Archive for Guest Posts
Travel to Quito, Ecuador – The Wanderer’s Take on Latin America
Posted by: | CommentsAdventurer Steve Barrymore is a frequent voyager and expert on travel to South and Central America and the Carribean. Steve blogs regularly as The Wanderer and has generously agreed to tell us a little about his favorite destinations in Latin America. Today’s post on Quito, Ecuador, is the final in a series covering Steve’s top five travel cities. Thanks for reading. -Charlie
Everyone has their favorite part of the world. Mine happens to be Latin America, which includes Mexico, Central and South America. I realize that certain cities have characteristics that may be appealing to me, but not to others. Since this is a list of MY top 5 Latin Cities, I will point out what I like about each one, and hope some of those things may appeal to you as well. – Steve Barrymore
This is a fantastic city!! You need at least a week in Quito to enjoy all it has to offer. It may take a day or two to get used to the altitude because you are at 9,200 feet!
This city is gaining popularity because of the close proximity of many other attractions in the area, which typically are just a short bus trip away.
The most popular tourist area of Quito is referred to as “Gringolandia” on Avenida Amazonas. Plenty of large (and expensive) hotels from which to choose. This area is also a great shopping district with the Mercado de Artsenias as the cornerstone. Don’t forget to check out the very high quality crafts in the retail stores in this area. The prices are reasonable. If you are female, you will definitely want to buy some “river pearls.”
There are many different types of restaurants in Quito, and plenty of inexpensive locally owned places that are very reasonable, such as lunch at the Hotel Calima for about $3. If you want to eat the traditional dish of Ecuador, the Guinea Pig, then head over to Mama Clorindas, just off Avenida Amazonas. Unless you are really hungry, the roasted half Guinea Pig will probably suffice. In Ecuador they call it “Cuy.” Just point to the photo in the menu and they will know exactly what you want.
The “Museum of the Equator” is just outside Quito and a great place to spend three hours. Make sure you have your photo taken while you are straddling the equator.
If you want a little different kind of experience, catch a bus to Otavalo on Saturday and go to the animal market. Take your camera and don’t get too attached to the Guinea Pigs!
Adventurer Steve Barrymore is a frequent voyager and expert on travel to South and Central America and the Carribean. Steve blogs regularly as The Wanderer and has generously agreed to tell us a little about his favorite destinations in Latin America. Today’s post on San Cristobal de las Casas-Chiapas, Mexico, is the fourth in a series covering Steve’s top five travel cities. Thanks for reading. -Charlie
Everyone has their favorite part of the world. Mine happens to be Latin America, which includes Mexico, Central and South America. I realize that certain cities have characteristics that may be appealing to me, but not to others. Since this is a list of MY top 5 Latin Cities, I will point out what I like about each one, and hope some of those things may appeal to you as well. – Steve Barrymore
Wow! One of our favs. This quaint town sits at 7,000 feet in the mountains of Chiapas in southern Mexico.
San Cristobal de las Casas-Chiapas, Mexico, has been mainly discovered by the Europeans because it sits on what they call “The Mayan Route” which is the highway that links a number of popular Mayan sites that Europeans like to travel when they come to Mexico.
The close proximity to Guatemala makes for great shopping in the street markets where you will find lots of colorful textiles. The shopping district is fairly compact and easy to navigate. If there is not enough shopping for you here, then there are some great fabrics in San Juan de Chamula just a short 30 minute taxi ride away.
There are great restaurants in San Cristobal with just about any type of food you desire. The streets are safe to walk at night.
There are many hotel choices here. If you want a great lodging experience, try Belas B&B. She is a fun person and goes out of her way to make sure you have a pleasant stay.
The best airport to fly into is Tuxtla Guiterras which is about one hour away by taxi.
Travel to Cartagena, Columbia – The Wanderer’s Take on Latin America
Posted by: | CommentsAdventurer Steve Barrymore is a frequent voyager and expert on travel to South and Central America and the Carribean. Steve blogs regularly as The Wanderer and has generously agreed to tell us a little about his favorite destinations in Latin America. Today’s post on Cartagena, Columbia, is the third in a series covering Steve’s top five travel cities. Thanks for reading. -Charlie
Everyone has their favorite part of the world. Mine happens to be Latin America, which includes Mexico, Central and South America. I realize that certain cities have characteristics that may be appealing to me, but not to others. Since this is a list of MY top 5 Latin Cities, I will point out what I like about each one, and hope some of those things may appeal to you as well. – Steve Barrymore
A world apart from Bogotá, Cartagena, Columbia, is a great city in which to spend 2-3 days. A UNESCO world site, make sure most of your time is spent in the old walled city which has lots of shopping and quaint restaurants. Be sure you eat some of the deep fried potato chips sold by vendors in the park, and make time to eat a sandwich or one of the delicious desserts at Mila’s restaurant.
There are plenty of street vendors selling jewelry and watercolor paintings of the city. Bargain hard, but be fair. Cartagena has a good archeological and gold museum.There are also a couple of interesting forts to visit.
The hotel prices tend to be on the high side, while food in some of the local restaurants on the side streets can be very reasonable ($2-$3 for the lunch plate of the day). Plaza Santo de Domingo is a rather large outdoor dining and drinking area shared by several restaurants, and there are usually lots of people watching opportunities here.
If you want an absolute “electrifying night” then you have to visit the Club Havana in barrio Getsemaní. When the crowd feels they have the rhythm, they jump up from their chairs and dance to some of the best Cuban music you will hear anyplace. Get there early, grab a table by the stage, and be prepared to be swept into another world.
