Photo by Alice Bourget [Note: this piece was written in pre-pandemic days, first accepted by the LA Times, but had a couple of long publication delays. And then the pandemic arrived. Ecuador was hit hard. Milton’s tours, listed at the end, are suspended. Here’s to travel to come!] When I was around 10, I tagged along to my brother’s Boy Scout meeting, where one activity was making art projects. Given instruction, I sprayed a clothespin with … [Read more...]
A Crazy Stop in La Paz, Boliva
Upon arriving in South America I entered a very familiar airport, Jorge Chavez International Airport. I lingered in Lima for a refreshing shower in the hotel directly across from the airport. Walked back to the departures terminal and tried to sleep for a few hours on the hard floor. Loud music playing at 130am followed by staff cleaning the floors. No sleep tonight. Boarded next flight. Arrived in Cuzco - exited the airport with just enough time … [Read more...]
Route of the Wine, Salta Argentina
Spanning some 500 km of mostly dirt roads, the Salta Route of the Wine is roughly triangular in shape. The largest community by far, Salta is on the northernmost point of this 'triangle' with tiny towns anchoring the other two points including Cafayate and Molinos. Our drive of this route begin in Salta >> Cafayate >> Molinos/Bodega Colome >> back to Salta. Allow at least 5 to 7 days. Start your epic wine journey in Salta - rent a car at the … [Read more...]
4 Epic Treks in South America You Need To Know About
South America has some of the highest mountain ranges in the world (like the Andes) - it is the second-highest mountain range in the world. The continent offers some of the best and challenging hikes in the world. Even one-day hikes are sure to test the endurance and strength of the mightiest trekkers and hikers. With different landscapes spread across the continent, it offers diverse views to suit the needs of every hiker out there. For … [Read more...]
The Things You Carry, the Things You Leave Behind
When I was 16, I hitchhiked with my older brother from Los Angeles to Vancouver. Being lean and hungry types, we knew we needed fortification for the long journey. So it made perfect sense that we’d load our backpacks—already substantial, with their sturdy wood and metal frames—with canned foods of every type. Chili, fruit cocktail, soup. That one of the laden backpacks now weighed about as much as a sports car wasn’t that daunting until a day or … [Read more...]
Five Reasons to Visit Medellin
Lonely Planet named Colombia 2nd best country to visit in 2017. I first visited Colombia a few years ago, when I set foot into the walled city of Cartagena. I had just finished reading Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ Love in the Time of Cholera, and as I moved through the old town in Cartagena, pages of his novel came to life, setting the tone for that trip. I discovered a colorful, romantic city where Latin music and dancing greeted me … [Read more...]
Cruising the Fjords of Patagonia
Few places around the world evoke as much myth and awe as Chile’s Patagonia region. The mere name conjures imagery of pristine wilderness and raw nature, of stunning scenery and awe-inspiring mountains. This is where land meets sea, where ocean currents are funneled through narrow gorges opening to cavernous bays, where innumerable fjords and glaciers carve through rocky massifs. Surrounded by only water for thousands of kilometers in three … [Read more...]
From Los Angeles to Bogota – a Day Trip
Yup, you read the headline right. I made a day trip to Bogota, Colombia from Los Angeles, USA. I'm probably not the first one to do it, but I bet not many people have done it before. So how'd it happen? Mostly through my opportunism: I managed to squeeze in a stop in Bogota while on my way to Santiago, Chile. It wasn't really on my original plans but I had a choice of two flights - one with a 4-hour layover in Lima, Peru and one with a 16-hour … [Read more...]
How Sochi Became an All-Season Hotspot for Tourists
SOURCE: flickr.com Prior to the 2014 Winter Olympics, how many people had heard of Sochi? Outside of Russia, the answer is probably very few. When most people think of snow, skiing and snowboarding, they think of somewhere in Austria or Italy, at least if they’re in Europe. In the US, you can take advantage of lift pass deals like Fly and Ski Free and take to the slopes in Tahoe without spending a dime. Or, if you’re really adventurous, you … [Read more...]
Spring Skiing at Valle Nevado in Chile
The Mountain As the ski lift reached the mountain top, I released my white knuckled grip on the J-bar and slid forward toward the majestic snow capped Andean peaks looming large in the distance. It was spring in South America and the backside of the mountain, was nearly empty, inhabited only by myself and the occasional lift operator. The resort was visible as a spec in the distance beyond the lift I had just exited, and a mountain vista of … [Read more...]
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