Iguazu Falls are hundreds of cascades tumbling along a 2.7-kilometre stretch of the Iguazu River. Comprising the world’s largest waterfall system, they are on the border between Argentina and Brazil. The official count is 275 falls, but that figure changes based on rains. The numbers are almost incomprehensible, and standing in front of any portion […]
About Rhonda Albom
Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires: Artistic or Eerie?
Surrounded by huge and dramatically carved mausoleums, we strolled through the Recoleta Cemetery in wonderment. It’s neither the oldest nor the largest cemetery in Argentina, but it certainly is the most famous. Intriguing rather than depressing, the intricately decorated, mostly art nouveau above-ground tombs draw you into the Buenos Aires’ Recoleta Cemetery. Its vaults hold […]
The Best Things to Do in Santiago Chile
Santiago, the capital of Chile, is an eclectic mix of architectural styles. We spent five days in the city and filled our time with a variety of activities as there is an endless list of things to do in Santiago Chile. Below are our highlights and recommendations. We opted to discover the city with the hop-on-hop-off […]
Cruce Andino: Andean Crossing from Bariloche to Puerto Varas
Cruse Andino’s Andean crossing is an ever-changing example of nature at its finest. Turning a day of transit into a spectacular adventure, Cruce Andino transported us over the Andes mountains, from San Carlos de Bariloche to Puerto Varas. As we travelled from Argentina to Chile we sailed across three lakes, drove through a rainforest, viewed […]
A Guide to Paraty Brazil: From a Day to a Week
Paraty is a popular holiday spot with Brazilians, yet they have somehow kept it a secret from the rest of us. This tropical paradise overlooks Ilha Grande Bay on Brazil’s Atlantic coast. Paraty put a smile on my face from the first moment I stepped ashore. The vibrantly painted boats that line the coast create […]
How to Explore Rio de Janeiro Landmarks Safely
Rio de Janeiro Brazil conjures up images of brightly coloured samba dancers, Christ the Redeemer towering over the city, Sugarloaf mountain, spectacular beaches, exciting lifestyle, and unfortunately, petty crime. It’s an affordable city for tourists, filled with fascinating sites, delicious foods, and great entertainment, but it has a reputation for pickpocketing and other non-violent crime. […]
Amazing Fireworks: Rio de Janeiro on New Year’s Eve
I am not a fan of crowds. So what was I doing at an event that has 2 million people on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on New Year’s Eve? Fourteen minutes of fireworks across 4 km of a brightly lit up beach is quite an attraction creating one of the world’s biggest New Year’s […]
Morocco Road Trip: Marrakech to Sahara Desert
Travelling around Morocco was far easier than we had anticipated. In the north, we took the train. Marrakech was the end of the train line, and by this point, we were in love with the country. We had seen enough to leave us wanting more. That’s when our concept of a Morocco road trip came […]
Discover Culture Through Food: Chilean Cuisine Cooking Class
Chilean food is simple, traditional, and delicious. We have had one great meal after the next and today we learned why. It’s all about tradition, culture, and real food. We spent the day with Pablo, one of the chefs from Chilean Cuisine Cooking Classes in Valparaiso, Chile. We came away with a better understanding of […]
Getting to Isla Damas – Seeing Penguins in Chile
Isla Damas is part of Chile’s Humboldt Penguin National Reserve. The reserve includes three islands, although visitors are only allowed on Isla Damas in limited daily numbers. While getting there seems a bit of a drama, it is well worth the effort. Eighty percent (80%) of the world’s population of Humboldt penguins are found in […]
21 Things to do in La Coruña Spain
La Coruña Spain is located in the northwest corner of Spain, in the Galicia region. A rocky peninsula, it’s a section of the country often skipped by tourists. Actually, this city found us when a family offered us a home exchange. As it turns out, there are plenty of things to do in La Coruna. […]
One Day in Nashville Tennessee – Music City Rocks!
