Itinerary Update (as of May 12, 2009)

Update on May 12, 2009
Revision to final week in Perú, return date to Seattle, and speculation about the summer. Updates in red.
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October 2008
Seattle, WA, USA
Packing and shutting down my Seattle apartment and moving everything into storage.

Oct 30 - Nov 8, 2008 (1 week)
Amsterdam and 'S-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
Visiting with Zach and Matt at the European Ceramic Work Center, and sight-seeing.

Nov 8 - Nov 15, 2008
Williamsburg, VA, USA
Visit with Matt and Meg & Kevin (aka Betsy & John) in Colonial Williamsburg. Staying at the Hartwell Perry Tavern, built in 1744.

Nov 15 - Dec 27, 2008 (six weeks)
Antigua, Guatemala
Living with a host family in Antigua, studying Spanish, traveling weekdays to teach in a village about 40 minutes from town. In the final week, we'll build two energy-efficient stoves for families in the village.

Side trips: A weekend adventure trip to Lake Atitlan with mountain biking, flat-water kayaking, and hiking.

Dec 27, 2008 - Feb 7, 2009 (six weeks)
Copan, Honduras
Living with a host family in Copan, traveling weekdays to teach in a village about 20 minutes from town.

Side trips: Day trips to the Mayan ruins in Copan, hot springs, Macaw Mountain bird park, horseback riding, and a trek in the surrounding hills.

Feb 7 - Feb 14, 2009 (1 week)
Esteli, Nicaragua
Living with a host family in Esteli, traveling weekdays teach and to help build an energy-efficient stove in a nearby village.

Feb 14 - March 28, 2009
Imbaya, Otavalo, Ecuador
Living with a host family in Otovalo, traveling weekdays to teach in a village about an hour from town.

Side trips: A weekend adventure trip to Mindo including whitewater rafting, zip-lining over the cloud forest, and a visit to nature preserves. A day trip of trekking and horseback riding to Taxopumba for a swim at the base of a waterfall.

March 28 - May 18, 2009
Arequipa, Perú
Living at the Casa de Avila in Arequipa, traveling weekdays to teach in a nearby pueblo joven called Maldonado.

Side trips: A 3-day excursion to Colca Canyon, a horse riding excursion, a half-day of mountain biking, and a final adventure week trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu, NOT visiting the Nazca Lines, possibly no boat ride to the famous Islas Ballestas, and possibly no a visit to the Reserva Natural de Paracas before heading back to Lima for a flight to Seattle, arriving May 18 in the evening.

May 19 - early June, 2009
Seattle, WA
Catching up with friends in Seattle; staying with Keith and Sarah to begin with.

June - September, 2009
USA
Another roadtrip in my VW Eurovan, beginning south towards San Luis Obispo CA, with a flexible itinerary winding through Columbus OH to pick up Zach and then up to South Bristol ME for a few months. The last part of the summer will likely include a series of shorter trips through northeastern US and Canada, and a trip to Minneapolis in mid-July for the Dressel Family Reunion.