Although a visit to Machu Picchu is at the top of many bucket lists, I never planned to visit. It’s too high! But I went to Machu Picchu anyway and learned that no one ever exaggerated either its magnificence or the challenges it presents to people who are afraid of heights.
2017
The Charms of Cusco
Flying into Cusco (Peru :)), you know your landing is going to be a little tricky because the air is thin at 11,000 feet. As you approach the city, you see that there isn’t much room for error because you will be landing in a small valley surrounded by mountains, and the landing strip is flanked by 3 and 4 story apartment buildings. A modified helicopter landing! You land safely and wonder how this isolated place could have been the the center of an empire.
Cultural Acts in Bogota
Bogota, Colombia, is like so many of the world’s big cities — crowded, bogged down by traffic, leafy neighborhoods and the desperately poor, an interesting old town and, increasingly, a vibrant bar and cafe scene. Lots of music, trees and churches. Bogota is also one of the most painted cities I have ever visited. Art is everywhere.
Cartagena, Colombian Fairy Princess
Cartagena is a dream vacation spot on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. The old town is a maze of narrow streets lined with colorful colonial-style houses, shops and hotels. Vendors sell fresh fruit and Panama hats on every corner. Horse-drawn carriages breeze by the neighborhood’s many plazas, where musicians and dancers perform. Most of the music is Afro-Caribbean, a reminder that this was once a busy port for the slave trade.
Comuna 13 — Medellin’s Hillside Art Project
During the years that Medellin was the center of a civil war, Comuna 13 was one of the city’s most troubled neighborhoods. Winding up a steep hillside near the main highway, the neighborhood was well-situated as a conduit for drugs, guns and cash. Paramilitary groups recruited young men living there as terrorists and gangs controlled the streets. Residents lived in poverty, hopelessness and fear.
Medellin’s Courageous Transformation
Not long ago, Medellin, Colombia was one of the most dangerous cities in the world. The whole country suffered for decades in a four-way fight for power and money and justice. A right wing militia, a left wing militia, drug cartels and corrupt politicians wreaked havoc, leaving thousands dead and many thousands more homeless, injured, terrified. Medellin was the center of the violence and of the drug empire of mafia boss, Pablo Escobar.
Jungle Belles
An early Feliz Navidad from Costa Rica! With its wonderful jungles and beaches, this is a place for outdoor adventure and serious relaxation, and we have gotten a lot of both during our week on the Pacific Coast — hiking, kayaking, eating and walking on beaches.
The Angels in the Details
Sculpture in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
I love taking photographs when I travel, but I am selective about it because cameras can make you an outsider, an observer instead of a participant. One thing I like about having a camera is that, even if I don’t use it, I pay a little more attention to the details.
Camino Milagro 