From Polar Bears to Penguins – Driving North to South across the Americas
Posted in Ecuador on Aug 18th, 2008
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Santa Cruz |
Visiting Galapagos – Isabela – Penguins and Marine turtles – Puerto Ayora (Map this!)
When we realized how expensive Galapagos was going to be we made a crucial decision to stay in Galapagos as long as possible, since it is unlikely we will be able to return. So we booked ourselves on a short 5 day cruise to the farthest islands and decided to explore the closer ones ourselves. This is how we found ourselves in Isabela.
Posted in Ecuador on Aug 13th, 2008
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Santa Cruz |
Just a theory – Amazing beasts – No fear – Moving eggs
One cannot think about the Galapagos without thinking about science and the name Charles Darwin. It was the unusual life forms found here that proved critical to the formulation of the Theory of Evolution.
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Beef |
Foreign markets – The need to buy. (Map this!)
There’s something about markets that is appealing. Visiting the colorful village markets of foreign lands give us a whiff of a foreign life with unfamiliar customs and exotic goods. The sights and smells overwhelm the senses. But for me the most powerful stimulant is the acquisition of the wares on display.
Posted in Ecuador on Aug 5th, 2008
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Happy in Quito |
Mi Encanta – Colonial Mansions – A performance of Carmen – Cotopaxi (Map this!)
“Mi encanta Quito” is my standard response to anyone who asks me how I feel about Quito. A sprawling metropolis of almost two million people, Quito has a spectacular setting in a bowl in the Andes. Around every corner there is a new vista of the mountains – Pichincha Volcano here, Cotopaxi there, unknown spiky jagged crags, and multicolored farms hugging the mountainsides. Every day here is a delight and every morning is pregnant with wonders yet to be discovered. So what is it that I like about this place?
Posted in Colombia, Reflections on Aug 1st, 2008
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Turbulence within |
Brief history – Drug running – New markets- Neo-prohibition – A modest proposal
No discussion of Colombia can be complete without touching on the topic of the FARC or Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia. Founded during the turbulent period in Colombian history known as “La Violencia“, FARC reached its zenith in the 1ate 1990’s with an estimated 15,000 members and free reign over 40-50% of Colombian territory. Despite its now reduced strength, estimated at 7,500 combatants, it remains one the most powerful illegitimate army organizations.