The Garage Sale Blog Network

Pictures for Vasco Da Gama's trip from Panama City to San Francisco - Vasco Da Gama

So I came up with a crazy idea - Vasco Da Gama

I´ve been travelling for some time now. Something like 14 months, I think. It´s been wild to say the least. I´ve been to South East Asia, India, Northern Africa, Europe, South America and Central America. As I´m writing this I´m sitting in a little Internet shop in La Chorrea, Panama. When I left for this trip I had no desire to come to Central America. But, here I am, it´s kinda strange how things turn out.

A few months into my trip I made a commitment to myself to take a few months and do some type of charitable work. My initial thoughts were to spend some time in an orphanage in South America. After witnessing the extreme amounts of poverty in India and elsewhere I knew that I had to do something to give back. After doing a bit of research I found that companies ¨offer¨ to place you with a non profit organization so that you can do some type of charity work. The only downfall to this is that this ¨offer¨ comes with a price tag. These companies charge you a monthly fee and some even charge you an upfront fee. I don´t know about you but I´m volunteering my time here and I don´t feel like it should cost me any fees up front. What´s up with that?

It was about 3 or maybe 4 months ago when I was in Santiago de Chile. It was time to make a decision about the charity work that I wanted to get involved with. I had just finished a Bikram yoga class, I was in the shower, cooling down (great visual right?) when this idea came to me. Instead of my original idea I wanted to do something that used my talents and skills. I also wanted to incorporate travel and a physical challenge. But more importantly I wanted to do something meaningful for an organization that was helping people, especially kids, who are living in poverty. I wanted to create.

So...I´ve decided to ride a bike, yes a push bike (no motor) from Panama City, Panama to San Francisco, USA. I´m doing in hopes to raise awareness and money for starving kids in Central America. I´m working with an amazing organization, Plan USA, who´s mission it is to eradicate the problems that children are facing who live in these horrible conditions. The ride is going to take 3 months. It´s about 5,500 kilometers and goes through 8 different countries. It is by no means going to be easy. It´s going to be the most difficult thing, physically and mentally, that I have ever done. It´s a wild idea. It´s possible and I hope to raise $15,000 for the cause.

I´ve been preparing. I´ve been training. And today I finished my first day. About 35 kilometers from Panama City to La Chorrea. I´m lucky enough to have a great buddy, Mike, accompany me for the first 2 weeks. Mike and I go back to San Francisco State University. We were having fun, telling stories, having a bit of a laugh but when our taxi driver dropped off us on the shoulder of a freeway (the starting point) reality set in. Were both prepared, have the proper equipment, and good bikes. But nothing really prepares you fully for the first day. So here we were near the Bridge of the Americas about to start a journey of a lifetime. Big rigs, buses and cars flying by us on the Pan American highway. Life doesn´t get much better than that...right? We took it slow, dodged a few buses and narrowly missed an assortment of road kill and finally made our destination. The first day was a bit slow, tomorrow we will pick up the pace.

My hopes are that by doing this I will be able to show to people that there are problems in this world that need attention. But more importantly there are people and organizations that are doing everything they can to make a difference for the children that face these problems on a daily basis.

I keep up the stories as much as I can.

Aaron

http://www.lasthillbeforehome.blogspot.com/

http://www.firstgiving.com/lasthillbeforehome

www.planusa.org

The art of pooing in a co-ed bathroom - Vasco da Gama (Aaron)

How do you poo in a co-ed bathroom that has 4 stalls when there are 100 people trying to use those 4 stalls within a 45 minute time frame?

Aaahhhhh...the art of pooing!

I'm on the Camino de Santiago. A 30 day trek across Spain that is 790 kilometers long.

We stay in places called Albergue's. There specially set up for peregrino's on the pilgrimage to Compostella de Santiago. Amazing right! Tons of fun, right!? Hahahahah!

Most of these places hold between 50 to 100 people and most of them have shared and co-ed bathrooms. On top of that...a lot of these places are open large dorms with bunk beds. Many of those have bathrooms that "share air space" with the beds. OMG this could be a serious problem!

So what if the tapas don't settle with you so well?

What happens if you had a little to much bean soup the night before?

Jesus...stay away from the shwarma's!

Here's the options for pooing in a co-ed bathroom.

- Make a break for the bathroom in the middle of the night.

- Try to beat everyone to the toilet in the morning.

- Be a true backpacker and dig a ditch behind a hedge on the trail...bushwacker style! Remember: carry your TP out.

- Hope to God that there is a cafe on the trail. Like to gamble?

- Wait until everyone leaves and start the day in the back of the pack. Loser!

- Run the 27 kilometers to the next aubergue to beat everyone there. Maybe this could be the next exercise craze in LA?

But what if none of these options work? Here's my tips...

- Scope out the bathroom before committing. Calculate the approximate time that the people will be in the bathroom versus the time it will take the people packing to arrive. If someone is brushing their teeth that takes maybe 2 minutes. If someone is stuffing their sleeping bag that may take 3 minutes. The window of opportunity is slim. Wait until only a few people are in the bathroom and slyly sneak into a stall. Wait until you hear the footsteps of the last people leave. PUSH AS HARD AS YOU CAN...TIME IS SHORT! Get out ASAP. Hopefully your calculations are correct and no one or maybe only one or two people know that you are the culprit. Hopefully you didn't forget to wipe.

