A momentary lapse of minimalism?

Starting this post I just want to say I received a number of emails from you adoring fans now that I´m cool. As my time is limited and my extremities aching, I´m unable to respond to each and every email. The best way for you to express your pleasure or distain is to leave a comment at the bottom of my posts. You can do it anonymously (but I´ll still know its you.)


Last night I took it easy, rested the leg and caught up on some reading. Books are heavy, and I have 4 of them, and each one adds weight like Ultegra vs Dura Ace. After jettisoning the deadweight of my ski gear and the embarrasment of my failed ski adventure, I stuffed all I could into my simple carry-on. When I awoke this morning I was struck with how good it feels NOT to have to rush off to catch a flight or a bus by setting the alarm for 3am. Here´s a shot of a wet Santiago as I was leaving this AM



As I was dressing myself I was wondering KR, where are you when I need you? I was torn between ¨should I wear the blue shirt or the green shirt.¨Then I remembered who the HELL cares? You´re in South America living out of a backpack! Its not like the fashion police are coming to get you in Santiago. I mean REALLY does the color of your shirt really affect the quality of your vacation? NO! Does your shirt define you as a person? You are not your fuckin kackis (quote borrowed from the movie ¨fight Club¨)

I chose the blue, besides they both go with the beige pants.

On the way there, I realized global corporate domination knows no boundary.



On the bus to Valparaiso I shared a couple beers with the guy in the seat next to me, Ricardo as I intently tried to disect the nuances of the chilean bastardization of the Spainish language. They seem to trail off the last syllable of every word. El mar becomes El mehhh, and so forth. Ricardo said we had to be carefull not to get caught drinking on the bus or they would fine us and kick us off.

Upon arriving in Valparaiso I was determined NOT to take a Taxi to the hotel. So armed with the famous Gates Sense of Direction and the Lonely Planet map I march off to the Hostel. Here´s a shot of my arrival.



I had reserved a single room in a hostel recommended by Lonely Planet for $12 a night. When I got here the price was $20 a night. Inquiring as to why the price had gone up, (a phenomenon I had noticed all throughout South America,) I was informed that it the had not. The problem was the dollar had gone down. Here´s a shot on the way to the Hostal



After getting what seemed like a perfectly acceptable single room, and being told that no room with a view was available, I got upgraded. A double room for the same price. Sometimes when you´re a nice person, nice things just happen to you.

Heres what it looks like.



One note: The brand Ex-Officio ROCKS! Everything they make is good, from underwear to pants to shirts. EVERTHING. I just had to say that.

Which brings me to tonight. After hoofing it up to the Hostel, some 1000 feet in vertical gain, I was wiped out and hungry. I consulted my Lonely Planet guide for the nearest place to eat, but all I found was bar Conception. Consulting the menu I saw entrees about $12, well within my minimalist price range. After sitting down and realizing that $12 was an appetizer, I said ¨screw it¨(actual language censored) and ordered anyway. It was 5 star, and one of the best meals I´ve had to date, anywhere. I started with the pumpkin soup with ginger (i´m a sucker for a good pumpkin soup) and ended with walnut encrusted osterich over risotto. With a couple pico sours, house style, I was in heaven and $50 lighter. The even threw in a desert liquor which just goes to prove that even when they give something for free it can still be CRAPPPP! (think scottish soccer houligans.)

Minimalism, I love you, just not tonight...

An exercise in minimalism or am I just "cheap?"

Do we really need all the excess in our lives? Do we really need a $7000 bike? Does the quality of your hotel room actually matter when all you do there is sleep? Nyet, I say. Boo! to extravangance and luxury! Down with expensive German convertibles and granite countertops and expensive wine and gourmet beer. I´ve decided to simplify my life and practice a philosophy of minimalism. Some might call it being cheap, but it goes far beyond that. Minimalism is NOT cheap, its a simple, streamlined way of living that shuns decadence. There a difference. The current economic conditions and the subsequent fallout on my finances has absolutely NOTHING to do with it.

I am, however, prone to swings of the pendleum (spell checker doesn´t work in Chile, EXCUSE ME!) from wild to mellow, daredevil to risk averse, so it might be one of my phases.

So i´ve been planing this trip to South America against all economic odds. I´ll be going minimalist sytle... Oh yeah! So I´m finally on my way, Lonely Planet backpacker style.

I wont say what airline I flew this time, but lets just say it was an "american airline" and as I´m flying on "miles," I had the obligitory layover in Dallas. So I thought I´d make the traditional drinkover stop off at the Irish Bar in the airport and say HI to Jimmy the bartender. Jimmy finagled the day off so I met the the new Jimmy, Chuck


Chuck pours a little better, and forgets to charge for a beer here and there. An attitude I never tire of in a bartender.

I am happy to report that the flight landed in Santiago this morning without incident. My first shock upon landing is that Americans are charges $131 just to arrive in the airport. I guess its called reciprosity (sp?). Basically we charge them when they come to the States so they charge us. Basically we screw their tourists they screw us back. Somebody needs to get Obama on the phone and put an end to this madness. TN, you think you can handle that?

true to my minimalist dedication I beat off the throngs of Taxistas that wanted $30 for a ride to the centro and took the bus for $2.75. When I got off the bus I met a couple German tourists also looking for a hotel. This is Walter and Ullie.

I hereby dub thee.... Hans and Franz. Hans aka Walter wanted to find an old cheap hotel he stayed at 20 years ago here. Cool with me, as long as cheap. Minimalism is in style just as 40 is the new 20. Then he tells me its also a sex motel that rents by the hour. Luckily, it was closed for remolding so we went with the Lonely Planet recommendation and $15 a night buys you a solo room with bathroom down the hall in the center of town. It looks like this:

Actually I couldn´t be more pleased, heres a shot of the lobby.

So Hans, Franz and I went out walking when I had a great new idea for a business. This is really good! The more I thought about it the more feasible it sounded. Its a cross between Hooters and Starbucks. Coffee with chicks in skimpy outfits serving it to you. Then disater stuck... They already have that here in Santiago.
So the plan is not to make any plans and live the thrill of chaos without an itinerary. I´ll be skiing here a couple days before moving on... to where? I dont know, I´ll let you know when I get there. I´m so cool now that I´m cheap.