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How we were getting ready for a year long journey

When we told others about our traveling plans, often the reaction was something like “You are so lucky, I would go right away.” The truth is, there was no “right away”, we both had tons of things we had to arrange…
How we were getting ready for a year long journey

Planning a year long holiday

The start of the planning was basically same as for any annual holiday – check where you go, check if you need a visa, check if you need some vaccination. The only difference for us was, that we needed to check this for all South American countries... Lot of time spent researching, but now we are vaccinated for all possible threat, we know we don't need visa in most of the South American countries and we have our flight ticket to Peru (Colombia and Ecuador were also on the shortlist).

This research happened in July-August 2017 and for some time, there was peace and quiet on the battlefield. The real horror started in December and January when we started coping with Czech, Slovene, and Czech-Slovene bureaucracy... I have reserved 4 weeks, to close my Slovene translation business, re-open my translation business in Czechia and deal with all paperwork connected to it, turned out, it should have been at least 2 months. But luckily, Czech bureaucracy is not as bad as the Slovene one, and I was really lucky on dealing with very nice people (especially ladies at the Financial Institute, which shortened the waiting time for me from 30 to 3 days. Thank you so much!). I still don't know if everything is OK in Slovenia... Meanwhile, Primoz on the other side of the world (wasn't really, but it seemed like) was dealing with different kind of problems (what exactly, you gonna have to ask him :-D) But now, two days before leaving, seems like the worst period is over, and we are able to take off...

 

What you have to arrange before leaving for a year:

  • Visa – for us was source list of countries where tourists don't need visa here for CZ and here for SI
  • Vaccination – In many South American countries yellow fever is obligatory, other vaccination is recommended. Check here in CZ and here in SI
  • Travel & Health insurance – We eventually decided to make it with Vzajemna
  • International driving license – in CZ 1 photo, 2€ and 10 minutes, in SI one photo, 20€ and 60 minutes
  • At least 2 credit cards from which at least one is Visa or Mastercard
  • It's also good to give a full power or authorization to somebody, in case some more bureaucracy appears
  • In case, there are elections in your country while you are gone, make sure you also have a voting ticket (I sure have one)
  • Check that your passport is valid J
  • If you don't plan to work on the way and pay taxes in your homeland, freeze your health insurance (in CZ possible if you are gone at least for 6 months)

What to pack:

Good questions, I'm still wondering. As we plan to do hiking at higher altitude but also relax on the beach, it really has to be winter as well as summer clothes. So here is what is coming with me (2020 update - & what I've actually needed):

  • 2 summer dresses
  • 3 leggings
  • 2 aladin trousers
  • 1 winter trousers (to -15°) (really only needed them once, when climbing Huayna Potosi, 6088m, and could have rented it)
  • 2 1 bikini
  • 3 4 shorts (2 sports shorts)
  • 4 5 tops (2 sports tops)
  • 4 5 t-shirts with short sleeves (2 sports t-shirts)
  • 4 t-shirts with long sleeves (2 sports t-shirts)
  • 1 cotton shirt 3 cotton shirts
  • 2 3 jackets (warm PrimaLoft, softshell, light windproof)
  • 2 jumpers
  • 2 sport bras 4 bras
  • 7 pair of socks (3 high warm socks)
  • 5 underpants
  • 1 long warm under trousers
  • 1 2 pair of gloves
  • Personal cosmetics
  • 2 power banks
  • 1 knife 2 knives and 1 multitool
  • Compas
  • Sleeping bag and sleeping mat (no need unless you plan sleeping in it every night, hiking destinations have easy & cheap rentals)
  • First aid kit and warming folia (eventually, didnt need it, but I carry it always everywhere)
  • Nikon camera
  • Octopus tripod
  • Computer
  • Huawei mobile phone
  • Instal offline google stranslate Czech-Spanish dictionary
  • 2 sunglasses, 1 dioptrical glasses
  • Camel bag, water bottle
  • Sandals, flip flops or crocs
  • Hiking shoes, running shoes
  • Napsie travel pillow
  • All packed in 1 big and 1 small backpack

Guys, as always, have it easier in life (they don't have to wear dresses and bras....) So here's what Primmoz has packed and also actually used:

  • 5 7 t-shirts
  • 2 shorts
  • 1 3 shirts short sleeve
  • 2 jeans
  • 2 jackets
  • 1 softshell winter trousers
  • 1 warm underpants
  • 3 underwear
  • 6 pairs of socks
  • 2 jumpers
  • 1 pair of gloves
  • Hat
  • Hammock (really, rarely used it)
  • Camping cooking set
  • Computer
  • Mobile phone
  • GoPro (but get a new one :-D)

Best GoPro Accessories for Travel You Can Get in 2020 >>

  • 2 knives
  • Silver tape
  • Personal cosmetics
  • Camel bag
  • Sleeping bag and sleeping mat (no need unless you plan sleeping in it every night, hiking destinations have easy & cheap rentals)
  • Hiking shoes, running shoes
  • Lots of condoms
  • Half a kilo of various pills
  • All packed in 1 big and 1 small backpack
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