la vuelta

Here I am in Sao Paulo a few hours before I fly back. There feels like a bit of symmetry to the start of my trip as i spent my first few days wandering alone through the streets of a big city and i find myself doing the same at the end - but with a much more positive mindset (I was, i´ll admit, pretty anxious at the start of this journey). I also consumed alot of steak in my first weekend and the same can be said now. The whole churrascaria thing they have going on here in brazil is something special - better than any ¨help yourself to the salad bar¨ jibber you get in a Harvester.

So yes - what a trip. Nearly 6 months on the road and river (well, ok, i took three internal flights too) in this fine land. Time has past in a very calm and mellow fashion and not in one of those fast paced living in london 6 months where you blink and the seasons have done a full cycle. For that I am very grateful for it does feel like a large chunk of time has elapased (about a 60th of my life to date).

I´ve been lucky enough to have seen some beautiful and wonderful sights, done some mindblowing stuff, read some good books and chatted to a whole lot of fun and interesting people along the way. Hard to really digest it all really.

That said, i do feel ready to come home. I miss my friends, family and Marmite... and playing football (which i have done but once in Bs As i taught some portenos how to tackle). I understand the team I play for on Sunday has had one of its best seasons of late so I fear for my place in the side. All the moreso that i have put on a little bit of weight...this clip from Alan Partridge might give you an idea.

Big thanks to those of you who have read this blog and a 10 gun salute to all those of you who have left comments and e-mailed me on my adventures - all very much appreciated. Obrigado.

Well- i know i´ve been a bit slack on keeping this updated, but i have a few more tales to tell, so i´ll keep updating this when inspiration strikes. I still haven´t told you about the one eyed guide in the amazon rainforest, how i spent my christmas and how Andy and I got on Peru TV with a local Beauty Queen.

When my esteemed friend Simon Hunt goes away on his travels his correspondence is always peppered with apt and befitting song lyrics that sum things up very nicely. I shall attempt the same here, but the on song I would like to use (I Love You by Lou Reed) i used on my old blog at the end of my last trip. bugger. Instead then, I shall leave three links to songs that i think in all or in part (perhaps out of context with the M.Ward song) sum things up.

Flaming Lips - Do You Realize




M.Ward - To Go Home
¨God its great to be alive,
takes the skin right of my hide,
to know i´ll have to give it all up some day¨


Theme - Littlest Hobo (Gotta love the bit with the rifle in his chops!)