We will be back from Argentina next week, and plan to camp in the USA extensively this spring. So please stay tuned… we are likely heading north to some states we haven’t yet visited (NC, VA, PA, NY, IL, etc.).

The camera I recently acquired is a fancy one which will allow me to someday shoot my masterpiece, impress Steven Speilberg, and attend the Oscars (err..that’s the plan?). It’s a Sony PMW-EX1, and it’s overkill for the vast majority of people.

The camera I recommend is the Canon HV20/30/40 series. They are HD (HDV is recorded to cheap mini-DV tapes), small and portable, take beautiful pictures, and are pretty easy to edit. We’ve shot most of The Long Long Honeymoon with this cam. And lately you can find an HV30 for about $500, which is a heck of a deal for such a great camera. If you want to go tapeless, Canon has some new models coming out that look equally good.

The editing software I use is Sony Vegas Pro 8. The industry standard is probably Final Cut Pro but it’s only for Apple. I like Sony Vegas — they all do the same thing, they just do it a little differently. Vegas works well for me. They make a consumer version that’s cheaper than the Pro version. I haven’t tried the consumer version, but it’s probably similar to Pro.

If you keep an eye on our website (TheLongLongHoneymoon.com) I will soon add some additional camera/editing details in the FAQ section.

The camper van we have in Argentina lacks a full-service toilet, so that’s a pretty big sacrifice.

With regard to American brands, I think you can find most of what you seek here. I’m not a cigarette guy, but I’ve seen the major brands readily available (in vending machines, even!). I do like certain American beers, but the beer selection here is quite limited — at least in restaurants. Forget about finding your fave microbrew here. But hey, when delicious wine is $3 a bottle, I’m not complaining.

I thnk your travel plan sounds great, though (from personal experience) I would tread VERY carefully through Guatemala and El Salvador. I’m happy to report that Argentina seems very safe and well policed, and we’ve met many warm and friendly people.

Sometime soon I’ll post a more detailed summary of our impressions of RV camping in Argentina. I’m going to profile a local RV rental firm (really nice people) and our own experiences in the camper van. It will probably take me a while to get everything online. We are slated to return to the States on the 16th. Happy camping!

Our longest trip so far has been up through western Cananda and the coastal BC Ferries and then on in to Alaska. Our next goal is to travel by RV camper down through the rest of North America, Central American and then through South America to Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego or more depending on the roads.

Were don’t know yet how hard it is to get a short day flight to Antarctica.

I’m not trying to sell people on the notion of overseas travel… Like camping, the desire to do so is either in your blood, or it isn’t.

I might draw an analogy to food. “I already like hamburgers & hot dogs… so why should I try tacos and enchiladas and pizza?” Simply because you might enjoy those choices as well.

I agree that it’s flat out impossible to see everything in the USA, and certainly in the world. There’s just not enough time. So we have to choose our destinations wisely. My only regret about this Argentinia series is that we’re only getting a brief introduction. It’s a huge country and we could spend months here.

Yesterday we met a German fellow who had just returned from a 2-month RV trip throughout Argentina and Chile. We interviewed him for the blog. He said he has also RV’d throughout the USA, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. He’s seen a pretty large portion of the world, up close and personal, via RV.

For those who are interested in seeing other parts of the world, travel by RV is a viable option! We’re learning just how viable at the moment…