56 articles tagged with south america
Standing at the Simón Bolívar International Bridge, sweat trickling down my back in the tropical heat, I watched as hundreds of people flowed between Colombia and Venezuela. Some carried bags of groceries, others pushed wheelbarrows of merchandise, and many simply...
After decades behind the wheel of buses in two continents, I've developed a keen eye for terrain. Mountains, though, that's where my heart truly soars – far from the scheduled routes and traffic lights. Bogota, Colombia's sprawling capital, might seem...
The thin air hit my lungs like a technical specification I wasn't prepared for—11,975 feet of elevation that no documentation could adequately describe. La Paz, Bolivia's administrative capital, spreads across a canyon like circuitry on a motherboard, each neighborhood connected...
I've crossed many borders in my travels, but few have captivated me like the invisible line between Rivera, Uruguay and Santana do Livramento, Brazil. Here, no passport stamps mark your journey between nations—just a simple street crossing that locals traverse...
The taxi driver looked at me with genuine confusion when I asked to be taken to Fernando de la Mora. 'You mean Asunción?' he clarified, assuming I'd made a mistake. I smiled and shook my head, pulling out my hand-drawn...
After three decades poring over environmental law briefs, I've found that nothing clears the legal cobwebs quite like immersing myself in a vibrant foreign city. Lima—Peru's sprawling coastal capital—might not top most solo travelers' bucket lists, but after spending a...
After three decades of traversing the Americas for infrastructure projects, I've developed a particular affinity for the Miami-Buenos Aires corridor. This 4,400-mile journey connects two vibrant commercial hubs that couldn't be more different in their rhythm and architectural soul. As...
The first time I laid eyes on Iguazu Falls, I was struck speechless – a rare condition for someone who's made a career out of describing the world's wonders. Standing at the Devil's Throat, with water thundering down from three...
When most travelers think of Suriname, Paramaribo typically steals the spotlight. But just 20 minutes south of the capital lies Lelydorp, the country's second-largest urban area and a cultural melting pot that deserves your attention. I stumbled upon this gem...
The pulsing rhythm of samba drums echoed through the narrow streets of Lapa as I wandered alone through Rio's historic bohemian district. The city's energy was electric, reminiscent of those all-night Berlin warehouse parties from my stage design days, but...
Standing at the base of Angel Falls, with water thundering down from nearly a kilometer above, I couldn't help but feel incredibly small yet somehow connected to something much bigger than myself. My husband squeezed my hand as we both...
As I stood at El Alto airport, 4,150 meters above sea level, my lungs immediately registered the thin Andean air while my eyes absorbed the sprawling terracotta cityscape cascading down the canyon below. La Paz—a place where pre-colonial traditions and...
When I told my property management colleagues I was heading to Suriname for a week, I got blank stares followed by the inevitable question: 'Where exactly is that?' South America's hidden gem remains delightfully under-touristed, making it perfect for budget...
The taxi driver's weathered hands tapped a syncopated rhythm on his steering wheel as we crossed the Demerara Harbor Bridge, Georgetown's skyline fading behind us. 'First time in Guyana?' he asked, eyes crinkling with amusement in the rearview mirror. I...
The moment my feet touched the golden sands of Copacabana, I knew Rio had captured my heart in a way few destinations ever could. As someone who's spent years guiding travelers along coastlines worldwide, I can tell you there's something...
