To plan or not to plan

The last day of Carnaval in Baños, everyone meets at the pool to douse each other in water & sprays and with eggs. I have yet to figure out what Carnaval is exactly, why the celebration exists. It doesn´t seem to have any significance whatsoever. Not that it has to, I guess. It´s just different. We have parties and parades to celebrate a certain holiday or religious day usually...need to do some research on Carnaval.

So, here´s a quick review. It´s been almost a month traveling. I´ve gone through a bar and a half of soap (yes, I shower every day), half a tube of toothpaste (I also brush at least twice a day, no cavaties, thank you very much, Dr. Granade), the remainder of my drama puddy (aka pomade for hair), sniff, sniff and specialty shampoo. I haven´t lost anything yet, I don´t think. I bought a new skirt in Montañita, a bracelet in Baños & that´s it so far. My bag is getting lighter or maybe I´m just getting stronger or more used to manuevering with it.

I am enjoying traveling and experiencing South America. Last night, I shared wine with the Italian girl I camped with last week. She was staying with her boyfriend above a friend´s tatoo shop. In the backyard, there is a marijuana tree, not a plant, a TREE. I guess that stuff´s pretty happy in this climate. It made me a little nervous. I´m starting to really dig this whole traveling thing and am contemplating the next venture. Maybe into the fourth month, I´ll be crying for New York, but lately, I´ve been considering Japan. Who knows? It´s nice to be able to contemplate and live. They say life is what happens while you´re making plans, but what happens when you´re not making plans?!?

Did someone say siesta?