Buenos Aires for Free
Argentina’s capital is arguably South America’s liveliest, sexiest city. It’s also one of the most Western with colonial architecture giving it a decidedly Spanish feel. Despite recent economic troubles, Buenos Aires can turn out to be a pricey stopover for the budget traveller, especially if you go nocturnal which is almost impossible not to do. Here’s a cost free guide around the main sights so you can save your pennies for steak, red wine and dancing ´til dawn.
Recoleta Cemetery
§ Read the rest of this article…
Alone on the Beaches in the North of Brazil
This article was submitted anonymously.
I was put on assignment by my company in Campinas, Brazil with less than 3 weeks notice. But I was younger and single and it thus was a cool adventure. Plus I was living in a city I do not like, so getting away was even more appealing. My lease was up anyway, so I put my stuff in storage and started a life without a fixed address… literally “homeless.”
My assignment lasted a little over 3 months. During that time, I’d learned enough portuguese to express interest in a lovely young lady and for her to express interest in me. But I knew my assignment would be ending, so I stayed the gentleman and took no steps to advance the relationship. On my last night there, she was truly shocked that I was leaving permanently. That stunk.
§ Read the rest of this article…
One Degree South of the Equator: Olón, Ecuador
Ruta del Spondylus, Ecuador: a place where you can awake to the thunder of the surf crashing outside your door and exotic, colorful birds singing their early morning songs. Do you long for leisurely strolls along an endless beach of silken sand, blissfully in the moment gathering sand dollars and seashells while watching the humpback whales breach and frolic just offshore? Or maybe you crave the adventure of a trip into the nearby jungle to swing from zip-lines, and to explore ancient Inca ruins. Surfers come to catch one of the best breaks in South America, just 5 minutes away. Perhaps you want to be pampered with soothing spa treatments, and are looking for rejuvenation using holistic (yet ancient) natural healing techniques.
§ Read the rest of this article…
Filed under Topic: Trip Reports § 1 Comment
Peruvian Highlights
Flying into the “Katmandu of South America,” the plane flew alongside the jagged snow-capped mountain peaks, which seemed to grow dizzyingly higher as we descended into the valley. On my first adventure to the southern hemisphere, descending vertiginously into the valley that sheltered the capital of the Inca Empire that, at its peak, had spread from Argentina to Chile, I felt literally on top of the world. Peru is the meeting place of histories, cultures, and nature – all of which blended to create an unforgettable and unique experience.
§ Read the rest of this article…
Chocolate (Travel) Bliss
Do you love chocolate? Then you’ll love the new book by Susie Norris called Chocolate Bliss. You might be wondering to yourself how the world of travel and chocolate align? Well, read on to find out about finding your own chocolate travel bliss….
§ Read the rest of this article…
A Vagabond Story
When Grant Lingel got in touch and asked if I’d read his new book, Imagine: A Vagabond Story, I said sure – why not – by title alone it sounded great, and it was his tales of exploring Central America, an area of the world I don’t know all that well. If you’re active in the travel sphere, you’ll no doubt know that Grant’s book has gotten rather mediocre reviews. And I agree with most of them. So, you might ask, am I logging it here in the STE recommended reading section? Well, let’s dive deeper, shall we?
§ Read the rest of this article…
Seven Amazing Places to See the Summer Solstice
Summer Solstice. You know, the longest days of the year. They provide fascinating backdrops for some of the world’s most enigmatic sighting spots. Here are seven spots where, on the day of a summer solstice, you can see the work and legacy of people (sometimes long gone) really shine…
Stonhenge – England
Summer solstice at Stonehenge is a party!
§ Read the rest of this article…
Top Five Things To Do in Costa Rica
Where else in the world can you see an active volcano with a nightly lava show, visit a national park where monkeys and other wildlife creatures welcome you with open arms, and that has over 800 miles of amazing coastline? Costa Rica!
This tiny country, known to have 5% of the world’s bio diversity, has so much to offer the you’ll be wishing you simply moved here! I did:)
Top Five Must Do’s When Visiting Costa Rica
§ Read the rest of this article…
1. Volcano Arenal – Every day and every night this magnificent volcano spews out lava that calmly flows off the side of it. You can safely do the volcano walk to witness this phenomena for yourself. Or, why don’t you just hang out in any of the naturally heated hot springs at the base watching it with a cocktail in hand?
Down the Road: Bicycle Touring Around the World
For this week’s interview, we have the immensely inspirational couple Tim and Cindie Travis, who have been travelling the world via bicycle since 2002. (Yes, that’s not a typo. 2002. Long time.) They’ve documented their travels on their website, Down the Road, and after reading about them many a time, I couldn’t help myself but get in touch and find out a little bit more about what’s going on with the these two and their two-wheel-based passions.
I loved your quote about your journey: “traveling could be more than pre defined tourist destinations.” How much of your travels are planned and how much is ad-hoc “wandering” (for lack of a better word).
It is safe to say that most of our trip is made up as we go because we never know what is going to come our way in the course of the day. We usually have an idea of which direction we are going and even occasionally know the roads we will be riding but traveling on a bicycle is different than most other forms of travel. On a bike we can not control what is going to happen compared to driving or public transportation. We must be flexible because there’s always the unexpected like getting lost, sick, headwinds, home invites, and free beer. Usually, when we set off for the day, we do not know where we will sleep that night. We have all the camping gear to meet whatever situation arises like treating water from creeks and cooking our own food. It is the not knowing and not having control that turns a vacation into an adventure. A bicycle tour is always an adventure.
(Andy’s note: Yum. Free beer.)
§ Read the rest of this article…
Great Places to Take Your Difficult-to-Please Teenager
Taking small children on holiday can be a hassle but the frustrations usually arise from the fusses and practicalities of planning for little ones, rather than resistance from the children themselves. That all changes as they veer into teendom, when suddenly the idea of going on a family holiday with their parents just doesn’t cut it. It’s natural but how can you combat the lethargy and get them excited at the prospect of a holiday with you? At Globalista we’ve put together a list of bonding boltholes that we think are likely to keep even the most difficult-to-please of teenagers satisfied:
Glaciers in Patagonia
§ Read the rest of this article…
