I just finished going around the world in 13 days. Here is a trip report at the link below and some photos. See how to do it here - >> 7 Wonders of The World
I also put together this >> Travel Checklist of what I brought on the trip. The single most important factor in making this happen was only carrying a small backpack. And now that's the only way I travel. So long carry-on!
Chichen Itza - Mexico
Credit: Chris McNamara
Machu Picchu - Peru
Credit: Chris McNamara
Christ Statue Overlook - Brazil
Credit: Chris McNamara
Layover in Paris (not a 7 wonder, but cooler than most of the New 7 Wonders)
About the Author Climbing Magazine once computed that three percent of Chris McNamara’s life on Earth had been spent on the face of El Capitan – an accomplishment that left friends and family pondering Chris’s sanity. He has climbed El Capitan more than 70 times and holds nine big wall speed climbing records. In 1998 Chris did the first Girdle Traverse of El Capitan, an epic 75-pitch route that begs the question, “Why?”
Outside Magazine called Chris one of “the world’s finest aid climbers.” He is the winner of the 1999 Bates Award from the American Alpine Club and founder of the American Safe Climbing Association, a nonprofit group that has replaced over 5000 dangerous anchor bolts. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley and serves on the board of the ASCA and the Rowell Legacy Committee. He has a rarely updated adventure journal, maintains BASEjumpingmovies.com, and also runs a Lake Tahoe home rental business.
when I visited a decade ago Chichen Itza had two ambulences sitting at the base waiting for people to fall while going up or down the stairs. Great view from the top, being the Yucatan is so flat. Went inside a sketchy one way tunnel/staircase inside it too- not sure that is allowed anymore either
We arrived into Beijing, noting that this was quite possibly the largest Chinatown either one of us had ever been to
My laugh became a snort at that one :)
I was curious as to why one would rush through these different adventures each worthy of time to savor- but after reading the report, I can see the appeal of a whirlwind tour and trial by fire for a new relationship. If you're still together, congratulations!
Great read. That is borderline masochism. Would have loved to hear the conversation you had with Tommy or Kevin. After listening to their first person ascent they ask, "So what have you been up to?"
drljefe - No way, what time? We were there right when they opened.
survival - Pyramids of Giza should be on the list. But its not. As with all lists, pretty subjective. For us, it was more just trying to find a really cool lists of cities and cities to plan a global scavenger hunt around. Any ideas for next around the world scavenger hunt? 7 coolest cities in 12 days... etc.
Clint - Yes Rio statue was a let down. But hanging out on Ipanema Beach was a party. Total zoo. Was awesome but 1 full day of rio was plenty... well one crazy night in Rio would have been nice too.
C wilmot - yeah when i went to Chichen Itza 2 decades ago they let you climb all over it. Not anymore. And its WAY more crowded.
ButAgain! - yeah i was laughing at that line when Megan came up with it for days. Yeah everyone asked us the same thing "whats the rush" but the truth is it was all about the adventure. The time pressure difficulty of piecing it all together. Also, much less expensive because we only had to stay in hotels 5 nights. We spent a lot less than most people spend on a trip to Europe for a week.
Wade Icey - So true. Im going to have to install a lot more home solar panel systems to offset this trip. Ill get on it.
This Just In - i actually was talking with Kevin and Tommy during this... but mainly helping them with minor logistical questions. Apparently they were too distracted by something to care about my trip. Weird.
Nice trip. Looks like a ton of fun. I'm surprised that Petra was on the list but not Giza, particularly because it's not just one pyramid but three. And then there's still Saqqara too, and Abu Simbel and Karnak... Petra is a place that everyone should hit, particularly for at least a couple of days. Most, like me, don't find out when they get there is that there is a lot of exploring to be had if you have the time. All kind of trails and watercourses built by the Nabateans. Terrific place. I have a similar photo of me bouldering by the Treasury too.
Oddly enough, Paris, Rome and the Yucatan are all on the short list for upcoming trips now that the youngest is old enough to be on a plane for several hours. Not the same trip though. Too old and slow, plus there's so much see at each place.
Edit: I forgot to mention your cool photo of the Taj. Everyone gets the full frontal picture but clearly great views from across the river, which most don't even know is there because no one ever takes pictures from that side. Looks like nice hazy, pre-monsoon weather.
