Photo by Giorgio Montersino. Feature photo by procsilas

1. What’s the purpose?

Does one of you travel to meet people while the other is focused on museums and architecture? Are you traveling to relax and lounge, while your friend is anxious to hop on the nearest tuk tuk to discover the surroundings?  Find out why your partner is traveling and what they hope to experience.

2. How much are you comfortable spending?

This might seem like an obvious question, but it’s crucial. Make sure your travel partner has a similar budget. If one of you is looking for street food and the other looking to sip Dom Pérignon in an upscale hotel bar, then problems are bound to arise.

3. What are your comfort zones?

Everyone has knee-jerk reactions to being surprised, in new situations, or not in complete control. How will your friend behave? Will she shut down? Become defensive? Will he open up and enjoy the difference?  Have you seen your potential travel partner uncomfortable before? How did they act?

Photo by <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/drown/”

4. What’s your concept of time?

If you say you’ll meet at 8:00 AM, does that really mean 8:00 AM or more like 8:30? How about your friend’s clock–is it in sync with yours?

At home, these differences can be overlooked, but when traveling you might not want to be waiting around while the line to the Eiffel Tower, hoping your travel buddy is on the way. Even if  the goal is just to beat the crowds at breakfast and start the day early, will your friend leave you hanging?

5. Can your friend become immersed in the moment?

Will your friend be able to let go of home for a while and focus on what is in front of their eyes in a foreign land? Some people can’t do this, and a conversation in Belize could be about a trade-gone-bad in New York City. It can take the wind out of the trip.

6. Does your friend have the potential to drive you crazy?

Does your friend smack while eating? Does she talk with empanadas falling out of her mouth? Bottom-line, is there anything that slightly annoys you now about a future travel partner? If so, this annoyance level will intensify on the road. Be ready.

Photo by Hamed Sabert

7. What are your patience levels?

Some have patience; others don’t. When you are waiting for a meal and it doesn’t come out for 45 minutes, will your friend be upset? Will you? A train is 10 minutes behind schedule. Are you complaining together, or is only one of you piercingly perturbed by the delay?

8. Will you be flexible?

The trip is a month long; the route is planned. But in week two a particular beach is absolutely amazing and beckons you to stay longer. Will both of you decide to change the schedule a bit and stay an extra day? Or perhaps both of you decide to stick to the planned itinerary? Does one of you recognize the present opportunity, while the other is a stickler for the game plan?

9. Will you be co-dependent, independent, or a mix?

Do both of you plan on spending a majority of the time together on the trip? If one person wants to see an art exhibit and the other decides on a beach to check out the scene, will it be OK to split up? Some people do not like to be left alone when in an unfamiliar land. Others relish this single exploration time, and then enjoy coming back to a friend later in the day to tell of the expedition.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Having conversations about travel plans can be challenging…whether you want to hit the road with a friend or go it alone. If you’re eager to try solo travel, but aren’t sure how to tell your partner, be sure to read this article from our archives.

Photo above by Dominic Degrazier. Feature photo by juanpol.

Also enjoyed in parts of Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile, mate is a tea-like beverage derived from Yerba Mate tree leaves.

Some say mate contains caffeine, others say mateine, but either way, after some sips you will feel more awake and not as hungry. And most agree mate has healthy attributes, such as easing digestion and reducing blood pressure.
Here are six tips for drinking mate:

Photo above by Dominic Degrazier

Share with People

The tradition of mate is about sharing time with others as much as anything else. Friends, family, and/or acquaintances form a loose circle while drinking, talking, and enjoying the relaxing session.

Understand the server’s role.

In a group of drinkers, one person is appointed the server and holds the thermos full of hot water. This person fills up the gourd (possibly with cold water if in Paraguay), drinks the first cup himself, refills and then passes the next full cup clockwise to the next drinker. So on and so on.

Saying Thanks – Don’t

If the receiver of the mate says, “Thanks,” he or she is understood to be having their last turn. Some places adhere to this rule more than others, but it is a safe bet not to say “Thanks” if you are looking to drink another round.

Touching the Straw

Some servers take offense to having their bombilla touched. They are serving the mate in the way they believe the recipient will best enjoy the flavor. This rule is observed in some places more than others, but in general, if something is wrong with the mate or the straw–pass it back to the server.

Photo above by maitse.tv

Addressing the Subject of Sugar

Customs vary throughout South America. Some people add sugar, taking their mate dulce. Others prefer it straight-up, or amargo. And still others add herbs such as mint.

Many people find mate bitter the first time they drink it, especially in early rounds when the yerba is freshest. Wait for the mate to make a couple more rounds, and it will be more lavado.

Drink with Caution

Be aware of the water’s temperature. Feel the bombilla’s stem before taking a sip and notice the heat (as at least the server should have drunk one gourd before you). No mate is a good mate when it scalds your mouth.

Photo above by Dominic Degrazier

Curing a New Mate Gourd

If you have bought your own gourd and are ready to start drinking on your own, don’t do it – not immediately, anyway. First, fill the mate with yerba leaves about ¾ full and pour in warm water. Let it sit for at least 12 hours in this state. Then, rinse out and begin your sessions.

Also, never clean your gourd with soap. It ruins the flavor. Simply rinse out the spent yerba each time after using.

Community Connection

Interested in learning more customs of the region? Check out Benny Lewis’s video on Learning to Dance Tango.

To read one Matador member’s story about mate, trout, and a perfect valley in Patagonia, check out Tim Patterson’s blog, Sharing One Trout with 23 Argentine Hippies.

Goods: Feel like knocking back some mate? Get your starter kit
here.