Chugging along from Spain, we took a pricy bus ($36/each) three hours northwest to the little principality of Andorra, a country which has remarkably been around for 1000 years and has never been involved in a war. Also yes, that counts as a new country for both of us. Andorra, swallowed by France on one side and Spain on the…
For four centuries, the distinguished and elegant university town of Salamanca (population 150,000) attracted prestigious names such as conquistador Hernán Cortés (Yeah, the guy that wiped out the Aztec Empire) and Christopher Columbus who came here in 1486 on a fruitless attempt to get the university to fund his exploration plans. The town, draped in a seductive sandstone, deteriorated for…
From Porto, we hopped a one hour train ride north to the town of Braga, a lively city which is one of the oldest in the country dating more than 2000 years. In fact, in the Middle Ages it competed in power and importance with Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Its cathedral is the oldest in the country built in…
Porto is one of those cities that is dripping with European charm...red roof tops, contrasting sapphire blue waters, port wine flowing like water, and azulejos bedecking every other surface you encounter. It has a long and fascinating history as a port city, endless captivating colors and pedestrian thoroughfares dotting the spaces near the Douro River. It's undoubtedly immensely walkable, and…
We came to Peru from Colombia basically because we wanted to experience it, particularly Machu Picchu, before all the crowds return following COVID. While this had proven to be pretty successful, we knew that planning our trekking routes would be a little more challenging considering it was low (aka rainy) season, which runs from December-March. However, we also read that…
Any true traveler has “suffered” through a budget airline. We use quotes because we realize flying is privilege (which we’re grateful for) no matter what sort of jet box you’re gliding through the air on. In our travels, we have been on many, but perhaps none so restrictive or annoying as Viva Air. If you’re familiar with budget travel in…
Cusco can be a bit chaotic and is far from a walker's paradise, so we we always looking for reasons to get out! And what better place than some peaceful ruins? The Saqsaywaman Ruins, just 2 km north of the main square in Cusco, is the most important military fort of the Incan empire, often compared with its grandness to…
Taquile Island is a whole other world from Uros. In fact, stepping from that sparkling blue water onto that terraced landscape with compact stone houses feels distinctly like being transported to an island in the Mediterranean. It’s surreal. And the real bonus? In this tranquil seemingly Egalitarian society, there are no cars…no dogs…no motors. In fact, no sounds at all…other…
