Happy Eater, Last Day of Passover, Wrapup of Semana Santa, and any other celebratory reason you might have! I just spent a 22 hour bus travel marathon from Cali to Quito. I left Cali at 10 p.m. and actually managed to sleep almost all the way to Pasto near the Ecuadorian border, arriving there about […]
I recently spent just over two weeks in Medellin, Colombia. When I arrived from Cartagena, I had no idea that I would be there more than a few days. However, a cracked tooth and the loss of my hard drive altered my itinerary, for the better I think. Both were repaired exceptionally well and […]
It was my last morning in Cartagena. I had been eyeing this building for days and had determined early-mid morning would be optimal light. So I walked over from the hotel and found the requisite shotgun toting guard at the door. For 10 minutes, I repeatedly tried to explain to him that I wanted to […]
During my travels in Central America I have hiked and climbed several volcanoes. Toward the end of my stay in Cartagena I visited Volcun Totumo which at roughly 18 meters high is by far the shortest to date. We booked the trip through our hotel and the cost was US$14 per person. This included round […]
The Old City of Cartagena at Night As the sun sets on Cartagena, Colombia, the lights come on and give this beautiful city an entirely different look and feel. La quinta por favor (check please). Let’s go for a stroll. Walking back toward the old city entrance we get our first glimpse of the […]
I recently spent five days in Cartagena. Cartagena was founded in 1533 and was rebuilt in 1552, folowing an extensive fire. It quickly grew into the primary Spanish Carribean port and was the storehouse for plundered Peruvian gold awaiting shipment to the Spanish Crown. Following numerous seiges including one by Sir Francis Drake, Spain began […]
I have been in Medellin for 10 days now and will probably be in the area another 10 or 12 days. During that time I cracked a tooth but found a terrific American-trained dentist. He fixed the tooth and another developing problem as well. I was so impressed by his state-of-the-art clinic that I am […]
We set sail, once again, the following morning and after a long and sometimes bumpy ride, we arrived in Sapzurro that afternoon. But we weren’t done yet. Part 4–Sapzurro and Beyond We set sail, once again, the following morning and after a long and sometimes bumpy ride, we arrived in Sapzurro that afternoon. But we […]
Waisalup is a small island owned by Julio (actually his wife). Part III–Chillin’ in Waisalup There is a small village on the windward side consisting of about six huts and a well…that’s it! We camped on the leeward side only a few minutes walk across. There were colorful reefs and amazing snorkeling. This was a […]
The San Blas is an archipelago of over 400 islands and cays that are the home of the Kuna Yala, an indigenous people who govern the area as an autonomous region. The Kuna have their own system of governance and decision-making while maintaining their traditional language and culture to an extent seldom known in the […]