Traveling alone

I prepared this special post as this is the first time I'm traveling alone. It was unplanned as my mate got sick before the flight. I was very scared originally to go to developing country, do crazy stuff without knowing more than couple of Spanish words. But I decided to go as most of the travelers I met so far and were travelling on their own were recommending it. And after two weeks experience I can say I love it. I never felt so much flexibility. I never was kind of forced to meet new people. I'm basically boss of my time. If I want to stay alone I can. If I want to meet new people I can. And its much easier to meet other travelers on the road with similar goals than meeting new people in the bar. There are only few things making it difficult. Sharing some small expenses like taxi's and having to organize everything myself. But I found the second point actually benefit and first point I don't care. Because I don't have trouble to spent money here and there if necessary and I always choose the best option for me. Sometimes I fly, sometimes I stay, sometimes I move fast. Sounds little bit selfish, but that's how I prefer it here where I move every second day or so. So far I met those people which were very graceful to me and I spent with them more than one moment. First I met Yayushka on the plane from Lima to Cuzco. Originally from New York, living in Mexico with Russian name. We had a short talk as he sat next to me. Surprisingly we met two days later on the Machu Picchu gate so we spent a day together. And furthermore what the chances are, we got the seats next to each other on the train back to Cuzco from Machu Picchu. Yayushka went back home to Mexico.

Then I met Slovak girl Jana who is travelling around South America for 13 months already. I met her on Antimani island where she was host in some other family. And also Leila, Argentinean girl, we danced together where possible :-) We further moved to La Paz together with Jana and spent another day before our ways separated.

Then I met Francisca, Chilean crazy girl on a bar in La Paz. I met her once again when I came back from Uyuni and when I got sick and she was nicely taking care of me. Lovely girl.

I also met Sandra from Mexico on a 3-day Bolivian trip. She was travelling on her own so we paired to help each other with photos and stuff.

On the lonely times you could enjoy Wi-Fi spots at every place to keep in contact with people and manage stuff little upfront. Even some buses had the Wi-Fi onboard. Last but definitely least were the little flies especially aggressive around Machu Picchu. You don't feel them biting you. But give it a day or two and they will show their power with incredible itching. My leg even grown from so many bites. Not really friendly mates :-)

One more surprising thing about people here is that in a two weeks, I didn't saw any single local person smoking. I saw a couple of tourist though. I will keep watching but something is different here :-)