Just wondering

Post by **allah** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 2:40 am

If you had a choice to go to Spain, Mexico, Thialand, or South Africa, where would you go and for what reason? My dad and I are trying to figure out what we are going to do this winter. I have a shit load of time and want to spend it all wisely so some input would be great aight.

Post by **merrick** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 3:50 am

Here is what i would do, given those options.

Don't go to Mexico. Now I love Mexico and am spending a month there this winter but it is really easy to get down to portrero either by car or plane. it is not as exotic as the other choices and you will get there on your own sooner or later.

The next determining factor is what you are going for and the weather conditions of the place you are thinking about going. If you are going primarily for climbing and not sight seeing then spain might be a good option. It is easy to get around and has lots of crags. on the downside it is similar to mexico as in it is relatively easy to get to.

If it is winter in the US it will be summer in South Africa. I am not sure whether that is a good time to climb there. however the climbing is supposed to be good but there is probably not as much as spain. i think people speak english and dutch there so getting around would be easy.

thailand would be rad. the last time i was there i did no climbing but had an incredible time. however you need to know when the monsoon is. if you are going in dec you might catch the end of it. jan and feb are supposed to be dry. this is the best time to go for weather but it is prime tourist season so prices will be higher. there is also a big party scene there so i don't know if you would want your dad around. thailand is super easy to get around from tourist point of view especially for a third world country.

so if i were you i would either go to thailand or south africa. I am more into bouldering so if the weather was good i would probably go to rocklands in South Africa.

have fun making your chioce. do a bunch of research on the internet. you will find lots of trip reports and weather reports and all that. look into visa's and vaccinations ahead of time as that stuff can take some time.

ps. you could just go to font instead. that would be a contender in my book.

Post by **allah** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 4:13 am

The thing is that dad wants to do some big multipitch things also, and im interested in checking some of those things out too. I have got a few guide books to spain and that is where dad is interested in going. there is alot of variety there it seems. That is where we will probably be going, but i just wanted to make one last check to see if anyone had any other choices that would better. cause you are right goign to spain and getting around would be easy. and you are also right about summer in SA, I think it would be way to hot there that time of year, so i might as well drop that one off my list. But keep it on my list for the spring and fall trips for the future. Thanx for the info its much appriciated

Post by **merrick** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 4:52 am

i hear el chorro in spain has good multi-pitch and really good hard sport. I hear the approach is a bitch though. might be worth checking out. and if you are in spain for awhile you could probably run up to font for a few days.

Post by **andy_lemon** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 6:10 am

Mexico! Uno Cervasa porfavor.

Post by **Meadows** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 2:49 pm

Spain is awesome! I don't know about the climbing there, but the cities and the people are fantastic. I can't wait to go again.

Post by **Rags** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:33 pm

Speaking for myself, Meadows, I try not to revisit places! There are so many countries I havent been to yet! Sure some locations are fabulous but I would risk not finding another if I went back to a place I had been before! I dont even walk the same trail back if I can avoid it...

Post by **Horatio Felacio** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 11:49 pm

go to hell!

Post by **Christian** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 2:18 pm

How is the climbing there?

Post by **GWG** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 2:28 pm

I try not to revisit places!

I find that when I have returned, it's not quite the same as it was the first time. I agree, there are so many incredible places to "discover", life's too short to just limit yourself to just a couple.

I've been to Africa and found it very interesting. Consider where you are going and then find out what sort of preparations are necessary to go. In much of Africa, you will need to have your Yellow Card indicating your yellow fever vaccination. Most cities have an International Travel Clinic which can provide the most up-to-date information on restrictions/requirements necessary to enter into foreign countries. Lots of useful information.