Travelvice
In December 2005, Craig sold most of his possessions and took off for an extended travel adventure around the world. (Interview with Craig)
Features
Miami Beach Lifeguard Tower Art
Apparently after 1992's fierce Hurricane Andrew (a Category 5 storm ranked as the second most destructive in U.S. history), an architect named William Lane donated his design services to the city by adding a creative twist to the standard lifeguard station. His handful of towers in the South Beach area instantly became symbols of a revived Miami Beach. Nearly two decades later, a few of the original towers can still be found standing, but many of the questionable concepts have been replaced with more practical designs.
Ecuadorian Hobbits and Peruvian Dwarfs
There's a big difference in the culture between Peru and the highlands of Ecuador. The best way I can briefly describe it is by using The Lord of The Rings to compare them.
It feels like Ecuadorians in the highlands are most similar to hobbits, and the Peruvians are more like dwarfs. Peruvians can be a rough bunch; their border post at Macará (full of an excessive garrison of troopers, compared with Ecuador's single guard) is example enough.
Ecuadorians seem to have a more ecologically friendly demeanor towards their living environment; the entire population gives off a vibe as if they belong to an agricultural co-op. They're generally a peaceful, land-laboring bunch, and are simply the most impressive farmers I've seen on the planet.
The Locks of Loja
It often pleases me to capture the little stationary details in life. The insignificant nuances that are ignored by most travelers often appeal to me.
I enjoy photographing windows, doors, and doorways with character—I've been doing it for years—and here in Loja, there are many doors that deserve to be captured. But there's something different about the doors in this city that make them stand out more than others—there's something about the locks, and their placement.
I present to you, a sampling of the locks of Loja:
Introducing: Aidric Ignacio Heimburger Boza
Well, it looks like I'm a daddy!
Before I get into today's (lengthy) story, I'll give you a little background about his name, which I've kept quiet about with everybody, including my family.
As I mentioned last November, hunting for a suitable name for a baby with as mixed a background as Aidric has was quite an undertaking.
The USA Needs Tiendas
I had an interesting discussion over lunch yesterday with my Peruvian girlfriend and her sisters about the small corner stores that intermittently dot the maze of neighborhood streets and avenues in Latin America—known as tiendas, in the local tongue.
The small convenience stores pop up just about everywhere you can imagine, and often stock all the basics one might need in a pinch: from beer to bread to baking soda, and most any foodstuff in between.
I was remarking how common it seemed for folks to live within (and only travel within the confines of) a four- or five-block radius around their home, yet have access to almost all the things they needed on a regular basis—be it church, food, entertainment, or shopping.
Peruvian New Year's Haze: Pisco and Pyrotechnics
The smell of gunpowder filled my nostrils—the air so thick with it I could taste the haze engulfing the city. Lima erupted with explosions at midnight, stirring memories of WWII footage shown on the History Channel, as an endless barrage of flashes and concussion waves bounced off the concrete homes and buildings. New Year's Eve wasn't ushered in with a bang, but with countless BOOMS.
The munitions detonated in this city for New Year's must have been two or three fold the already saturated amount seen on Christmas Eve. Every half block there seemed to be a neighbor who spent an excessive amount of Peruvian soles on (illegal) fireworks—or perhaps the combined efforts of families and guests celebrating together. The displays of light and sound were amazing for such an armature level.
Lima Loca
The sudden orgy of explosions echoing off the concrete homes in the Peruvian capital signaled that it was midnight—Christmas Day.
After five or ten minutes of hugs and well wishes between family members, all now standing from the dinner table, I led the way out to the street.
It sounded like I was in the middle of a very bad day Baghdad. Explosions had been rocking the house for several days leading up to the event, but it was nothing like the deafening sound of an entire city simultaneously letting off munitions.
Backpacking SE Asia With A Pregnant Peruvian
Tatiana didn't merely break my expectations of a woman traveling as a backpacker while pregnant—she shattered them.
Stereotypes
As a North American male without sisters or female friends that have been pregnant, I, like so many men with the same background, had this particular preconceived notion of what it's like to be the boyfriend or spouse to a pregnant woman. That she would be some demanding, emotional whirlwind of cravings, vomit, and crying that needed constant attention and pampering.
Recent Updates
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ASUS Eee Perfect for Poor, Lonely Backpackers, Full-Time Travelers, Your Mom
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