“Do you have any idea how lucky we are?” Sara asked as she passed the joint to our new Argentine friend Gaston. “I mean think about how many people never get the chance to do this. How many people do you know who have ever even done this?”

Granted we were high, but she was right. Sara was 27 and had been traveling for 2 months through South America. I met her while on the now infamous Mr. Hugo’s bikes and wine tour in Mendoza, Argentina.

Mr. Hugo was an older Argentine man with a welcoming heart, a mind for business and a heavy hand when pouring his home made wine for guests. I’d been invited by another group of travelers staying at my hostel and decided that the idea of a drunk bike ride in the sun was right up my alley.

After touring 4 wineries and a chocolate/Absinthe factory (nice mix huh?), my group and I posted up at Mr. Hugo’s for the “end of the tour free wine and socializing period”. Sara had talked with a Canadian girl in our group while on the tour and came over and introduced her, joining us in our drunken ramblings.

We learned she had just come from Buenos Aires after finding romance with a handsome Argentine, only to wake up one morning with all of her valuables and her Casanova gone. She found out later that she wasn’t the first victim and this con man had quite the resume.

She was a pretty girl with bright blue eyes that you could lose yourself in. We sparked up a conversation about my travels and writing. She promised that she’d follow my blog and it was about this point forward that I knoticed our eyes kept meeting, exchanging sly smiles. As we prepared to catch the bus back into the city, Sara said she needed to get back as well, joining us on the bus into town.

She made plans with Lisa, the Canadian girl in our group, to come by our hostel later that evening. Before heading back to her hostel, Sara leaned in and kissed my cheek, “See you later.” she said smiling. We headed back to the hostel and I decided that after riding bikes and getting pleasantly drunk in 100 degree heat, a nap was in order.

I awoke around 10:30pm and after getting my bearings, I dizzily walked out to the hostels common area grabbing some water to aid in repairing my impending hangover. “Hey stranger” I heard as I came around the corner. At the wooden table in the courtyard sat Sara, Lisa and their new friend Gaston, a local who they had met while I’d been napping.. They invited me to join them and I made my way over to the table still half asleep.

“We’re gonna go smoke a joint in the Plaza Independencia, you want to come?” Sarah asked.

Photo Credit - Maxtdf

Now I’m not a big fan of the burnout backpacker types who seem to travel more to party and live irresponsibly than to experience new places and cultures. That being said, I’m also not overly fond of the straight laced, Lonely Planet, Money belt wearing types that obsess over getting pictures in front of everything that resembles a historic church or monument.

Falling somewhere in the middle, I figured smoking a joint in the plaza might be just what I was looking for and plus I needed to ease my hangover and pain from my sunburn. After all, The best travel stories seem to stem from accepted invitations.

Strolling through the plaza with 3 strangers, passing around a joint, I thought about what Sara had said moments earlier.

We were damn lucky.

The stories I’d pass along to my grand children were happening right now, with the exception whole passing a joint part.

Sara and I walked arm in arm, flirting with playful kisses. I decided to leave and head home before things got too out of control, despite the pleadings from the group. They wanted to go to a nearby club and I wasn’t feeling up to being in that kind of environment. In fact, I was a bit sleepy, go figure.

I remember waking up once more around 3:30 am that morning, hearing Sara and Lisa outside my room in the courtyard. I debated going out to join them and pulling Sara away to give her what she was seeking from me, validation of her worth that a con man had put into question.

I decided however that the con man had allegedly been in business a while and being safe was the smart play here. I lied awake playing out the scenes of our love that was never to be in my head. It seems that many times its is better there anyway…

Photo Credit - Irargerich

Beads of perspiration slid down the side of the bottle onto the oak table. I shifted my Netbook over a few inches to avoid the run off.

"Ahhh Fuck you, you’re cheating!" The grungy looking 20 something yelled in an Australian accent.

