It’s morning, but the normal horn honking is missing from the city sounds. Half of carrera septima in Bogota is closed for the day. The street is lined with vendors…
I Almost Went Into Anaphylactic Shock on a Beach in Peru. What Will You Do if You Have a Travel Emergency?
There I was, sitting on the beach in Huanchaco, the small surf town in the north of Peru where I was staying for two weeks. Despite it being a grey…
Why You Should Never Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu…When You Can Hike Salkantay
Hop on to Instagram, Facebook, or Tinder, and you’re likely to find a snap of a friend or suitor smiling over the hills of Machu Picchu. You know the one:…
That Time I Was Cast as “Some Kind of Asian” in a Bolivian TV Commercial
I’m wearing a polyester chong sam, sitting at the entrance to a dingy Chinese restaurant in La Paz, with cameras and crew nearby and a stylist furiously brushing my hair….
Travel Cafe with a Twist!
Can you remember a time when you traveled without a digital camera or social media? Ine Van Der Stock gave a wonderful presentation to Wanderful Chicago during our Travel Cafe…
Close of Service: Goodbye, Peace Corps Colombia!
On Dec 6, 2013, I rang the bell marking the “Close of Service,” or COS, of my Peace Corps Service in Colombia. My service, like most things anticipated since forever,…
Life as a Conservation Volunteer
A black tail rose above the dining table as the volunteers ate breakfast in the restaurant. As I stared at the tail and started wondering which dog had a black…
4 Tips for Traveling in Ecuador
Money Did you know that the currency used in Ecuador is the US Dollar? It makes it very convenient for traveling. So don’t worry about getting confused with exchange rates….
5 Songs to Understand Brazilians
Defining any country is impossible, but music brings us close. Image from globaltoynews.com. When people think of Brazilians they either think of happy people on the beach or soccer players….
The Secret to Having an Awesome Adventure Vacation
Happiness studies have shown that pre-vacation anticipation gives as much or MORE happiness than the vacation itself. Within days of returning, vacationers don’t report being happier than those who never…
Providence Island and Its Seven-Colored Sea
It’s not easy to get to Providence Island, but after experiencing what it has to offer, it’s even harder to leave. Providence is the smaller of Colombia’s two sublime islands…
Take a Hike! Tips for Surviving the Inca Trail
Spectacular views, rich regional history, the lingering mystery around the “lost” city of the Incas*, who could resist a visit to Machu Picchu? But planning such a trip? Almost as…
What is the Capital of Brazil?
While traveling abroad, people usually make mistakes about the real capital of Brazil. They say a whole range of names (including Buenos Aires, which is the capital of Argentina…) but…
Friends, Young and Old: Changing Your Perception of What Makes a Friend
Five months ago, I was sitting on the sofa at a friend’s house. I took a sip of my Bloody Mary and then frowned a little, looking around. There were…
Nature v. Nurture: On Noise and Dancing
After a year and a half of Peace Corps service in Barranquilla, Colombia, I think I’m closing in on about as “integrated” as I will be. Two things I still…