10 MONTHS IN SOUTH AMERICA

After 309 days it was time to leave South America. At least for the moment. There were countless great experiences and I hope I will remember most of them. I had a great time and enjoyed it a lot.

I traveled by bus, plane and boat

I slept in hostel beds, hammocks and at friend's places

I hiked a snow covered volcano in Chile and partly up volcano Tungaruha in Ecuador that erupted a few days later

I got sick on a four day hike near Quilotoa in Ecuador and wet on a ten day hike in Torres del Paine National Park in Chile.
I saw sea lions, eagle rays and turtles on the Galapagos Islands, penguins in Argentina, pink dolphins, caimans and aras in Bolivia and condors in Chile

I tried to dance salsa, merengue and samba (have to go back to improve my dancing)

I went running at the beach, went snorkeling and tried surfing

I learned about the production of coffee in Colombia, manioca in Brazil and sugar in Bolivia

I explored cities, the rainforest, mountains and deserts
I ate lots of rice, chicken and shrimp
I went to the markets in Cartagena, Colombia; Belem, Brazil; La Paz, Bolivia and many more
I ate mango in Ecuador, acai in Brazil and pomelo in Bolivia

I listened to Sandra on the ferry between Argentina and Uruguay, Boney M in La Paz, “Moskau, Moskau,...” in a taxi in Portoviejo, Ecuador, and Modern Talking all over Bolivia

I listened a million times to Don Omar's “Danza Kuduro”, a thousand times to Aventura and a hundred times to Shakira
I traveled with good friends, met lots of people, made new friends, fell in love and said goodbye to too many people

I learned lot and had a great time