Across the room four of my fellow hostel bar patrons were in the middle of a intense game of beer pong. Just the ambiance I was looking for to partake in some deep thinking, writing and reflecting on my voyage. My chances of getting anything quality onto my blank Word document were getting slim.

Fortunately after the 8 hour bus ride from Mendoza, including my unfortunate bus seat assignment next to a single mother of 5 young children, I wasn't feeling my normal night time sense of spry optimism and deep reflection.

Fuck it, let’s get drunk and surf the web.

I reached for my Palermo cerveza and swigged down a few gulps. Across the table a new backpacker had just arrived at the bar, sporting his laptop in one hand and the same Palermo variety I was sipping.

"Looks like we have the same idea" he observed. He was short, balding, maybe in his late 20's and his accent hinted of the Kangaroo homeland.

"Can't go wrong with  $2 liters of good beer." I replied. "Another Australian I take it, I've met more Australians’ on this trip than ever in my life" I explained.

"Another fucking American, you bastards are everywhere." he prodded back. "I'm Paul".

"Rick" I replied, followed by the obligatory handshake.

"What brings you to Buenos Aires Rick? Other than cheap beer and trying to sleaze on the beautiful women of course?" He inquired with a curious smirk.

"That pretty much sums it up, but I am also trying to do some writing, not feeling it tonight though." I answered shutting my laptop and taking a chug.

"Well then, you’re coming out with me tonight to rage with the blokes and get a taste of the dive bar scene." "My mate has lived here for 2 years and knows the best spots for a sloppy fun evening." He explained eloquently

"Deal", I was sold. Plus if I were going to be living here the next few months, this might be a good opportunity to meet a local who could show me the ropes.

We were strolling the dirty city streets minutes later, drunkenly stumbling while swigging our road beers we’d picked up on the way out and simultaneously avoiding stepping in the mine fields of dog shit that peppered the sidewalk.

Arriving at the first bar and entering through the towering wood doors, the vibe was laid back and though it was Tuesday, the place was packed. We dipped into two wooden chairs across from the bar and I met Matt and Will, Paul’s old pals who looked as if they’d gotten an early start themselves.

Matt and I made introductions and shared our reasons for arriving halfway across the world at this little bar. He was traveling for two more weeks and had just flown in from Rio, where he’d apparently enjoyed more alcohol, drugs and women than anything else.

This is not an uncommon story among travelers living the backpacker lifestyle. While many choose to take walking tours, flash pictures in front of each monument and visit gift shops, just as many travelers never stray far from the hostel unless heading to the bars or nightclubs. Like anything else this is a balance that each traveler must find on their own. I was still in search of mine and so far I’d been a shit tourist, living up to my stereotypical westernized backpacker stigma.

Will was a tall, lanky guy with an accent and longer blond hair and with this look I imagined he did quite well with the ladies here. He had been living in Buenos Aires for over a year and seemed quite settled in and comfortable with his new expatriate lifestyle. My suspicion was confirmed as two finely shaped Argentine women approached our table yelling out at Will. He introduced us in fluent Argentine Spanish and we exchanged the customary two cheek introduction kiss. I was suddenly getting quite envious of Will’s lifestyle.

I could get used to this.

The night was a blur of big beers and conversations of road stories and future plans, as the four of us meandered through the city to 3 different bars. At each location Will introduced us to the bartenders and the owners and it was clear that being a local had its perks. I was starting to believe that you really can pick up and move halfway across the world and eventually blend in, forming your own unique community of friends in a new place.

Photo Credit- Gabriel Gama

On the way home we stopped into a late night food spot serving burgers and hot dogs. My new friends decided that since it was my first night in town, I should do the ordering in my best Argentine Spanish. I proceeded to order a “caliente perro” which I later found out doesn’t quite have the same meaning of a “hot dog” that you would order in the US. “Un pancho” Will corrected, stepping in with a laugh. “Don’t worry man, you’ll catch on” he assured me.

One night in a new city, 7 liters of beer, one confused hot dog vendor and un pancho. I didn’t know it then, but I had only just begun both my literal and linguistic stumbling in the big city of Buenos Aires.

