Iguazu Falls Travel Video

Uruguay: Everything's Legal

 

Woke up at 5:30am after another late night hanging out with friends and packing. Caught the speed ferry across the river; 2.5 hours from Buenos Aires to Montevideo. Roamed the streets for the day. First impressions? Very tranquil city because EVERYONE is either enjoying a joint or a mate or both. Seriously. Everyone. It’s surreal to know that this summer’s travels have come to a conclusion. Luckily for me, it ended with an fantastic night at my hostel and with a lively Sunday street market that extended for blocks and blocks and blocks. I’m all packed up and preparing for my journey home.

 

Mate in my hostel room.

 

The guy seriously asked me which bed I wanted; bottom please. 

 

 

I love the unique architecture here and tree lined streets.

 

 

Cold. Wet. Sad. Set out to purchase tickets for the futbol game today, in the pouring rain. Went to multiple places that only sold to locals and when I finally found the place that sold to everyone, I learned that they don’t sell tickets on the day of the game there. The lady said there was a chance I could try at the stadium, at the start of the game.

 

 

My Austrian friends decided to take a chance and met me at the stadium to buy tickets. We asked everyone, twice, and got rejected each time. They don’t sell tickets at the stadium, even though it wasn’t at capacity. So, we had a beer while watching a bit of the game on tv, by the stadium.

 

 LOVE THIS PIECE.

“Dame la mano y a darle la vuelta al mundo.” = “Give me your hand and let’s go around the world.”

 

Brazil: Iguazu Falls

 

Dropped my bags off, touched based with my family and hit the streets to find money and bakeries and whatever adventures laid ahead.

 

 

Pao de Queijo (gooey, delicious Brazilian Cheese Bread). My gluten free friends can even enjoy it since it’s made with tapioca flour instead of wheat. I didn’t even know that was a thing.

 

 My loot from the market. If I have to go to the grocery store, I’m gonna make it fun. I love trying candies, chips and cookies from around the world. This purchase looks extremely promising and will keep me sufficiently nourished while I visit the falls. 

 

Cataratas Do Iguaçu- Paraná, Brazil

Most beautiful sight in the world. I can’t even begin to describe the feeling of happiness and peace inside me right now after the two days I’ve experienced. The people I’ve met and the waterfalls I’ve seen, will forever be in my heart.  

This is Luis. He pours his heart and soul into the hostel that I stayed at. He makes everyone feel at home and part of the family, while serving great drinks and food. Super sweet guy!

 

 For the last few years, I’ve purchased a bracelet from each country that I’ve visited. I was running out of time here in Foz because of the waterfall hunting and hanging at the hostel. I came upon these young ladies and knew I would find one. I didn’t have enough small bills to pay and no one in the area could make change for my $50 Real. So, I scrounged in my bag, found a usb charging cube and made the trade.

Me, Tea, Kate, Tim hanging out and playing UNO with fake cards. 

Who knew fake UNO cards existed?

 

Argentina Travel Video

 

Argentina: Rough Waters Ahead But I’m Still Sailing

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” -Martin Buber

My summer expeditions are drawing near an end; 5 more days to be exact. Tears are creeping into my eyes and my heart is beating a tad faster as a bit of anxiety is fighting its way in.

Argentina: ¿Riot or Soccer Game?

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharial Nehru

This whole saga began two years ago during my first trip to South America. Half-way through my time in Ecuador and after making new friends, I decided that I wanted to experience my first soccer game. Games that I saw on tv were full of life, passion and excitement and I wanted to be a part of that. 

Argentina: Evicted

“I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” -James Dean

For the first time in my life, I’ve been evicted...terminated...shown the door... sayonara... ciao... adios... goodbye. Whatever language you’d like to use, it meant I had to find a new home. 

Chile Travel Video

 

Chile: 6 Reasons NOT to visit Valparaiso

“With age, comes wisdom. With travel, comes understanding.” – Sandra Lake

There are many terrific towns, cities and countries in South America that you could choose to visit. By doing a bit of research and factoring in your personal travel taste, you are sure to find a good match. The locations that I chose for my adventures this summer, didn’t come by accident; they fit certain characteristics that I was looking for.

Chile: The Hills Have Eyes

“At its best, travel should challenge our preconceptions and most cherished views, cause us to rethink our assumptions, shake us a bit, make us broader minded and more understanding.” –Arthur Frommer

In preparing for my trip to Valparaiso, Chile, I conducted just a bit of research as compared to trips in the past. I knew that it was a colorful port city, large enough to get lost in but small enough to know the corner market owner, and had a typical amount of crime for a city its size. I didn’t feel the need to be exhaustive in my research since I had over three weeks to explore and learn on my own.

Chile: 3 Chileans, 1 Canadian and an American Walk Into A Bar...

“People are guests in our story, the same way we are guests in theirs. But we all meet each other for a reason because every person is a personal lesson waiting to be told.” -Lauren Klarfeld

I’m taking it easy today, it turns out. We had a late evening last night watching Chile play Peru in the semi finals of the COPA America tournament. This was a classic matchup for sporting and historical reasons, as Juan, the house owner explained to me.

Bolivia Travel Video

 

Bolivia: Uyuni Salt Flats

 Took an overnight bus ride in order to venture into the Uyuni Salt Flats. 

Literally bribing the Salt Flat ranger with coca leaves because our company didn’t obtain proper paper work to enter the Flats.

  An obligatory picture at the Salt Flats is a fun perspective photo.

 

Team 2! Girls from Norway, Ireland and the US.

 National Park island within the Salt Flats.

 Filling our SUVs with gas as we took an “Incan Bathroom” stop.

Rocky terrain. Over the course of the three days, we drove 30 minutes on pavement and the rest was on salt, rock, boulders, gravel, sand and snow. These vehicles last less than two years due to the conditions they have to drive in. But man, going 100mph on the wide open “roads” was a blast.

 

 
Woke up at 4am with temperatures well below freezing in a hostel with no electricity. Sunrise this morning at Sol de Manana hot springs. I was too cold from the 5am geyser hike that I couldn’t bring myself to endure much more wind.

 

Stunning scenery here. Years ago and meteor hit this area. NASA and other organizations came in to do research on it and found the area’s conditions were remarkably similar to Mars. They then conducted Mars trainings. Before our guide told us this story and when we were on the other side of the mountain, it reminded me of images of Mars.