress as well that night. We both stood around doing nothing for the first two hours, like most jobs, not knowing what to do. Finally the boss and other bartenders got there and we started to work. It was such a simple system, we just took orders and made drinks. The manager handled all money activity. We worked hard from about 7pm to 530am for a set pay of 50 s./ and then got an additional 10 s./ for tips. All together this was 60./ or $22 for 10 1/2 hours! After that, I decided I would never convert anything to American dollars again!! It was a fun job though; I got to drink, and met a lot of people..but it just didn't seem like it was worth it for such long hours. All of the customers were stoked to see that the bartender spoke english, and were all so curious to know why I was working there. I seem to like doing things that aren't typical, and that make people ask questions. Maybe it's just a way of keeping life interesting. 

     So, if you plan on becoming a millionaire during your stay in South America, I wouldn't recommend working in Cusco. If you are only wanting to work to make enough to sustain your life there, it is really easy! I just didn't have the time to work long hours, and honestly I was having so much fun being in a new place for the first time, I told myself I'd get a job at the next place. 

  

xx SLW

and so it begins !

     Most of the posts I will be writing are either directly from my travel journals or just by memory. Well let me start off with saying, that if anyone is debating to go to Cusco, Peru; please debate no further. I can honestly say that it is one of the most magical places I have ever been to. Many people that go there think that it cures you one way or another. Was I cured of something? I don’t know, but I do know a little piece of me will forever be changed from the month and a half that I spent there. When I first got off the plane, I remembering feeling such a crisp and tingly feeling- maybe it was the nerves, or the altitude, or both. But, I will remember it that feeling forever. It was my first time ever leaving the country- besides family cruises when I was a little kid, and my first time ever traveling alone. I don't think I had ever been more scared or exited in my life.

      By the way, for anyone who plans on going to anywhere in high altitude- don’t be too worried about it! I grew up in Florida, so the sand dunes were about the only mountain I had been on, and I wasn’t affected highly from the altitude at all! I did feel very tired, and slept a lot the first day. Then, I drank the wonderful cocoa-tea and felt great after that. Of course, walking up the thousands of high stair cases that surround the city, I would feel like I just ran a 5k- but maybe I’m just out of shape.

^ flying high over the Andes  and my first sight at the colorful Cusco. 

xx SLW

    

Inspirational Words

Always a favorite quote of mine, and how perfect of a quote to start off my travel blog with ! I originally had made a tumblr, but decided to convert it into a blogspot instead- therefore, I will be reposting everything on here tonight instead. So stay tuned ! & thank you for checking my blog out. 

 xo SLW