Double-sided Potosí Once a dominant, wealthy mining hub from all the silver removed from Cerro Rico, Potosí remains one of the highest cities in the world. Some say it’s the highest. Tourists flock the mines for a humbling experience. Despite my attitude towards tour culture and the unsettling feeling of making someone’s hardship an attraction to visit, I loved… Read More
Bolivia Begins: Haphazard Plans And Successfully Finding Marcela In Sucre The mission: join forces with other strong independent woman and crazy, so-hilarious-my-entire-body-needs-to-recover-from-hearing-you-recount-your-interaction-with-that-cute-Cholita, human-loving, gender-role-tearing-down-ing friend from my university, who I had previously never actually hung out with one-on-one, for two legendary weeks of conquering Bolivia. Step One: Sleep on a Paraguayan airport bench still wondering which city to go to. Day 75 (am)… Read More
Actual Places Then vs. Escadaria Selaron Now When the tiles of Rio de Janeiro‘s most beautiful staircase are as enchanting as the destinations themselves. Spain, 2004 Italy, 2008 Belgium, 2010 Florida, Forever Some Relevant Fun Facts Antoni Gaudí- this modernist architect hated sharp edges and corners. The Bridge of Sighs- this iconic landmark was named… Read More
São Paolo In A Day Natalia, my roommate from Santiago, hosted me for the lone night I spent in the industrial capital of Brazil before I flew to Bolivia. Home to the world’s largest Japanese population outside of Japan, I prioritized the ethnic district called Liberdade. The afternoon was my usual catching a glimpse of urban culture by walking through the city center. … Read More
Rio With Family: A Brief Pause On Backpacking My mother invited me to join her in her four-star hotel on the iconic Ipanema Beach for the week. She had a conference to attend, so we flew into the airport at the same time. That night, my father and sister flew in from the Brazilian Amazon. It felt just like old times as we were half-bickering,… Read More
Salvador In Half A Day Capital of the Bahia state and hub of Afro-Brazilian culture, at the same time Salvador was a large city that I rushed through in order to spend more time in Itacaré (no regrets there). Many sources call it one of the most dangerous cities in Brazil, but I walked through the famed historic district in daylight and… Read More
Beaches And Everything Else My Heart Wanted In Itacaré Located along the coast of Northwest Brazil, this Bahian town was surrounded by beaches that looked unreal as I approached from the highways. Winter became the last thing on my mind during these warm, happy days. It really was the simple things that made my stay—horses sitting by the sea, amazing amazing food, jam nights… It is uncharacteristic… Read More
Christ The Redeemer The Cheap Way: Hiking Corcovado Mountain My favorite way to visit this Wonder of the World was to hike until I wanted to cry, then bear the same steep trail to get down. After holing up at our Workaway for two weeks, Parbinder and I were ready to be tourists again. What better way to join the hoards in Rio de Janeiro? I… Read More
Workaway: My Two Weeks Living With A Spiritual Community Yoga classes, my own room in a house shared with seven other volunteers from around the world, plus bread made from scratch still warm from the oven for breakfast? Yes please! In a village so remote that Brazilians themselves haven’t even heard of, I was introduced to meditation, awareness, and an alternate way of living.… Read More
Iguazu Falls: Brazilian Edition Same falls, different country. The Brazilian side was good for appreciating views, although I preferred the Argentine version because the trails were more extensive. Highly recommended method for crossing between the two countries. Getting There: Border Crossing From Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, I took a colectivo from the bus terminal straight to the entrance… Read More