If your Spanish is generally bad, it will be even worse in Cartagena where they have a strong coastal accent that even the people in Bogotá or Medellin have a hard time understanding. Don’t let that deter you from visiting an up and coming city.
Travel to Bogotá, Columbia – The Wanderer’s Take on Latin America
Posted by: | CommentsAdventurer Steve Barrymore is a frequent voyager and expert on travel to South and Central America and the Carribean. Steve blogs regularly as The Wanderer and has generously agreed to tell us a little about his favorite destinations in Latin America. Today’s post on Bogotá, Columbia, is the second in a series covering Steve’s top five travel cities.
Thanks for reading. -Charlie
Everyone has their favorite part of the world. Mine happens to be Latin America, which includes Mexico, Central and South America. I realize that certain cities have characteristics that may be appealing to me, but not to others. Since this is a list of MY top five Latin cities, I will point out what I like about each one, and hope some of those things may appeal to you as well. – Steve Barrymore
If you want to visit an exciting city made up of some of the world’s most beautiful people then Bogotá, Columbia, the financial capital of northern South America, is the place for you.
Resist staying in the brass and glass hotels in the upscale district, but instead spend a couple of nights at the 4-star Hotel de la Opera in La Candelaria in old Bogotá. You will be a short walk from El Museo del Oro which has one of the most eye-popping gold collections in the world. After the museum, make sure you walk a couple of blocks to Plaza Bolivar, which plays an important part in Colombian history.
You can’t leave Bogotá without taking the cable car up to the top of Cerro Montserrate and seeing one of the most incredible views in Latin America.
Go to dinner at one of the restaurants in Parque de la 93. Find a restaurant with live music such as Gato Negro and watch the hot blooded Colombian diners spontaneously rise from their tables and start dancing in the aisles. You will soon find yourself being swept up in the beat of the Cumbia and the Salsa. Just keep your hands to yourself!
After you sleep off a night of dancing, you need to head to Zona Rosa, the upscale shopping district of Bogotá. Here you can gather your wits by sitting in one of the many sidewalk cafes, sipping a cup a strong Columbian coffee, while watching the beautiful people of Bogotá walk by.
If you visit Bogotá you won’t be sorry. Just don’t walk around the streets a lot at night. Swap out your Rolex for your Timex, leave your “bling” at home, and carry a copy of your passport with you (not the original). Practice these few precautions and you can experience one of the great cities of the world.
Travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina – The Wanderer’s Take on Latin America
Posted by: | CommentsAdventurer Steve Barrymore is a frequent voyager and expert on travel to South and Central America and the Caribbean. Steve blogs regularly as The Wanderer and has generously agreed to tell us a little about his favorite destinations in Latin America. Today’s post on Buenos Aires, Argentina, is the first in a series covering Steve’s top five travel cities.
Thanks for reading. -Charlie
Everyone has their favorite part of the world. Mine happens to be Latin America, which includes Mexico, Central and South America. I realize that certain cities have characteristics that may be appealing to me, but not to others. Since this is a list of MY top 5 Latin Cities, I will point out what I like about each one, and hope some of those things may appeal to you as well. – Steve Barrymore
Buenos Aires, Argentina: “BA” has many times been referred to as the “Paris of Latin America” which we certainly found to be true. There is a definite European influence in this city.
There are plenty of things to do; from trying to dodge traffic on the 12-lane Avenida 9 de Julio, to just hanging out in the sidewalk cafes while watching the people of BA hurry by. While it is a large city, it is also great walking city. On the streets you get a sense of that “flirty, romantic” Latin flair. I suppose the influence of the Tango may have something to do with that feeling.
BA has plenty of chic shopping areas such as Avenida Florida and the Recoleta neighborhood. It also enjoys a “Broadway connection” because of the famous story of Eva Peron in “Evita.” Her grave in Recoleta Cemetery happens to be a very popular tourist site.
BA has great restaurants. If you enjoy beef, then this is the place for you. If you enjoy any other type of food, then this is still the place for you.
If you want to escape the hustle-bustle of the city, the sleepy little town of Colonia, Uruguay, is just an hour or so boat ride across the Rio de la Plata.
If you want Europe without the time difference then Buenos Aires may very well be a great place for you to visit.
Galway Gab: House Hotel Highly Heralded
Posted by: | CommentsFriends and fellow travelers Jeff and Lee Lavender recently returned from a travel trip to the Emerald Isle. They raved about a little accommodation, The House Hotel, in Galway, Ireland, and have kindly agreed to share the details of their find. Jeff’s review is below:
The House Hotel in Galway was a breath of fresh air. As soon as we walked through the front door, we were greeted by the concierge who called us by name and made us comfortable as she checked us in. As the concierge visited with Lee about Galway’s tourist highlights, I noticed a whimsical decor and an interesting cat motif. A sign pointing to the room was decorated with a picture of a sleeping cat. The restaurant’s sign had an eating cat and you can only imagine what the cat on the bathroom sign was doing.
Our “mack daddy” suite was large, nicely furnished and included internet access on a large flat screen TV. The suite’s bathroom was fully equipped and very nice.
Although the rooms and common areas were very nice, the true gem of this hotel was the attention to service. The staff were always willing to act as travel guide and help us plan our day, often taking it upon themselves to make our travel arrangements personally. To top it off, they absolutely refused my attempts to slip them some green for their special attention. They would not accept a thing.
Needless to say, we highly recommend the House Hotel and will stay here the next time we travel to Galway.
Frequent voyagers, Jeff and Lee travel to destinations both far and near. Expect to hear from them often.