A "pretty-fun" report. I can only suggest one upgrade for your next time. Not Advil PM for sleep, but a real no-hangover sleeping pill, like Ambien, makes all the difference in the world for that kind of schedule. You can also wake up and function well if need be. Like anything else, a little advance practice with Ambien is good. I know exactly how much I need to knock me out for 4 hours, 6 hours, & praise the sleep deities, the ultimate joy of 8 hours of sleep from a stressed-out start.
Worse-yet! I've only been to three of the stops on your tour. Guess I need to get out more.
What a great trip....but nobody cares if you tele....(had to throw that one in there)....The world is a great place and life is to be enjoyed! Good on ya!...
Looks fun. In the past, for work I used to have to go around the world in eight days once per quarter. It about killed me. Took two to three weeks to recover from the jet lag and lack of sleep.
It was a bit of a blur... and that was the best part! Also found that a time restraint often focuses you to do as much as possible. Paris layover was from 9pm to 4am and probably saw more and did more than if we'd been in normal lazy mode and had 3 days.
This should have tested the theory that if you get jet-lagged enough, you come back around to being in phase with where you were at. Or at least with where you thought you should be.
Turns out, after a few days jet lag is just the new normal. And not a big deal. Proof that you can adapt to just about anything... even living on the side of 3000-foot walls ;)
Great TR and adventure. Of course many people would say you are crazy Americans for cramming in so much in so little time. Our vacations are similar and its nice to know someone else is crazier than us.
Europe 3 weeks: England, France, Monaco, Italy, and Switzerland.
Uganda: 6 days 3 national parks with gorilla and chimpanzee tracking, upper Nile boat ride, and boat trip on lake Victoria.
Hawaii 11 days, 3 days surfing, 2 days scuba, 2 days camping in the beach, 2 days kayaking and snorkeling Kealakekua bay, and we still hit the beach 6 or 7 times.
Sorry I keep adding to this long post, but I keep thinking of things to add.
When I think back on these or more mellow trips I remember and appreciate the highlights best anyway. I'd rather see a bunch of wonders in multiple places than spend a week relaxing and seeing one really cool thing.
Its a bummer you can't climb chitzen itza anymore. Glad I did it when you could. Actually that was a cool vacation too 1 week "relaxing" at club med Cancun, still did wake boarding, sailing, etc. daily. And one week exploring yucatan, Cozumel diving, isle mujares.
I've found a good way to overcome jet lag is to just stay up super long/late and go to sleep at like 10PM the new local time. If you were smart it would be best to adjust your schedule an hour a day at hour at home in preparation for your new time zone. But by accident my wife and I got busy at work and didn't start packing for our Uganda trip until midnight and our flight left at 8AM. We got about 45 minutes of sleep at home, then fell asleep immediately on the plane. Woke up in Amsterdam, and BAM our schedules were already like 6 hours adjusted. I took a nap the next day to catch up on some sleep and in 2 days I was totally adjusted to a time zone 10 hours different than home. They say it usually takes 1 day to get used to each 1 hour of time zone difference.
By far the most common reaction is "why not spend more time in each spot." I guess you just have to experience a trip like this to appreciate... or I'm just weird. Probably both. Most of my most memorable El Cap climbs have been speed climbs. I spent all the time energized and appreciating the climbing and place... not dealing with haul bags.
T best answer for me is... why not do both? Travel to places and sit tight and then travel to as many places as possible in a short amount of time. I spend a lot of time living in 3 different places for a few months a year: Tahoe, SF, Carbondale. And yeah its fun to be a pseudo local at all 3. But often the most fun is launch of on those crazy trips where every day you are in an entirely new place with no idea of what could happen.
Best cure for jet lag is to not be bored. If you're packing your day full of fun, you ignore jet lag until you pass out for 10-14 hours... then repeat.
I have photos somewhere of climbing Chicken Itza when I was 12 when you still could... wish I could dig those up.
what exactly is the point of doing this? you spent less than 2 days at each country, and spent half the time making annoying self absorbed videos.
I often wonder without the existence of social media, would any of you narcissistic self absorbed first world dweller would ever attempt something so pointless on your own?