Nashville caught us by surprise. It’s a vibrant, diverse, energetic, and artistic city that welcomes musicians, visitors, and everyone in between. One day in Nashville is simply not enough. Appropriately earning the moniker Music City, it is the birthplace of country music. For us, Nashville was an unscheduled treat. Nature put a hurricane in our original […]
Haunted St Augustine: Ghosts in America’s Oldest City
St Augustine Florida is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the United States. It’s a city filled with old world charm, Spanish influence, plenty of things to do, and ghost stories. Even non-believers (like my scientist husband) are fascinated by the legends and stories of haunted St Augustine. Why is St Augustine haunted? Some […]
Useful Travel Gifts for People Who Travel Light in 2019
Finding the perfect gift is never easy. Ideally, it is practical, lightweight, portable, and easy to use. If your recipient is a traveller like us, it becomes more challenging. I am referring to one who travels light. It changes things a bit. We need useful travel gifts that are super lightweight and functional, or they […]
Kauai Excursions: Highlights of Kauai, Hawaii in a Day
The rain beat down as our ship docked in Kauai, an island that is one of nature’s most exquisite masterpieces regardless of the weather. We were ready to see the highlights of Kauai, and we were not going to let the weather slow us down. The fourth largest (and the oldest) of the eight main Hawaiian […]
Visiting American Samoa: Home to a Tropical US National Park
American Samoa is a tropical paradise waiting to be discovered. Situated in the southern Pacific Ocean just east of the dateline, it’s a small unincorporated US territory that many people don’t even know exists. For me, it is the lush green hills, warm turquoise waters, and a blend of traditional Samoan culture with modern American […]
Birds and Alligators of Wakodahatchee Wetlands
Strolling along the boardwalk at Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach Florida, we are surrounded by nature. Wading birds stand tall in the marsh, seemingly unaware as we pass. It’s a brilliant use of former wastewater, now a treatment facility that provides an open sanctuary for wetland birds and other Florida wildlife. Wakodahatchee Wetlands is home to […]
Sheraton’s Cursed Derelict Buildings on Rarotonga
Not your typical tourist attraction, the ruins of the never completed $80 million Sheraton Resort are a series of derelict buildings on the tiny tropical island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. While there are plenty of beaches to visit, hiking, watersports and other things to do on the island, we found ourselves strangely drawn […]
Capturing Rarotonga Snorkelling on the Olympus TG-5
Rarotonga snorkelling is like swimming in a crystal clear tepid aquarium. Large and small, the colourful tropical fish glide in and out of coral beds, and sometimes appear to pose for our compact underwater camera. Rarotonga is the largest of the Cook Islands. It’s a tropical paradise surrounded by a reef that creates protected Rarotonga […]
26 Things to Do in Rarotonga Aside from the Beach
Tropical Rarotonga. If you’re from New Zealand you probably already have a vision of this island paradise with its white sandy beaches, and water so crystal clear you have to wonder if it is there until a gentle wave brushes up against your toes. If you’re from North America, you may be about to discover […]
Dive Tatapouri: Wild Stingray Feeding in New Zealand
Standing thigh deep in the ocean, I felt a gentle pressure as the eagle ray brushed my leg. I pressed against my walking stick and held my ground. Just before her second pass, I placed the food in my hand low in the water so she could glide over it. As she did, I felt […]
Waimangu Volcanic Valley: World’s Youngest Geothermal System
Waimangu Volcanic Valley (New Zealand) draws visitors from all corners of the earth. Photographers come for the colours, tourists for the uniqueness, hikers for nature, and scientists to study the world’s youngest geothermal system. It’s a virtually untouched, ever-changing landscape that was created in just four hours in 1886. The eruption of Mt Tarawera created […]
Enjoy an Auckland to Wellington Drive with These Stops
Auckland New Zealand greets nearly 4 million visitors annually. Some stay in the city, but more come to explore the lush green country. It’s this exploration that makes a visit to New Zealand so special. Sure, you can fly to the major cities, but what you miss along the way is the magic. An Auckland to […]
Hamilton Gardens and Rocky Horror: A Contrast in Hamilton NZ
The reality is as much of a contrast as the title. On one end of town, a serene, internationally acclaimed, well-manicured series of themed gardens each telling a story of a different civilization. To be honest, the Hamilton Gardens caught me by surprise, far exceeding my expectations. In sharp contrast stands the Riff-Raff statue where […]
What to Do in Rotorua New Zealand: A First Timer’s Guide
Rotorua is like nowhere else. Situated near the centre of New Zealand’s North Island, it’s a geothermal wonderland, a playground for adventure seekers, an opportunity for cultural understanding, and a place to relax and heal. Our recent visit shattered my misconception of Rotorua as an overpriced tourist town. What I found was a paradise that left me […]
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