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Each day over the next 10 days, I'll be counting down the best experiences in an effort to nudge you would be travelers off your desk chairs and onto tour bus seats.

#10- Budapest walks through the city at night

The Crew and I in Prague (Minus Sarah who had the camera)

On my recent trip through Eastern Europe, we decided to stop into Budapest almost as an afterthought. Road tripping with some new Irish friends I’d met in Berlin, we decided to stop off in Budapest after touring Prague as mostly a stopover before heading down to Croatia. Little did we know that we would fall in love with the city, spending five days at the Black Sheep hostel which was a cozy little hostel on the cheaper side of the city. My buddies Mike and Mackey were traveling with 3 girls at this point, one being Mike’s girlfriend, and Christina and Sarah who we had befriended in Berlin. Each night Mike, Mackey and I would head out on our own to explore Budapest at night.

Grubbin and Sippin in Zagreb, Croatia

We didn’t really know much about the safety of the city or where the hell we were going for that matter. However we decided that getting drunk while on our walks would ensure that everything went smoothly, plus no one wants to try and jump 3 dudes with bottles in their hands. One night on one of these walks we ran into a cool little plaza with a waterfall and a vast open area where we hung out and talked about how perfect these fleeting moments are and how travel is a catalyst for some of the best unexpected moments in life.

Photo Credit- Csaavedra

This nightly ritual is something I miss the most about travel when I return home. I’m pretty sure the girls all thought we were going to the strip club as we’d be gone for three hours and come home wrecking of booze. In fairness if we had the money they probably would have been right. Though we would go out the next day and explore the city by daylight, acting the way “good tourists” should, the night time strolls were simply unbeatable and one of the things that you don’t plan or expect when setting out on a trip, but rather something that just happens.

The spontaneity and the rush that comes from not knowing what is around the next corner and what surprise might come up next is an amazing feeling, having a little buzz sure helps take the edge off as well. It seems that sometimes the things that many travel guides encourage you to avoid, end up being some of the best experiences of your journey.

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My pals and I enjoying our time along the beautiful Croatian Coast in Split.

This week continues to get increasingly more stressful as I prepare for my five month European voyage. Stress is something I go to great lengths to avoid, as I prefer a lifestyle that is easy going, where I can let me mind wander, be creative and continually grow in my educational pursuits. It seems however, unavoidable that in the week before a long trip, the tying up of loose ends can be a difficult and frustrating undertaking. This afternoon I'll funnel this frustration into positive energy by doing something I enjoy, in answering reader questions.

My puppy was rather anxious during the packing process

Before that, lets go over the past two weeks for those who may have been experiencing a similar stressful period and may have missed some vital information. In the ongoing "Knowledgeable Nomads" series we have covered the basics in getting moving. We started by providing Five Tips For Quitting Your Job & Traveling the World While Making Money. This provided a good primer for the coming posts How to Live Anywhere in the World For Free and How To Find The Cheapest Flights, where we discussed budget travel in getting you to your destination cheaply and showing you how you can achieve room and board for free in exchange for work on a variety of projects.

We then concluded part one of the "Knowledgeable nomads" series and prepared you for part two this week with How to Make Money While Traveling, where we outlined the broad strokes of this topic while promising more in depth analysis to come.

In Part Two of this series which will be coming shortly, I will be writing to you while on the road, passing along helpful tips I learn in the process and answering your questions each week that come in from the comments, form contact, or via Facebook. It is my hope to help educate you on how you can become free of the burdens of everyday life and learn how you to can join me on the road.

Today I'll be answering questions that readers have brought up throughout the first part of this series and attempting to properly frame my response to the individual who is needing more information.

First up today, Tiffany writes, "I am planning a trip with friends to South America in early November. I was wondering if you had any expertise on how to get there, what to do, what to see, etc...all on a budget. We would love to go to Brazil (where we may have free accommodations), Columbia and Peru. We have Machu Picchu on the list where we found a guided tour but that's about it! We are wondering what the best way would be to get from country to country or any valuable info you can give us?"

