south america
Between its wonderous mountain ranges, remote islands and the world's biggest rainforest, your first trip to South America likely won't be your last.
How I Learn Spanish
While packing to leave for Buenos Aires, Argentina, I was thinking of all the places I would visit and not be able to talk with the local people, order meals, or ask for directions, because I did not know a single word of Spanish. With a quick trip to my neighborhood bookstore, I found the last Spanish phrasebook on the shelf, and quickly purchased the book for reading on the plane.
By Frank Richardson7 years ago in Wander
Pronto Socorro: Sunday Night
You can tell a lot about a place by its emergency rooms. My wife and I were enjoying some much needed time together in paradise when I was reminded of this fact by a visit to the Pronto Socorro in Ubatuba. Ubatuba is a sleepy beach town half-way between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. We'd come up from Sao Paulo in need of a recharge, and all was going well until my wife decided on Saturday night that it was time to go for a walk in the sand, barefoot, at night.
By Grant Patterson7 years ago in Wander
The Good Stuff
"You say so many bad things about Brazil. I'll have to be careful who to introduce you to." -My wife "I'm enjoying your blog. But don't get that last one translated into Portuguese. Ow." -My friend, whose opinion I trust so much I get him to proofread my novels
By Grant Patterson7 years ago in Wander
Evergreen and Grey. Top Story - April 2019.
Surrounded by irregularly stacked houses made mostly of reddish-orange cinder blocks topped with makeshift roofs, the more affluent areas of Caracas are always reminded that poverty is just a breath away. With creatively wired electricity, these houses, known as ranchos, twinkle like stars, and their orange glow greeted my arrival to Venezuela in 2001. Though it was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen, I was too scared to appreciate it at the time.
By Evergreen & Grey8 years ago in Wander
Why Peru Should Be Your Next Travel Destination
As my degree at university came to an end, I was facing one of the biggest decisions of my life—"what next?" I always knew that I wanted to start a successful career as soon as possible but I also had this burning desire to see the world. After a spontaneous decision to visit Spain, and then an upcoming trip around The United States on the horizon, I never even considered Peru until one of my housemates casually mentioned volunteering abroad. That tiny comment sparked an idea which soon became a reality. After a quick Google search of programs abroad, one in Peru caught my eye. I just couldn't get it out of my head. So it was decided, I was going to Peru for two months.
By Erin Trenchard8 years ago in Wander
I Had No Option Other Than to Survive Without Oxygen
After several weeks in South America traveling south through the mighty Andes mountains, I arrived in the capital of Bolivia, La Paz. Flushed with the cumulative success of hiking Peru’s Colca Canyon, Salkantay Pass, and Macchu Pichu, I had booked a two day expedition with a fellow backpacker, to climb the country’s fifth highest mountain, Huayna Potosi at 6088m, in the Bolivian Cordillera Real.
By Phil Thornett8 years ago in Wander
Machu Picchu by Rail
A few years ago, when I was at university, I was always a little intrigued about the charity adventures they organised to Machu Picchu via the Inca trails. However, horse riding always took over and, along with working and university commitments, I was sadly never able to go. In 2017, I finally had the opportunity to travel around South America for a few months. There was no way I was passing up the opportunity to visit such an incredible place.
By Sophia Garner9 years ago in Wander
