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Lima, Peru: Spend More Time Here Than You Think
I arrived in Lima not knowing what to expect, using it as a stopping point on my way to Machu Picchu. After wandering for a little more than 36 hours in Lima, the…
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Things to See and Do in Bogota, Colombia
While Colombia’s cities, landscape, history and culture are definitely diverse, everything seems to exude out from Bogota. Founded in 1538, the vast capital and largest city in Colombia, with over 8 million people,…
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Cartagena, Colombia: the Caribbean Walled City
Old Town Cartagena is a Colombian town full of vibrant squares, cobblestone streets and colorful colonial buildings wherever you go. A short 90-minute flight from Bogota, it’s a great escape from the crowded,…
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Playa Blanca: Paradise on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast
Playa Blanca is an amazing, picturesque beach destination in Colombia. Taking the boat from Cartagena port feels like you’ve arrived at an island in the middle of the Caribbean. While it’s not an…
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Road Trip: Get Out of Bogota and Explore Boyacá.
Boyacá is a central region mostly within the Andean mountain range dotted with colonial towns noted for their architecture and history. It's a vast difference from the hustle and bustle of Bogota, and…
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Koktebel Jazz Festival: Cha-Cha & Illegal Camping
A few Peace Corps friends and I went to Crimea for the Koktebel Jazz Festival, held annually on the Black Sea peninsula. We don’t have anywhere to stay and brought our tent hoping…
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Climbing Mt. Hoverla: Ukraine’s Tallest Mountain
Mt. Hoverla, in the Carpathian Mountains, is Ukraine's tallest mountain at 2,061 meters (6,762 ft). A dwarf compared to other mountains, but the perfect size for an inexperienced climber. Like most places outside…
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Budapest: Western European Vibe with Eastern European Prices
There was just something about Budapest. A city with loads of history and a cool vibe. From Castle Hill built to defend the city against Mongolian invaders, to the nightlife of gritty bars…
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Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt: Chillin’ on the Red Sea Coast
I went to Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt in December 2011. Earlier that year, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians protested the 30-year autocratic rule of Hosni Mubarak. Civilians occupied government buildings, protested in the…
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Cairo, Egypt: The Land of Antiquity
I went to Cairo in December 2011. Earlier that year, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians protested the 30-year autocratic rule of Hosni Mubarak. Civilians occupied government buildings, protested in the streets, most notably…
