southamerica posts
by Sean McLachlan (RSS feed) (1 month ago)
Apr 11th, 2013 at 4:00PM:
A limestone quarrying company operating illegally within the bounds of the Nazca Lines has destroyed some of the enigmatic figures.
The archaeology news feed Past Horizons reports that heavy machinery removing limestone from a nearby quarry has damaged 150 meters (492 feet) of lines along with completely destroying a 60-meter (197-foot) trapezoid. So far the more famous animal figures have ...
by Meg Nesterov (RSS feed) (2 months ago)
Mar 19th, 2013 at 12:00PM: Somewhere between pointing at planes at the Air & Space Museum and browsing the day's headlines at the Newseum, my baby fell asleep. We had a small window of time to eat and maybe even have an adult conversation, and a McDonald's inside a food court didn't seem appealing. There are a lot of great Washington, D.C., museums that are free and world-class, but not many great food spots amidst the ...
by Grant Martin (RSS feed) (6 months ago)
Nov 18th, 2012 at 9:00AM:
Watching this journey through South America will fill you with wanderlust unparalleled. The composition of this video is amazing. It captures the beauty of the region, from the people to the cities to the landscapes, and the score is subtle and moving. Cheers to Vimeo user Vincent Urban for a job well done. We're amazingly jealous. ...
by Alex Robertson Textor (RSS feed) (7 months ago)
Oct 5th, 2012 at 11:00AM:
The days of colonial empires may be long over, though the United States, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands and Denmark continue each to administer a smattering of overseas territories.
Among these, France has arguably the most interesting and wide-ranging set of territories. Overseas France includes tiny St. Pierre and Miquelon off the coast of Newfoundland (population around 6,000), the ...
by Jessica Festa (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Apr 22nd, 2012 at 10:00AM: Cerro Aconcagua, located in Mendoza, Argentina, is a mountain in Aconcagua Provincial Park. At 22,841 feet, the mountain is the highest in the southern and western hemispheres. In fact, aside for the Himalayas, it is the world's highest peak.
To get to the park from Mendoza city center, take the Puente del Inca bus, which is 26.50 Argentine Pesos (about $6) each way. The excursion continues to ...
by Elizabeth Seward (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Apr 18th, 2012 at 6:00PM:
This time-lapse video featuring Venezuelan skies and aptly named "Venezuelan Skies" just brightened my day. A recent addition to Vimeo with very few plays (5 total plays as I write this), this gem deserves to be seen. Upbeat music is paired with captivating images in this video. Swirling clouds in Venezuela and fog soar above beautifully colored scenery. Large rock formations are juxtaposed ...
by Jessica Festa (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Apr 17th, 2012 at 12:00PM: Backpacking South America is a worthwhile adventure I recommend everyone to have at least once in their lives. Before I arrived on the continent, I was unsure of what to expect. To help prepare you before you go, here are some things I wish I had known before I left for my trip.
Know the Exchange Rate
The exchange rates vary considerably from country to country in South America. For example, ...
by Jessica Festa (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Apr 16th, 2012 at 1:00PM: For travelers heading to South America, Brazil is one of the more expensive countries on the continent. The popular Rio de Janeiro can be especially difficult to navigate on a budget. To help you plan a worthwhile trip to this beautiful area, here are 10 free things to do.
Hiking
Although Rio de Janeiro is a city there are also a lot of natural experiences to be had. When I visited, one of ...
by Jessica Festa (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Apr 12th, 2012 at 1:30PM: During a trip to El Calafate in the Patagonia region of Argentina, I asked a local travel agent about trekking options. I was informed the best place to do this was in a town called El Chaltén. Nicknamed the "trekking capital of Argentina," a traveler could spend days hiking around the beautiful mountains, forests and rivers of the area. Lucky for me, day trips are possible from El Calafate ...
by Jessica Festa (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Apr 10th, 2012 at 7:00AM:
San Carlos de Bariloche, more commonly known as Bariloche, is located in Patagonia in Argentina. It is one of the most diverse and picturesque regions in the world, and a hotspot for hiking enthusiasts and nature lovers. In fact, it is the most popular tourist destination in Patagonia, and the third in Argentina.
