Dear Boulangeries, Somewhere between the pigeon shit and human piss stained cobbles, I found myself admiring both the obvious and subtle delights of Paris. Most of my fellow travelers are rightfully enticed by the magnificent architecture, the allure of French cafes and brasseries, mind-altering art, or the enthralling history of this worldly city. But for […]
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 […]
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 […]
With the bike gang at a trio, we made a surprisingly lax and slightly convoluted crossing at the border. My dodgy paperwork failed to arise any suspicion, thankfully, and we were away again before the passport ink even dried. Elation and relief swept over us and despite getting pulled aside at a police check point […]
My initial plan to spend just a couple of days in Medellín before moving on quickly stretched to a week. Motorcycle repairs and maintenance were in order after hard riding, dusty roads and small crashes. My left pannier was in all sorts of bother and didn’t want to latch close never mind stay sealed to […]
There’s no way to fully encapsulate Carnival through mere words and pictures. The sights, sounds, smells, and general excitement whirl your senses into a stupor from day 1 and it does not slow down until the festivities end. My initial plan was to spend Carnival in Brazil. The idea was to go through Venezuela and […]
