The city of Mendoza was founded in 1561 by the Spanish conquistador, Pedro del Castillo. Prior to the Spanish invasion, the area was populated by two indigenous tribes – the Puelches and the Huarpes. The latter devised an irrigation system that the Spanish further developed and allowed for a bigger population than the arid climate […]
My introduction to San Juan was a bountiful feast of grilled meat, fresh bread, and delicious Malbec. My newly introduced host, Hector, graciously took me into his home and treated me like a king. It was a humbling honor and after being on the road for nearly six months, the homely feel and welcome was […]
Following the 4 hour nightmare border-crossing, Argentina was a welcomed change almost immediately. The roads were better, the gas stations didn’t deny foreigners, and the optimism of a new country lifted my spirits. New countries always bring about a general giddiness in me, but after the roller coast ride of Bolivia, the sweet offerings of […]
To The Border! Leaving Potosí, I enjoyed the fairly relaxing ride to Tupiza where I spent a night watching the World Cup that was taking place in Brazil. The reality of leaving Bolivia was starting to hit me. It had been a difficult place to travel through but the natural beauty was unending, diverse, and […]
La Paz I could go with never visiting La Paz again. Having said that, I’m glad I experienced it. One of the highest cities in the world, it seems to smother the steep bowl of mountains it sits in. Seemingly devoid of much long-term city planning, La Paz is a twisting maze of overcrowded streets […]
After another day in La Paz, I sleeplessly boarded a tiny, mild anxiety-inducing, double prop-plane bound for the jungle town of Rurrenabaque. A short ride over the breathtaking, snow-capped Cordillera Real mountains dropped us down into the Amazon basin. The chilly, dry, high altitude of the west gave way to the vibrant, green humidity of […]
Bolivia was frustrating from the moment Jade and I attempted to cross the border. A lunch break for the vehicle importation office meant that the sole worker vacated the premises for a generous two hours. This gave us ample time for idleness and to sit next to a toothless Bolivian woman that was cooking and […]
Nazca Reluctantly leaving the desert oasis of Huacachina, Jade and I rode several hours through the bone dry landscape to our next destination of Nazca. The sun was setting and the tourist-driven town afforded us ample options of hostels, hotels, and restaurants. The next day we shot off early through the mountains towards Cusco but […]
The border crossing from Ecuador to Peru could have been easy but my inability to find an illogically placed unmarked building for my motorcycle exportation stamp made the whole process more frustrating and significantly slower than it should have been. My mood wasn’t helped by the fact that I had just said goodbye to Martin […]
The security and fees to gain access to the Galápagos Islands were intensive and expensive. Bag searches, sniffer dogs, and a $160 permit upon landing were required to move beyond the no-mans land of the plane, sweltering tarmac, and cramped security check-point. Already aware of the required hoop jumping to gain access to one of […]