- Lie! If you had a little too much wine the night before and your calculations are incorrect...lie! If you find yourself in the middle of a stinky poo and there a tons of people in the bathroom...lie! Do the dirty deed. Take your time. Facial expressions are key here. As you walk out of the stall pretend to zip up your fly like you only took a piss. KEEP YOU HEAD UP! If your head is down then everyone will know that your guilty. As your washing your hands...turn to the Australian guy next to you brushing his teeth, and who is about to throw up from the awful smell, and say "that damn French woman is blowing it up in their". Squint your eyes, force a slight frown, shake your head...pause...and then say "jesus...these europeans have no respect". Then quickly walk out. Maybe, just maybe it will work and you'll have friends for the day.

Or finally...

- Do as the Italians do. They don't care! Forget about it. Everyone has to do it. Handle your poo with pride. Walk in, take your time, and walk out.

Aaron : Garage Sale Symbol - Vasco Da Gama

I was born on a Friday.

My name is Aaron Zukoski.

I'm a single, white, male who enjoys a challenge.

I like gummy bears and espressos.

I from San Francisco, California.

My profession is real estate...so I'm unemployed.

I'm on a year and a half trip around the world. Today marks exactly 6 months since I left for my trip.

As I'm writing this I'm sitting in the bus station in Pamplona, Spain. I'm about to spend the next month of my life navigating myself across this amazing country. I'm embarking on the Camino de Santiago.

This is my story...

7 Klicks out of Geneva - Vasco Da Gama (Aaron)

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I have Latitudinarian ideals. I'm open to various religions and views. Until perhaps a few hours ago. I stumbled upon a portent... I found a Scallop Shell. Perhaps it was the timing, perhaps it was the manor in which I found it. But this simple discovery made me question my beliefs and for at least a quick second made me believe in God...ya...the traditional flowing white robe dude that sits on a white marble throne past the pearly gates.

Sorry to drop the "G" bomb!

Anyway...here's what happened.

I'm in Geneva, Switzerland for a few days before I head to back to Spain. I'm going to doing the Camino de Santiago. Its a religious and or spiritual pilgrimage. Its from Roncesvalles (on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees) to the church at Compostella de Santiago. Its a hike. The total distance is around 800 kilometers and if all goes well its takes around 30 days. I'm doing the hike because to tell you the truth it sounds fun. Great scenery, interesting people, a physical challenge and a time to clear my thoughts a charge the soul...so to speak.

Since I'm in Switzerland I thought it would be a good idea to get some training in for the journey. I woke up kinda early and decided to walk along Lake Geneva. The plan was to walk for 3 hours...stop...and then turn around. I didn't have a map, I didn't know really where I was going but I figured if I got lost, no worries, all these Swiss people speak like 9 languages so ill be able to get help.

It starts to rain.

My path takes me away from the lake...I don't know where I am.

I'm getting pissed.

I've been walking for about 2 hours at a brisk pace.

My only company are German cars whizzing by me at 60 kilometers per.

It starts to rain harder.

Walking is getting boring.

Here I am in kinda a miserable state of mind. I actually start to question my entire "pilgrimage". I start to think about the tiresome 783 kilometers that I must walk to complete it. I start to worry about getting lost somewhere in Spain.

What if I freeze? What if I have no food? What if I get lost? If my foot is frozen and gets gangrene can I eat it? These are only a few of the doubts that are lingering.

"Wide open spaces" by the Dixi Chicks comes onto my IPOD. This is funny for 2 reasons. 1) I was listening to my 2Pac play list. Kinda random right! 2) I hate country...why is this even on my IPOD?? For whatever reason I don't change it. I keep listening and it makes me think about Spain and the hike.

Should I even do this Camino?

Right at the height of my doubt, I see something on the pavement ahead. Something white and kinda dirty. I stop. I look around. I'm on some kind of freeway next to a cement wall with a gate going into someones house. No one is around. Only the stupid German cars that keep spraying water on me. I bend down and pick up the object. Why? I don't know! 9 times out of a trillion I'd keep walking.

Its a scallop shell.

Its broken at the top. The rest of the pieces are scattered around. It looks like it fell out of the sky.

I pause for a minute. Another minute goes by. I look around again. No one in sight. I look up to the sky. Its grey. Another minute goes by. I clean off the shell. What the fuck is this doing here?

Someone...I don't know who...gave it to me.

Why do I give a shit about this?

The Scallop Shell IS the religious symbol of Saint James. The Scallop Shell represents all the various paths that pilgrims take, with all paths leading to one point. The Scallop Shell IS the symbol of the Camino de Santiago. The Scallop Shell IS the symbol of the pilgrims that have traveled to the church at Compostella de Santiago for thousands of years.

I was just wondering when I'd get my shell.

Now I have it.

Not to drop the "G" bomb yet again but maybe...just maybe...there is a...