Trip: Dalama Round the World Journey 2007-2008
There are [381] stories from my trip: Dalama Round the World Journey 2007-2008
ECUADOR | Sunday, 4 Nov 2007 | Views [1056]
The next leg of our journey south takes us from Otavalo to the small town of Latacunga, en-route to the Central Highlands. We were hoping for the skies to clear and to catch a glimpse of the snow capped cones of Volcán Cotopaxi (5897M) and Volcán Chimborazo ... Read more >
Tags: On the Road
ECUADOR | Saturday, 3 Nov 2007 | Views [1189]
The Saturday market in Otavalo is one of the biggest handicraft markets in all of South America. Beautifully dressed indigenous locals stream into this small town early Saturday morning to set up their colorful stalls. There are a ton of foreigners ... Read more >
Tags: Markets
ECUADOR | Friday, 2 Nov 2007 | Views [3832]
We intentionally wanted to spend November 2, Dia de los Difuntos (Day of the Dead), in a more rural area where we could experience what this family tradition is all about. We figured we would head to the town cemetery to see the festivities in action.... Read more >
Tags: Culture
ECUADOR | Thursday, 1 Nov 2007 | Views [1309]
We make our way with our huge packs through historic old Quito, to the bus terminal. Again, we approach the station with caution and vigilance, as everything we've read and been told about this bus station is not good. Bag slashing, strap cutting, ... Read more >
Tags: On the Road
ECUADOR | Wednesday, 31 Oct 2007 | Views [4491]
We learned from the hotel manager today that the President of Ecuador doesn't want people celebrating Halloween, so while there used to be big festivities in the city, they've now been banned. The "New Town" part of the city has been famous ... Read more >
Tags: Sightseeing
ECUADOR | Tuesday, 30 Oct 2007 | Views [931]
We awake to a clear, crisp spring day. Quito is surrounded by mountains, volcanic slopes and rolling hills. Quito's Old Town is classified as a World Heritage site, and walking the streets we can understand why; beautifully maintained and restored ... Read more >
Tags: Sightseeing
PANAMA | Monday, 29 Oct 2007 | Views [955]
You'd think going from Panama to Ecuador should be just an hour and a half flight, right? Thanks to our One World Alliance Global Explorer ticket, we need to first fly to Miami, check our bags and selves through customs, and recheck everything again, ... Read more >
Tags: On the Road
PANAMA | Saturday, 27 Oct 2007 | Views [2399]
The Panamanian Province of Los Santos is rich with culture, custom and is the heart of festivals. We've stopped off here, in search of a famous mask artist, Carlos Ivan de Leon. We've made our way to the very tiny town on Villa de Los Santos, purely ... Read more >
Tags: Culture
PANAMA | Friday, 26 Oct 2007 | Views [3914]
What truly makes a brand global? Is it that the product is available and consumed everywhere around the world, and is widely recognized globally? When we think of global brands, Coca Cola is the first that comes to mind for us... it's visually everywhere ... Read more >
Tags: Shopping
PANAMA | Thursday, 25 Oct 2007 | Views [1556]
Walking through the streets of towns here in Panama, it’s more common to see real estate offices, than locally owned shops, restaurants and other local businesses. Branches of US owned real estate companies are on every corner, in addition to Panamanian ... Read more >
Tags: Culture
PANAMA | Wednesday, 24 Oct 2007 | Views [2063]
Isla Bastiamentos has a well known beach - Red Frog Beach, that is famous for those little creatures called Poison Dart Frogs. A large development near the beach, Red Frog Resort, is actually threatening the habitat of these slippery little red creatures.... Read more >
Tags: Beaches & sunshine
PANAMA | Tuesday, 23 Oct 2007 | Views [1973]
The Central American Caribbean coast is a very unique cultural area. Similar to the Caribbean coastline of Costa Rica, Panama's population is rich with diversity. The Bocas area has an Afro-Caribbean feel, people are strikingly different physically ... Read more >
Tags: Culture
PANAMA | Monday, 22 Oct 2007 | Views [967]
