Greetings from Montevideo

I write this from one of the couches of the Hillel in Montevideo. It's a really nice facility with a kitchen that makes a mean pasta.

I arrived at the Hillel, yesterday around 4:00PM. Considering I had left SFO at 12:45 the previous day, I did a lot of traveling to get there. I took a plane from SFO to DC and a plane from there to Buenos Aires. I had booked a flight from BA to Montevideo but the plane took off from a different airport across town. This wasn't a suprise to me; I knew I'd have to change airports. But the other option was to go across town to take a 2 hour boat ride which just seemed like too much for that trip. So I took a shuttle from airport one to airport two and then hopped on another plane to Montevideo. Of course I didn't book this last leg until the day before and still hadn't heard back from my hosts about where to go once I got there. Every leg of the trip felt like an amazing victory and when I got the Montevideo airport I assumed my luck would be out. But low and behold I found internet access and there was an e-mail with an address. I hopped in a cab and 20 minutes later I was at the Hillel. That's right ladies and gents. We're talking 23 hours of nonstop travel.

So I was pretty tired when I got in. They led me to a couch where I instantly fell asleep. After a quick nap it was decided that I would go to the apartment of the guy I had been in contact with so I could shower and rest. At 9 he and I went out for dinner. We went to a buffet with lots of fried goodies. Then we set off to the Moishe House where I instantly fell asleep.

I slept for 12 hours and woke up to an empty house. At one I was picked up by Fabian and taken back to Hillel where I met my new friend for the day Fefi. We had lunch on the coast and then explored downtown. I went into two really amazing art galleries. The city was nice to see. Nothing in the city really blew me away. The whole city is next to the ocean and it's cool in down town to look down and see the beach just blocks away. The Boardwalk down the beach is really cool and I'm sure in the Summer it is bumping. Of course it is winter down here now and pretty cold.

So now I'm back at Hillel for a few more hours. Nothing incredible or adventurous has happened yet but I am having a great time. I love just going with the flow and seeing where it takes me. Today has been fun and I still have a lot more to go.

Much love to any who read this.

Peace

Brady

Back to the action

So the last time I wrote on this thing I was in Siem Reep Cambodia. I meant to continue writing about that trip but got caught up with some craziness and never got around to it. Before I start writing about my new adventures I guess I'll some up the end of that trip. Very briefly I'll give the outline and then anyone can ask me anyquesitons about the specifics.

Here are the stories:
How I crashed a tuk tuk
Singing in the Brothels
A bus ride love affair: How I almost got married
Losing my ATM on the way to Thai Land
The night of Mandel
Billiards in the bus depot: The Thai have small balls
13 hours to Lao
Clowncycle
Into the Jungle
Zip lining across the jungle
Brady 1, Black Bear 0
13 hours to Thai Land: My most tragic moment
Impulse decision: The journey home

Believe that each one of these stories are epic in themselves and hopefully someday I will write them down but not today.

Today I sit in LAX awaiting my next adventure ala the Forest Foundation. In 7 hours I depart for Guademala for about ten days. I have no idea what to expect but I know it will be crazy. I just got in from a weekend family reunion in Illinois wher I met about 70 cousins for the first time.

The size of my family on my mom's side is truly amazing. My great grandparents came from Russia and had 9 children who all had more kids who all had more kids who all had more kids. I know that everyone in the states is in some way a child of immigrants but it's never wrung true for me until this weekend. I saw pictures of my great grandparents home town and heard of their travels to the states. I met some people who I really liked and was excited to know that I was related to them.

But home again, home again. Here I am.

I have nothign else to say now so I will stop writing.

My next enrty will be from my travels and hopefully will be filled with as much adventure as they have in the past.

Brady