Visiting the Mayan Ruins at Palenque
We decided to make a visit to the Mayan ruins at Palenque the main ruins we spent time at during our trip to Mexico. While others…
Visiting the Abandoned Beelitz-Heilstätten Sanatorium
Berlin is somewhat famous for having several abandoned buildings in and around the city. Until recently, I had never been to any of them, but a…
Umm Qais: A Lesser Known Ruin in Jordan
Think of Jordan and ruins and what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Petra, right? And more specifically, this view of the Treasury I…
Memories of Syria
When I’m asked what country I’ve had the most rewarding and interesting travel experience, my answer is easy. I don’t even have to think about…
Finding Beauty in…Ica
Welcome to another in our “Finding Beauty in…” series! Some places are ugly. There’s no getting around it; not everywhere on the planet is beautiful….
The Nazca Lines: A Mystery in the Desert
Most people visit Nazca in southern Peru for just one reason: to see the Nazca lines. Before coming to Peru, I had heard only vaguely…
Bolivia | Guides | Peru | South America
Guide to Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca, famous perhaps mostly for its funny name, is a well established spot on the gringo trail in South America. While it’s often claimed…
El Fuerte de Samaipata: Bolivia’s Answer to Machu Picchu?
“There may be an Inca city, another Machu Picchu, hidden somewhere in the jungles of Bolivia, for all we know,” said the woman we shared…
Indefinite Adventure on the Amateur Traveler
A few weeks ago, I was interviewed about Extremadura in Spain by Christ Christensen for the excellent travel podcast, Amateur Traveler. I lived in Mérida,…
Guide to Mérida, Spain
At the end of 2012, I lived for three months in Mérida, a small city in the region of Extremadura, Spain, teaching English. It’s a…
Finding Beauty in…Bahía Blanca
Welcome to the first in a new series, “Finding Beauty in…” Some places are ugly. There’s no getting around it; not everywhere on the planet…