South America Travel
Exploring The Other Rain Forest In Brazil
The Amazon — with its 1.4 billion acres — may get all the glory when it comes to Brazilian rain forests, but visitors to Rio and the southern part of the country have just as good of access to a rain forest, without having to travel the several hours to the north. We’re talking about […]
Five Ways To Learn Spanish In Buenos Aires (And Maybe More . . .)
You can admit it, that whole “I’m moving to Buenos Aires to learn Spanish” ruse may work on your parents (who are shelling out the dough for your college education), and your friends back home, but we all know your real reasons, and they likely include food, culture, nightlife, Patagonia-excursions, siestas, and maybe even a […]
Wanted: Gringos With Lax Morals
Here in Guatemala, we call them, “The Token Gringos.” Sometimes, when we send our attorney or other high-ranking employee out to a governmental meeting, we´ll have a foreign volunteer with feeble Spanish tag along, often in a suit and tie. It´s usually a good learning experience for the volunteer. It´s also good for us; gives us […]
A Hammock Cruise: Getting Into The Swing Of Things
There are some people who choose to remain busy, and there are those that are able to take things as they come. Then there are those people who can do both. Finding a balance may start in a hammock. Figuring out how to relax while away is probably one of the biggest obstacles for most […]
In Search Of “Pura Vida” In Costa Rica
Finding the “pura vida” in Costa Rica these days takes a little patience and some luck, but once found, well worth the wait. By Maria Russo As beads of sweat trickled across my forehead, I could not help but feel that I had made a mistake coming back to Manuel Antonio National Park. The humidity […]
Hotels Are So Passe, Alternative Lodging’s The Thing
Seven months ago, we had arrived in Buenos Aires, on schedule, from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. There were three-and-a-half of us — the half person was Benito, my friends’ cat — exhausted from the plane ride, but eager to meet Katrine, the lady who was supposed to pick us up and bring us to a […]
Choquequirao: The Other Machu Picchu?
Not for the weary traveler, the multi-day trek to Choquequirao tests even the most experienced hikers. But what about the result? How about unforgettable Inca ruins far from the crowds of tourists at that “other” site. The streets of the former Inca Capital, Cusco, Peru, are usually filled with tourists from around the world. They […]
Paradise In Brazil: Salvador
Brazil: the name itself conjures images of astounding beauty. As Latin America’s largest country, not only is the terrain diverse — jungles, beaches and mountains — but the cities, too. Usually, those who have not ventured to the Portuguese-speaking country, tend to think of São Paulo, the booming metropolis, or Rio de Janeiro, with its […]
Gabriel García Márquez’s Colombia
This week Cartagena, Colombia, is getting the “walk-in-the-shoes-of-“blank” treatment from the NYT, with a look at the city through the eyes (and hands) of Gabriel García Márquez, perhaps Colombia’s most famous artistic export (outside of Shakira). Though they note the author never really lived there for much of his life (his family moved there after […]
Top Five Things To Do In Buenos Aires
Originally, I had wanted to come up with a list of the top-five touristy and non-touristy things to do in Buenos Aires and then I realized that: a) that would be a little righteous as everyone´s experience is going to, and should, be different, b) unless you move here indefinitely or are born here, you […]