On The Eve

Dear Friends and Family,
I am on the eve of starting my trip to Ecuador and Peru. It is hard to believe the time has finally come. What an adventure this will be.
People ask if I am ready, and the answer for now is "Not Yet", but I will be soon. The hardest part of packing is not deciding what to take on a trip like this; the hardest part is deciding what NOT to take. I will be in many different climate zones, high mountains 8-11,000 feet with temps in the mid 40's to low 70's with frequent rains, and in the jungles of the Amazon in equatorial heat and humidity, and along the Pacific beaches, also hot but hopefully breezy as well.
I am understandably anxious about a trip of this length, two months. I have never traveled that long before, especially into a totally foreign culture and language. While I do speak Spanish, I am not fluent. When I am in my vocabulary comfort zone I can think in Spanish and conversation is easy. But once I get outside that comfort zone, I have to think in English and translate and that is tiring. To some degree the mental exercise of living in Spanish all day long will be tiring for some period of time. I hope the time comes quickly when I can converse in most situations without thinking.
A photographer friend of mine recently traveled over seas. When he re-entered the US the US Customs agent gave him a very hard time because he didn't have proof, ie sales receipts, for all of his equipment showing that he did not buy his camera gear over seas. They threatened to confiscate all of his gear, about $10,000 worth. I certainly don't have sales receipts for all my equipment, so I have to get an notarized affidavit from a friend dated before I leave the US and executed here in the US to prove, if asked, that I did not buy my equipment over seas.
How stupid can they get. Our sea ports are totally spends its limited resources is hassling photographers.
Well I am hoping I will be able to keep this blog up dated while I travel and I hope you enjoy following "Glenn's Excellent Adventure".
I ask in advance that you please forgive and read right through the typos, which I am sure will be many. I do proof read, but an author always reads what he thought, not what is written. But hopefully all will be clear enough to communicate effectively and that is the ultimate goal
Adios Amigos y Amigas.