We opted to stay in Bocas Town for a couple more days, as it's the first time we've had regular wifi access and we wanted to monitor the fire situation in San Diego. It's frustrating being so far from home with such devastation occurring, and not knowing ... Read more >
Tags: Misadventures
PANAMA | Sunday, 21 Oct 2007 | Views [1082]
Today's our seventh wedding anniversary, and I've booked two nights for us at "Al Natural," an all inclusive ecolodge on Bastiamento Island, with really cool open air bungalows set amongst the jungle and overlooking the sea and pristine beach.... Read more >
Tags: Misadventures
PANAMA | Saturday, 20 Oct 2007 | Views [1160]
We spent our day navigating the mini-van system here in the Panamanian Province of Chiriqui, and eventually make our way up to Bocas del Toro. It's been pouring rain all day, no different than any of the others we've had since arriving here in Panama.... Read more >
Tags: Beaches & sunshine
PANAMA | Friday, 19 Oct 2007 | Views [1438]
There are some people doing really good work in Panama. In particular, Paul and Jenny Saban, who have recently moved to Boquete from Europe, toil each day to create the beautiful gardens, they call Paradise Gardens. These are no ordinary gardens..... Read more >
Tags: People
PANAMA | Thursday, 18 Oct 2007 | Views [1085]
We met some really cool guys from the US on our bus to David. Jim and John have been here for several years, sailing boats. Jim knows everyone, and has been asked to sail some impressive boats here, and moves in the circles with some of Panama's elite.... Read more >
Tags: The Great Outdoors
PANAMA | Wednesday, 17 Oct 2007 | Views [1496]
We're off on our overnight bus to David, en route to the small mountain of Boquete. We were warned that busses here were chilled with air conditioning, so we had our long pants, fleeces, and wool socks ready, while we waited in 90˚ weather for our midnight ... Read more >
Tags: planes trains & automobiles
GUATEMALA | Tuesday, 16 Oct 2007 | Views [2070]
A trip to Panama would not be complete without a trip to see the all important Panama Canal. I was prepared for a boring walk along a fenced off area, viewing big container ships move through a narrow passage way of water. We were both blown away with ... Read more >
Tags: Sightseeing
PANAMA | Monday, 15 Oct 2007 | Views [1508]
We awoke with bites all over us this morning. That's what we get for staying in $30 Hostel Mamallena. it was the Lonely Planets Author's top pick for budget accommodation. There was supposed to be air conditioning and screens on the windows. Guess ... Read more >
Tags: On the Road
GUATEMALA | Sunday, 14 Oct 2007 | Views [1160]
After an all day drive back to Guatemala City from our summer camp adventure, we check ourselves into a very cozy hostel, Dos Lunas. It's just a couple of minutes drive from the airport, and as we've got a 7:00 a.m. flight to Panama, via Miami, this ... Read more >
Tags: Misadventures
GUATEMALA | Saturday, 13 Oct 2007 | Views [1315]
We swore we'd never do a tour again. They always turn out to be lousy and we end up feeling ripped off. However, in Guatemala, it's just not safe to be venturing out on your own, and agencies have established small group tours with security guards/guides ... Read more >
Tags: The Great Outdoors
GUATEMALA | Friday, 12 Oct 2007 | Views [920]
A huge GRACIAS to our family, Marta Julia, Naya and Alejandra. Our Spanish conversational skills and confidence have improved significantly, in large part due to the persistence of our family to get us talking at meal time, their patience as we took ... Read more >
Tags: Family
GUATEMALA | Wednesday, 10 Oct 2007 | Views [3048]
Tucked away in a small pueblo outside Antigua, we had the opportunity to participate in a local wedding ceremony. In the hill tribes, local Mayan custom runs deep and they are proud of their heritage and traditions. Here the women and men wear their ... Read more >
Tags: Culture
GUATEMALA | Tuesday, 9 Oct 2007 | Views [2292]
Men in Guatemala definitely wear the pants in the family in this country. However, the younger generations are driving change for more balanced, shared family roles, despite centuries steeped in tradition. In my all-Spanish dialogues with my teacher ... Read more >
Tags: Culture
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