Some of the photos below were taken during a drive through Bariloche, while ...
by Jessica Festa (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Apr 7th, 2012 at 9:00AM: Buenos Aires, Argentina, is a beautiful country with 200 years of history, graceful tango and a vibrant art culture that can be seen on every street corner. The city is completely flat, making it the perfect place to explore by foot. While there are many options of things to do in Buenos Aires, they are not all free or budget-friendly. Luckily, I got the chance to explore the city with locals and ...
by Jessica Festa (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Apr 6th, 2012 at 2:00PM: When visiting Brazil, many people head straight to the big cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. However, there is a beach paradise located in between the two metropolises called Paraty that is a worthwhile destination no matter what your travel style is. During my trip to the area, I couldn't get enough of the historical activities, colorful colonial buildings, beautiful beaches, ...
by Jessica Festa (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Apr 4th, 2012 at 1:30PM:
"There were five people killed in the past two days," Patrick, tour guide from Be A Local, whispered to me. "Even though the cops are moving the gangs, they're trying to get back in."
It was sunny and 85 degrees Fahrenheit that afternoon in Rio de Janeiro. In the distance, I could see trekkers climbing Sugarloaf Mountain, hang gliders whizzing through the air and kayakers taking advantage ...
by Jessica Festa (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Apr 4th, 2012 at 1:00PM: "So, what are some things I should do when I arrive in Rio de Janeiro" I asked my airplane seat mate, Clarissa, a local of the city.
"Ipanema beach is my favorite, Sugarloaf Mountain has great views of the city and you must try açai!" she replied excitedly.
I looked at her skeptically. "Açai? We have that in New York, too. That's not much of a cultural experience."
Was I ...
by Jessica Festa (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Apr 3rd, 2012 at 11:30AM: I love food. It's probably my favorite part of traveling. I also love saving money. That's why on a recent trip to São Paulo, Brazil, where I was staying on the expensive Avenida Paulista, I was excited to learn about the Mercado Municipal.
Located on Cantareira Street, off the San Bento subway stop on the blue line, is a massive market selling various kinds of fruits, meats, cheeses, ...
by Sean McLachlan (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Apr 2nd, 2012 at 4:00PM:
It's always an odd experience to see a familiar name in the news. Dr. Robert Benfer was a professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia when I was getting my master's in archaeology. I was studying the early medieval Europe while he taught about prehistoric Peru, so our paths didn't cross much, but I did go to some of his lectures. I especially remember his skewering of the controversial book ...
by Jessica Festa (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Mar 28th, 2012 at 4:00PM:
While traveling through Brazil, I discovered a new sport I had never seen before, but one I'd definitely love to try. The sport was created in 1965 on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, as a way for football (soccer) players to be able to practice their skills without violating the terms of the formal football ban that was going on. It is similar to volleyball in that points are ...
by Jessica Festa (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Mar 25th, 2012 at 2:00PM: "Então, você é do Rio de Janeiro?" asked the tan, freckled girl next to me on my flight from Miami, Florida, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
I stared at her, unsure of what she'd said. "Inglés?"
"You speak English?" she asked, her eyes widening with excitement. "My mother is an English teacher. You have to meet her! What do you have planned for your time in Rio?"
I ...
by Sean McLachlan (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Mar 24th, 2012 at 3:00PM:
Bolivia is an exciting adventure travel destination offering challenging mountain treks, interesting dishes like roast guinea pig and mysterious ancient ruins.
One of the most popular, and certainly the strangest, attraction is the Witches' Market in the capital La Paz. Here you can find mummified llama fetuses, aphrodisiacs and herbal remedies. Many of the spells are based on the ancient ...
by Jessica Festa (RSS feed) (1 year ago)
Mar 4th, 2012 at 9:00AM: While many travelers to Brazil choose to spend a majority of their time in the large and lively metropolitan city of Rio de Janeiro, there is a culturally rich and sophisticated village about two hours away that is well worth a visit. Búzios, with its sandy beaches, opportunities for adventure, ambient restaurants, and charming shops, was once a tiny fishing town made famous by a visit from ...
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