Cold Monkeys We’ll never forget the day when we first saw a photo of fuzzy little rosy-faced monkeys without tails basking in a pool of piping water. It was years ago in some travel magazine, or book, and quickly gained a well-deserved spot on both of our “60 by 60 Lists.” The Japanese macaque is known as the world's northernmost…

Continue ReadingHot Water and Cold Monkeys at Jigokudani Yaen Koen, Japan

Arriving to Tokyo & the Battle of Jet Lag In mid-February 2024, the day came for us to leap the pond...again. But, this time we were westward bound just in time to leave US election coverage behind for a year. Shucks. You may not recognize the badasses we were wearing sunglasses inside because we were testing out an app called…

Continue ReadingTwo weeks of Wonder in Tokyo, Japan (Part I)

Night Six: Staying in a Ryokan An absolute must on any Japanese itinerary should be staying in a ryokan, which is exactly what we did after returning from Snow Monkey Land. And although we had stayed in one the night before in Yamanouchi, we were also excited to know they offered such options in Tokyo as we found at Ryokan…

Continue ReadingTwo Weeks of Wonder in Tokyo (Part II)

It’s a wrap! Although we’re not usually big city people, we truly believe Tokyo…the biggest metropolis on the planet of 37 million…should be on every traveler’s list. This fascinating, futuristic and other world is a thrill for the senses and the mind in every way possible, with an abundance of new and edgy experiences you cannot get anywhere else. And,…

Continue ReadingTokyo: It’s a Wrap!

Crossing the Border from Bolivia to Argentina To gallivant across the border from Bolivia back into Argentina, we had two choices. Take the ridiculously overpriced night bus for $48/each or piece meal (bus-boat-local bus-bus) it for $37 in total. Naturally, what do you think we decided? And of course, our friends opted to save $60 and tag along with us…

Continue ReadingPeñas, Pints & Pals in Salta, Argentina

Most people don’t know this, but we’ve always said IF we ever move back to the States, it would very likely be to New Mexico. We adore the bright sunny skies, the cooler red rock desert landscapes, the Wild West vibes, and the genuine diversity of its people. We’ve now found our “New Mexico”  in Argentina and love it even more…

Continue ReadingWine, Solitude and Scenery in Cafayate, Argentina

San Miguel de Tucamán From Cafayate, we bounded 6.5 hours southeast by jumbo bus through some luscious green temperate rain forest, which felt like a complete godsend after over a month without, to San Miguel de Tucumán. ($11.50/each). The city is thankfully nicknamed Tucumán and not San Miguel because based on previous experience, we really don't like places named San…

Continue ReadingDiscovering the Charm of Córdoba, Tucumán & Altagracia, Argentina

Cumbrecita When you start researching La Cumbrecita, you’ll see it graced by such words as a hamlet or “Bavarian outpost,” which couldn’t be more accurate. This enchanting little Swiss & Deutschland plopped in the middle of the rolling hills of central Argentina was founded in 1934 by two German brothers and it feels like being transported to another meticulously developed…

Continue ReadingA Little Piece of Deutschland in Cumbrecita & VGB, Argentina