South America a land of Ancient ruins, salt flats seen from space, deserts that never experience rain, the third largest ice cap in the world and more!
We stood at the top of a cliff in the middle of Torotoro National Park mesmerized by the waterfall tumbling over the side. We had used a rope to navigate over the smooth steep rock surface to the edge of the water. Our guide turned to us and said that we could go into the […]
Despite the horror stories you may have heard, getting a Bolivian tourist visa as a US citizen or an American passport holder is an easy, straightforward process. There is no need to sweat out the details, no need to agonize about what surprise requirement a border official might spring on you, and no need to
La Paz, the capital of Bolivia, is the highest capital city in the world. It rests at an altitude of 12,000 feet (3,640 meters) above sea level. Yet, it is still in a valley surrounded by ruggedly topped mountains. We did not want to leave our little country home in the Sacred Valley in Peru, but we
Thousands have died here on this narrow dirt road: people in buses, trucks, cars and even bicycles. “You must be very careful. The first hour will be the most dangerous,” warned our guide. Little did we know that within our small group, not everyone would reach the end quite exactly the same. We were all
Flying Down Death Road, The World’s Most Dangerous Road Read More »
We loved Peru. We did not want to leave our comfortable country home out in the middle of Sacred Valley. It was relaxing, and our host treated us like family, but our 90-day tourist visa was about to run out so it was time to move on. Peru has amazing landscapes, a rich culture, and
Walking around the little pueblos in Latin America, it is not uncommon to encounter dogs on the streets and alleyways. They are pretty much everywhere, and occasionally, they can be very mean. As it were, one day, Trin and I encountered a dog while we were walking along the footpaths of Yanahuara, a tiny village
Did you just utter an incredulous “What?” Or raise your eyebrow and say, “The Incas planted water? Yeah right.” Yes, I thought the same thing. I held a straight face as our host told us of the marvel of the Incas. Inwardly, I wondered about this legend and the story behind it. As the story
Over a year on the road and it’s been nothing like we expected but more than we had hoped for. I count our blessings for the many wonderful people we have met and the places we have seen. I have enjoyed sharing these experiences with you, our readers, and hope that it encourages you to
The first time we see something new, it sometimes seems strange. Isolated groups of people often see the rest of the world as strange and often fear it. But with prolonged exposure, the strange somehow becomes normal. Here are some things that we now find normal that may be a little strange to some of
When the Strange Becomes Normal: South American Travel Read More »
We awoke before the alarm rang and hurriedly prepared our small daypack with food and clothes for the next couple of days. Our big packs would be left behind in Cusco for this adventure. We were supposed to leave Cusco, Peru at 7 AM, to be followed by a six-hour bus ride to hydroelectrica. Our
Machu Picchu: What the Guidebooks Don’t Tell You Read More »