Sure thing! First off since you are coming from the US, you should consider flying on a cheap domestic flight into either LA or Ft. Lauderdale. This is because these are ports for Spirit Airlines, who offers by far the cheapest flights to South America. These are also fun places to spend a day or two if you are interested in seeing these cities as an added bonus. You can then catch a flight to either Lima, Peru, or Bogota, Medellin or Cartagena in Colombia for extremely low prices, often times under $150 each way.

Once you are in South America, bus travel is by far the best way to go. While it may take longer, and long bus rides may not seem appealing, the bus companies serving South America are top notch. Many offer deluxe busses with comfy spacious seats that recline up to 180 degrees. My favorite companies were El Rapido and Cata, but there are a handful of great choices

As far as accommodation goes, hostels that offer private suites are perfect for small groups of travelers. While the dorm style setup of many hostels is unappealing, these private suites are usually very nice options in most hostels, offering the privacy and comfort you seek at very low rates. Dorm beds will cost you $8 and up while suites for three can be as low as $45 per night, making traveling in a small group ideal.

These steps should save you quite a bit of cash! As far as where to go, what to see. Machu Picchu should be amazing. I was here during the flooding when people were being evacuated, so sadly I didn't get to go, but I have heard nothing but good things.

The Vineyards of Mendoza

Must see spots I would recommend are Buenos Aires, gorgeous city, The north coast of Chile, great weather and pristine beaches and Mendoza, Argentina. I mention Mendoza as it had the laid back pace, beautiful city with fun plazas to hang out and meet new friends all set in wine country. Try Mr. Hugo's bikes and wine tour and tell him Rick sent you!

My view from a beach in Arica, Chile, where desert meets sea

Next, Enrique writes,”I am planning on going to Italy next month, as I have the urge to getaway. I do not have the cash for travel in Europe, just enough for the ticket and some meals. Can you help guide me in the right direction to find a place where I can work in exchange for a place to sleep and some meals? I would like to be traveling for a long time.”

I hate to be the bearer of bad news Enrique, but I advise you stay at home for the moment and get things in order so that when you do hit the road, you will not be forced to cut your travels short just when they are starting to get interesting.

I am not saying that there aren’t great opportunities like the ones you mention available; however it is essential to have an income stream before hitting the road. While you may find places to sleep and food to eat, we seem to forget about the huge costs associated with transportation, visa requirements, difficulty in finding work in another country, etc. 

This is not to say that you should not have this plan in mind and begin putting it in motion. Creating a mobile muse is a topic I will be focusing on in Part Two of the “Knowledgeable Nomads” series, where I will show you step by step, how I made over $2,000 in one week.

Travel is an amazing endeavor and it can be extremely cheap, however making sure you have at least some sort of income stream when hitting the road is step #1. Hopefully in the coming weeks, I can help you do just that!

By- Rick A. Griffith

South America has gained popularity in recent years as one of the new frontiers for backpackers seeking adventure. From the untarnished beauty of Patagonia to the revived cities in Colombia, there is no shortage of outstanding attractions. For many, the idea of expatriating to this part of the world where economies are growing, resources are abundant, and the cost of living is low, is too tempting to ignore. For those intrigued by this ever growing trend, here are the top five South American cities for would be expats to consider.

Photo Credit- Delamaza

1) Santiago, Chile- Santiago is an example of a progressive government that is taking the right steps toward future economic growth. Furthermore, the country is opening its doors to entrepreneurial foreigners and even incentivizing many expats to come work in Chile. A flood of startup tech companies are taking notice, many moving from the famed Silicon Valley in favor of the tax advantages and lower cost of living offered in Santiago. An additional incentive is the recently launched “Startup Chile” program, which not only offers residency to entrepreneurs relocating to Chile, but also $40,000 in capital to qualified start ups.  It is clear that the regime in charge headed by President Pineda, a billionaire business man, are willing to take bold measures to ensure the Chilean economy continues to thrive

Photo Credit- Nelrojar

2) Buenos Aires, Argentina- Buenos Aires makes the list, not because of its booming economy or progressive government, but rather because its mismanagement for decades has made this beautiful city an incredibly cheap place to live. There is already a large expat community present in the city and many expat entrepreneurs have succeeded in starting their own businesses. The city seems to be stuck in the past in the way of customer service and with the growing population of westerners, businesses catering to the expat community continue to thrive.

