My Adventures and Travels

Living far from home, in a third-world country, it is easy to think about the things that you miss or that aren't done the way you are accustomed to (the shopping cart situation, anyone??). However, this post is about some things here in Pagaguay that rock my world, and I wish were in the good old U.S. of A. Champiñ eras The beer here might not be good, but it sure is cold. When the most common beer size is a liter, it's important to keep it from getting warm. These things rock. I was soooo disappointed when I ordered beer in Chile and it wasn't served like this. Shopping Baskets with Wheels I mean, does it get any more convenient than this? I don't know about you, but I always get a basket, thinking "I just need a few things." Then stick a gallon of milk in it (back in my customary unit days when I could buy milk by the gallon) and have to haul it through the store. Who needs. that. Tiny Cans of Tomato Sauce Because sometimes all you need is 7...

When I went to Patagonia in January of 2014, I knew I'd be heading back the following year. This time, my mom and her husband met me in Punta Arenas and we took an "Active Adventures" tour with tons of hiking. Many of the places (Perito Moreno & El Chalten) I had been to, but several I hadn't (Torres del Paine). I don't normally see places by tour, but it was nice to step away from planning every bit of transportation, food, and lodging for awhile-especially after weeks on the road!! This first batch of pictures is from our four-day "W" trek in Torres del Paine, Chile. And we're off! In our bus to Torres del Paine (blue towers) National Park We saw guanacos and rhea on the way Ready to start! Up, up, up we go. Great views and decent weather for day 1 After we dropped our packs off and had lunch at the first refugio, we continued up, up, up. We made it, and as we arrived, the clouds lifted! These are the towers the par...

My last stop in Colombia was definitely my favorite. I went to the lakeside town of Guatape for a night, and ended up staying for about a week, until I had to catch my next flight south. It was only a couple hours from Medellin, but a world of difference! I'd spent too much time in big cities, and it was nice to be out in the country a bit more, with outdoor activities! On my first day I did what everyone does in Guatape: climb the 740 steps up the nearby La Piedra. The view was worth it! The next day found me hiking to a nearby waterfall with some fellow hostellers. I then spent a lazy day exploring the town. All of the buildings have cute fresco-like paintings on the sides. Some advertise what's sold inside, and others are just cute. The next day a few of us at the hostel hired a driver, and went to the neighboring town of San Rafael. Here, we went on another hike to a waterfall/swimming hole, had lunch in the town and met some cute kids, and walked along a...