My Lyft driver was surprised by my lack of baggage en route to Los Angeles International Airport. I had my thirty-five liter, lightweight, Coreal hiking backpack, and my purse. That’s it. That’s all I needed the entire nine-day trip to a South American country. The […]
It’s easy becoming downtrodden with all the news in the world. It’s understandable to become immobilized with fear. Fear of violence, fear of being detained in a foreign land, and all-around fear of being in the wrong place at the wrong time are all valid […]
Their knowing looks caught my eye a couple of times as I consumed mediocre, overpriced seafood. I washed it down with agua con gas, which is what they call sparkling water in South America. Their faces spoke volumes of pity amidst the dim ambience and […]
“I feel like I have changed in the last week, like honest to goodness changed. I recognize that getting ill on my first solo trip of a lifetime was the Universe’s way of demonstrating to me what I’m capable of, my strength in so many […]
The fog seemed to grow denser the higher the bus climbed. I wondered if my flu-ridden body could wait it out for that iconic view of Machu Picchu bathed in sunlight. Upon arrival at the entrance, I realized that in all of the months of […]
I was given what I deemed the noisiest room in the entire hostel. I was only staying one night in Machu Picchu Pueblo but I was not well and rest was necessary. All I heard all night were children laughing, yelling, and playing some game […]
“La borracha (drunk woman)!” Greg jokingly shouted after my locally brewed beer crashed to the floor of the Peru Rail train. The train conductor opened his door adjacent to our front-row seats to see what the commotion was. He chuckled at Greg’s false accusations. The […]
Coca tea is one of many traditional Peruvian beverages. Chances are you’ve never tried it if you haven’t traveled to places in high elevation. It is an herbal tea made out of the leaves of the coca plant. These same leaves extract alkaloids that are […]
Common talked about it in “The Light” and Shakespeare referenced it in Romeo and Juliet. There is so much in a name and traveling to a foreign country pretty much guarantees that your American name will be butchered. However, I prefer the way my name […]
When people find out that I do a lot of solo traveling, I frequently receive shocked expressions. I, in fact, prefer it. People typically ask, “Aren’t you scared?” My answer is usually, “No.” And I silently wonder if people would ask me the same question […]