Photo credit- Dani Gama

3) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil- This city is not only beautiful, but the economy is thriving. Thanks to vast natural resources, including massive oil reserves and fertile farm land, Brazil is well positioned to continue its ascent and become one of the top economies in the world. A growing expat community and a shortage of skilled labor, provide tremendous opportunities for qualified foreigners to find opportunities in the workforce, or start their own companies. If there is a downside to Rio, it would be that the city is gradually getting more expensive as the Real, the Brazilian currency, gains strength and more businesses and professionals flock here, driving rents higher.

Photo Credit- Willy Gil

4) Medellin, Colombia- To those in the know, Medellin is fast becoming a favorite among the backpacking crowd. Fortunately, the city is not overrun with expats as the “Colombian Stigma” created by the FARC and Pablo Escobar days has kept many travelers away from Colombia. For those willing to overlook outdated information and realize that the city is fast becoming a hub for young professionals, there are some fantastic opportunities. The property market in particular offers excellent investment yields and is one of the few South American cities to have not seen a massive increase in prices in recent years. Many are taking notice and forward thinking expats willing to get in early will reap the largest rewards.

Photo Credit- Arcadius

5) Asuncion, Paraguay- Sure, this one is the long shot. Leaving the comforts of western society to move to Asuncion may sound absurd to many. However for entrepreneurs looking to live cheaply and start a business on a shoestring budget, or freelancers able to work remotely, this place is ripe with opportunity and remarkably affordable. Another bonus is that obtaining residency here is not at all difficult. The country is also rich in agricultural land, has a large freshwater supply and boasts the largest hydroelectric facility on earth. In an era with commodity prices and energy costs rising sharply, Paraguay is well equipped moving forward and non dependant on other nations for these essential needs. There is not a large expat community here, but this may change as the cost of living continues to increase worldwide.

The one constant in all of these cities, is that growth and progress seems inevitable. Meanwhile, many western nations teeter on the verge of economic disaster, while young professionals find difficulty navigating through an extremely difficult job market. For many, the bold action of heading south to these cities ripe with opportunity may yield greener pastures.

Answering Your All Travel Questions

Photo Credit- Sean_Oliver

If there is anything that I have learned in the past few weeks while doing the “Knowledgeable Nomads” series, it is that there are simply more people content with being skeptical and saying what is not possible than there are people who are willing to make bold, life changing decisions and hit the road.

Later this week,  I will be discussing how you can make money while traveling, but first, I’d like to respond to the skeptics and answer some of the questions that have been raised in relation to my recent posts.

Here are some questions I’ve received regarding the first 3 posts of this series. First, Brent writes, “I just read your article on how to travel the world for free. If you have to pay to use the sites you mentioned and have to book plane tickets and trade your time working, how is that free?

Look guys, you can pick things apart all you want. Yes, you may run into a few costs while traveling the world, I was assuming that most people would know this. No one will pay all of your costs while you meander through the world, I’m sorry to break it to you. What I am presenting you with is how you can LIVE anywhere for free, meaning free lodging, in exchange for a bit of work. Yes you might need to shell out the 22 Euro’s to join the sites, the cost of a hostel for a night, but you will see your money back tenfold in your savings while on the road. Nothing is free or simply going to come to you without any effort; it takes balls, (not literally ladies) and a little street smarts to be a Game Changer.

My photo from the beach in Arica, Chile

Next, Suzy asks, “I loved your post and I am motivated to hit the road! Unfortunately I am scared as a female traveling solo. Is it safe for me to travel?

