A list of what to bring while traveling

First off, everyone has different needs, the following list is what I have found to work well for traveling light. My grandmother Pamela is visiting me in March so I thought it would be helpful to put together a list plus there are things I wish I would have brought and what to bring while traveling in the future. List also changes on the time of year visiting.

1. Sturdy backpack, depends on your preference, it´s very helpful to have a sleeping bag zipper compartment at the bottom for quick access. Plan on carrying only a large backpack and a small backpack.

2. I wish I would have brought a clothes line that has clips on it. Super easy to use and light. I usually use some rope or like right now my clothes are hanging all over a tree. The thing is, without the clips, random pieces of clothing get blown away.

3. Wish I would have brought a collapsable plastic water container: My nalgene works just fine but doesnt hold enough water. For example, we are staying at a campground that is far from a water source. My professor has a nice container thats not too large and not too small, approximately 1.5 Liters or 50 oz. When he´s not using it, just squishes it down so its compact and light whereas two nalgene bottles do not have this option.

4. Boots, flip flops for showering in, and sneakers.

5. Watch with an alrm clock in it.

6. One warm jacket, once waterproof jacket

7. Sunglasses, warm beanie, ball cap...

8. Grams, I have a few things you can borrow like a beanie cap, gloves, camera, binoculars....

9. Sealable Tupperware container for holding a sandwich and another snack.

10. Only enough clothes to fit in a compressable stuff sack. Por ejemplo: two pairs of pants, one being hiking pants, one pair of shorts, three pairs of shirts, long sleeved shirt, and a light jacket for protection from the sun,two pairs of sneaker socks, and two pairs of warm boot socks. I doubt you will need to bring your boots. Just bring a good pair of sneakers.

11. Extra lightweight bag to bring back goodies in! You will leave with more than you came with for sure.

List of ``must haves`` in Argentina

Here is a list of what everyones buying. Plus a funny update. Last night Amy fell out of her top bunk bed last night. Luckily she´s as agile as a cat and landed on her feet!

First off, if you´re in Bariloche you have to buy:
1. CHOCOLATE!
Entonces...
2. Cuchillos, knives
3. Boleadoras
4. Sam bought a beaver trap
5. I bought a baca belt, cow belt with hair on it!
6. Mate´s
7. Bombillas for the mate´s
8. All types of clothing
9. Pan de Indio gal, not a pan de indio girl but a type of fungus that grows on a tree and forms strange growths.

As our adventures grow, so does this list

Estoy cansada

I´ve been wanting to write since my break in El Bolson but I´ve so busy ever since I got back to the real world. I´m staring at this computer and it´s swaying haha! Too much cafe and mate. I had spanish class this morning and shared my new ceramica mate gourd with everyone. It´s a pajaro, bird. After class I wrote my two spanish presentations, one on one of the founding fathers of Argentina, Perito Moreno and the other presentation on an interview of our choice. I interviewed several people in the artensanal feria in Bariloche, people like Daniel who made the ceramica mate cup I bought, a Cecilia who makes soap, and a Mapuche woman (a true native of Argentina) who makes beautiful silver jewelry.

Then I had a meeting with film director and producer of The Path of the Condor. Here´s the website: http://www.thepathofthecondor.com/
My classmates Morgan, Ben, and I asked him questions about possible projects to join about the condors. We have some more people to contact but it looks likely that my February project will be studying the Condor bird. I´m super excited because not a lot of study has been done on these magnificent birds. Every new information gained about them has great opportunities in areas of re-establishing populations here and in california with the californian condor, new inventions in paragliding, and much much more.

Time to go, tonight I´m eating at the restaurant Sesame with my roommates. Some other things I´ve been working on is a species presentation on the Black-Browed Albatross and another presentation on a research paper about the Condors. Sunday our group leaves to take rental cars north and south to different parks.

Here´s an interesting article my professor just sent me.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/13/argentinian-founding-father-genocide-row

¡Nos Vemos!