Planning Tedium

Today I made the most critical step in planning any trip... buying the tickets. I know it sounds boring, but it not only signifies an absolute commitment to the otherwise speculative travel plans, but it also defines the frame of time in which to paint the picture of a dream vacation =) It's been my practice for the last couple of trips that I've taken (Belize and Costa Rica) to get the tickets first and then figure out exactly how I'm going to spend that alloted time. That style of planning buys into my idea that real travel (or adventure if you like to think of it that way) should be shot from the hip and not planned too precisely. That element of uncertainty and dynamism not only adds to the excitement but also allows me more flexibility to persue activities that I can't see from afar in the comfort of the office. It's like current Steve giving future Steve a high-five.

I've got a general idea some of the places that I want to visit but I've got a lot of research ahead of me to get a better grasp on that. The only firm facts are my flight times.



Los Angeles (LAX) to Zacatecas (ZCL) 2/16/081:00 am - 5:50 am Mexicana
Zacatecas (ZCL) to Mexico City (MEX) 2/16/087:00 am - 8:15 am Mexicana
Mexico City (MEX) to Guatemala City (GUA) 2/16/081:40 pm - 3:40 pm Mexicana


San Jose (SJO) to Phoenix (PHX) 3/13/087:35 am - 12:20 pm US Airways
Phoenix (PHX) to Los Angeles (LAX) 3/13/081:35 pm - 3:02 pm US Airways


So there we have it. I'm flying into Guatemala and out of Costa Rica four weeks later. I should note that I also purchased a ticket for Samantha (my girlfriend) to join me in Costa Rica for the last week. We're meeting up with some family of her's down there and hopefuly we'll get a local take on what's most important to see. I've been to Costa Rica once before and I visisted the capital and some of the NW part of the country. It was awesome. Here's a pic of that trip. ttyl