Setting the scene

Today the adventure starts. One continent. Eight countries. One hundred and nineteen days.

Setting off from home

That's about the extent of my planning so far. As someone that is slightly anal-retentive and loves a good spreadsheet that scares me slightly. It also presents an opportunity for great freedom. I know that if I'd thought this through more, researched it more, then I would probably wouldn't of gone. So I've decided when it comes to the big and small decisions, especially those involving changes, think less, act fast. There are no bad choices. Or no choices so wrong you can't figure a way out of them. There are only missed opportunities.

I plan to take all the opportunities presented to me on the road. There are some 'must-sees' of course! But other than those I'm free to travel where my mood, weather and new travel acquaintances take me. How often in life are we given this level of freedom?

Freedom does have a price though, and that price was my job (and hopefully not my career). Four months ago I started a new job, leaving behind a great team for a new environment and more responsibility, steps I thought I needed to take. After all, yours 20s are all about 'more' - more money, more responsibility, more work, more recognition, more challenges. By the end of day one I knew I had made a mistake. By day two I wanted my previous job back. Week eight, while in the back of a minivan in Borneo, I came to the easy decision I had to leave. I handed in my notice and a month later I was free.

I may not have been in my job long, but it's left me jaded and a little sceptical. I'd always made such good career choices, how did I get this one so wrong? What is going to stop me making the same mistake again if/when I return to work? Where do I go from here? In true 'Natalie style' I decided the only way to answer these questions was by packing up my life and going travelling.

So this brings me to today and I am writing this on my flight to Columbia where I will be spending the first six nights in the beautiful costal town of Cartagena. After that, who knows!

Queing on the runway at Madrid airport

A side note on safety - tell people your going traveling around South America and you get a look of concern. Tell people your going travelling around South America alone and the stay safe lectures pour in. Is South America safe? Well I don't think it's un-safe. Nowhere in the world is truly safe as humans have a long history of doing not so nice things to other humans. But I have common sense and knowing I managed south east Asia as a naive 21 year old fills me with some confidence for this trip. So in answer to all your questions - yes I'll be safe.