Thank you for your question Suzy, I am glad you are contemplating heading out on your own, it is a tough thing to do at first. Women do face unique challenges while out on the road, but these are by no means something that should deter you from solo travel. Sure, if you are walking down the street, it is very likely in many places throughout the world that you will hear whistles and have many suitors lining up, more so than you would likely experience at home. However, throughout much of the world women have little to fear other than this and the prospect of petty theft. Doing thorough research on your destination will alert you to any particular challenges you may face in that region.

Furthermore, you will likely find no problem in making new friends. Traveling solo is a wonderful way to meet new people. The amount of invites from fellow travelers and locals alike will provide you with some fun and amazing experiences while out on the road. My advice is to start your travels in a place used to a lot of tourists and with a large expat community to get used to the prospect of traveling solo. This will give you a nice crash course and make you feel empowered when heading out on your next trip. I have met many females on the road traveling solo who wouldn't travel any other way.

Next, Jack asks, “This is awesome! But the main problem with travelling for me is the cost of the plane ticket. How can you afford a $800 ticket to Ecuador? My brother works for an airline company that gives him a month off every year in 2 week intervals. 2 times a year they give him a free first class ticket to anywhere in the world! It's awesome for him but i'm still outta luck. Any idea on ticket costs?

Sure, Ecuador for $800 is spendy, but one of the airlines, I mentioned in my recent post on How To Find The Cheapest Flights can help you! Spirit Airlines is an awesome airline offering services to select Central and South American cities. I am not sure where you are based out of, but flights from cities like LA and Fort Lauderdale can be found for very cheap rates. As an example, you can currently catch a one way ticket from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Armenia, Colombia for just $79! That is not a typo.

If you do not mind grabbing a flight into Lima, Peru, or Armenia, Colombia and then finding a bus for the trip into Ecuador, you can save big! I did this when traveling through South America and the bus service is cheap. Many travelers choose to go this route instead of catching the short distance flights in South America, which can be very expensive. The larger bus companies have huge nice busses and traveling this way can be a fun experience.

Lastly today, here is a comment from a reader pertaining to her upcoming travels that excited me. Amy writes, “My name is Amy. Right now I am eighteen years old and instead of going to college next year I am taking a gap year to do community service around the world! I am part of a new program at UNC Chapel Hill called the Gap Year Fellowship. They gave me a scholarship to go on my gap year. I am about to venture into the unknown...I can go anywhere I want as long as I am helping others.

In September I am leaving everything behind and jumping on a plane to India. Who knows where my travels take me after that!

Can’t travel the world free huh? I love the haters. You guys just don’t have the hustle Amy has. By the way I love that you are just jumping on a plane to India, you truly are a Game Changer! This should also help to answer the earlier question about female solo travel. Let’s try and put our problems aside and take the lead from Amy and the fellow Game Changers and start putting our plans in motion.

By the way I like UNC wayyy more now for them putting this program into action, even if the Tarheels did take out my U-dub Huskies in the Basketball tourney this year. Talk about a forward thinking progam, I love it!

Until next time my friends,  stay Living Bueno. Here is a video from a day out in Lima, Peru from last year!

Photo Credit seantoyer

So after a week spent in Scottsdale enjoying 100+ degree temperatures and leaving behind the 55-65 degree rainy summer days in Seattle, I have come to the decision that I will be moving to Scottsdale permanently. I already knew this would likely happen as I've been too Scottsdale twice before this trip, but this third venture into the valley absolutely cemented my decision.

Some more big announcements are coming as soon as the details are official. For now I can say that I will be living in North Scottsdale, loving life and working in the real estate industry.

I cannot tell you how excited and eager I am to get things set up here. This is truly an amazing area and a place where I feel I belong.

Much more coming very soon, it looks like I will be Living very Bueno in the near future!!!

P.S. Sorry for slacking on the blog, clearly I've been a bit busy, but you can count on some great content in the near future.