"Camaguey is known as the city of tinajones (huge terracotta or earthenware urns). You will find them everywhere as you walk around town. They are a symbol of our city." Our guide smiled, then continued, "However, wives, beware! Do not let your husband drink from them! There is a legend that if a man takes a drink offered by a woman from a tinajone, he will fall in love with her and remain in Camaguey the rest of his life." In the bygone … [Read more...]
Ray’s Apartment
En la escuela me ensenaron que en el Apartheid no todos son iguales y no importa la ley, por eso me molesto con las cosas que veo, eschame brother: "fuck you bloqueo! "pero entindelo man tamalo como quieras, la politica no cabe en la azucarera. In school they teach me that in Apartheid Not everyone is equal and the law doesn't care, Because of this the things I see bother me, Listen to me brother: Fuck you embargo! But I understand … [Read more...]
Matanzas
So here's the idea: We had been trying to get out of the hotel for weeks, and finally, an opportunity presented itself. We were going to Matanzas, a town in the countryside of Cuba. It was the center of the slave trade in the time of its existence and in keeping with the trend of that trade, it created some of the most intriguing musical and cultural styles of the area. It is also completely untouched by tourism and it came highly recommended … [Read more...]
Top 5 Budget Winter Sun Destinations
5 Hot Spots that Won't Break the Bank As temperatures continue to drop in the Northern Hemisphere, more and more people can't wait to escape to some winter sun. Exclusive resorts in the Caribbean and year-round warm climates have often been viewed as the priority of the rich but there are plenty of fantastic destinations which offer sun, sea, sand (and more) to travelers on a budget. Dominican Republic, Caribbean The ultimate by-word … [Read more...]
Day 2 – New Orleans
Breakfast Cafe du Monde ,located at 800 Decatur Street, is an ideal location for breakfast. This is the original Cafe du Monde location - with a number of other branches mostly in and around New Orleans, as well as a large international presence exclusively in Japan. The cafe is located near the shores of the Mississippi River in the French Quarter this is where you come for French-style beignet pastries and coffee. You can drive here or … [Read more...]
Exploring Havana: Queen of the Caribbean
To fully discover Havana both old and new, we decided to explore the city in two stages. In the morning, we would explore the new part by auto and in the afternoon roam through the old section by foot. I had visited Havana numerous times before, but I had not truly discovered the city. This time it was to be different. We began our exploration of Havana by car in the Miramar district, with its foreign embassies and plush hotels, in the new … [Read more...]
Diving St. Croix
St. Croix is one of those hidden gems, not just for divers looking for great diving in lesser known locales, but for anyone wanting to get away from the crowds and more visited places that have become way too 'touristy'. Here divers will find healthy, pristine reefs, a few wrecks, great macro diving, plus the famous 'Wall'. Because it's off the beaten path, Saint Croix is one of the more affordable islands in the Caribbean. You'll not only … [Read more...]
Greetings from Peru!!
Arrived in Lima and rested all day which was good. Saw the catacombs underground in the 16th century St Francis of Assisi Monastery. Many skulls staring upwards with individual bones all separated and arranged nicely in neat orderly piles. Took bus overnight to C. Huayash - the pass was about 14,000 feet which we hit at 1am. I was in bad shape by then - arrived at 6am into town and immediately found hostel and crashed. For 2 days was … [Read more...]
Planning Your First South America Vacation
South America presents a beautiful world with a wide range of unique landscapes. Choosing a place to visit is quite difficult with highlights like Machu Picchu, the Perito Moreno Glacier, regions like Patagonia, Pantanal and Amazon and cities like Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. This article is written to serve as an introduction to some of the best places to visit in South America and how to combine the best highlights in one trip. Each … [Read more...]
The G.A.P Top 5: Places of Independence
1. Yukon, Canada There's nothing you know like your own backyard, and even if it's 7000 km away from home it's still more familiar than Mexico, which is closer. Canada's Yukon, east of Alaska and north of British Columbia, has attracted independent types since frontier days. I like trekking in the mountains, which there are lots of (the last ice age missed this part of the continent) and the long light in the summertime. I don't recommend … [Read more...]