Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for south america
Hats and Wicker in Ecuador
By Linda Tancs
Despite their name, Panama hats did not originate in Panama. They are made in Ecuador, the product of a long history in weaving. In fact, UNESCO added the traditional weaving of the Ecuadorian toquilla straw hat to its Intangible Cultural Heritage List. You can shop for hats and wicker (another popular souvenir) at the market in Montecristi near Manta, a port city. Montecristi was formed in the 1500s at the time of the Spanish conquest, originally populated with inhabitants of Manta fleeing from pirates.
Share this:
Rio’s Famous Steps
By Linda Tancs
One of the most iconic landmarks in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is the Escadaria Selarón, a 250-step staircase decorated with more than 2,000 colorful, hand-painted tiles from around the world. Created by Chilean-born artist Jorge Selarón, the formerly run-down outdoor staircase in Rio’s downtown is now one of the city’s most photographed masterpieces. The nearest metro station is Cinelândia, from which you can walk or take a taxi to the steps.
Share this:
Meeting of the Waters
By Linda Tancs
The Meeting of the Waters is the confluence between the dark Rio Negro and the pale, sandy-colored Amazon River, referred to as the Solimões River in Brazil upriver of this confluence. For nearly 4 miles the two Amazon tributaries flow side by side without mixing, forming a boundary that’s visible from space. The phenomenon is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Manaus, Brazil. Several guided tours will take you there; you might also experience it on a cruise ship.
Share this:
Opera in the Amazon
By Linda Tancs
The Amazon Theatre (Teatro Amazonas) is an opera house located in Manaus in the heart of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. Built at the height of the rubber industry, this jewel in the rainforest features a tiled mosaic dome in the colors of the Brazilian flag. It has a capacity of 701 seats and houses the Amazonas Philharmonic Orchestra. Located in front of Plaza San Sebastián, it also hosts the annual Amazonas Opera Festival. Guided tours, in English, are offered throughout the day.
Share this:
Floating Islands in Peru
By Linda Tancs
Made entirely from totora (cattail) reeds, the man-made floating islets known as the Uros Islands are a world unto themselves on Peru’s Lake Titicaca. The islets are home to the indigenous Uros people, who created them from reeds centuries ago and are dependent on the reeds for their survival. Handicrafts made from the reeds are a popular souvenir. Visitors can also learn about fishing techniques and how a reed island, and boats, are made. The quickest way to get there is by boat from Puno.
Share this:
Salt of the Earth in Bolivia
By Linda Tancs
Descending from a prehistoric lake, Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat at over 3,900 square miles. Located in the Eduardo Avaroa National Andean Wildlife Reserve in Bolivia, it’s one of South America’s most popular tourist attractions. This snow-hued wasteland features a cemetery of cherry red trains along its outskirts that bear silent testimony to a once burgeoning rail system designed for the transport of the area’s rich mineral resources to Pacific Ocean ports. Although generally devoid of plant or animal life, it’s also home to a migratory species of flamingos. Why not complement your visit with a stay at a salt hotel, where everything from the beds to the walls and floors are constructed from salt blocks. A bus or plane from La Paz will get you there.
Share this:
The White City
By Linda Tancs
The city of Arequipa in Peru is dubbed the “white city” because its architecture is built with white volcanic stone called sillar. But its volcanic nature is not limited to its buildings. In fact, the city in surrounded by huge massifs that rise in the north, northeast and east sectors of the city. The most iconic is the Misti volcano, towering over the city at over 19,000 feet. Take an excursion into the countryside and you’ll also find a volcanic range surrounding Colca Canyon, thought to be twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and home to the giant Andean condor.
Share this:
The Wall of Tears
By Linda Tancs
The Wall of Tears is a historical site located in Isabela Island, the most popular and largest of the Galapagos Islands. It was built by prisoners sent to the island and is composed of lava rocks. Debate ensues whether the unfinished wall had any real purpose other than to occupy the time of the prisoners, many of whom died from injuries, accidents and exposure (hence, the name). The site is a popular hiking and biking area with lookouts and frequent sightings of giant tortoises and iguanas.
Share this:
Stones and Water
By Linda Tancs
Guatapé is an Andean resort town in northwest Colombia. Its name means “stones and water” in Quechua. The water includes a lake and nearby waterfalls. The most famous stone is La Piedra del Peñón (or El Peñon de Guatapé), a giant granite monolith that defines the skyline. You can climb the 740 steps to the top for enviable views of the lake, islets and mountains. Medellín–Guatapé buses can drop you off at ‘La Piedra.’
Share this:
Peru’s Sacred Valley
By Linda Tancs
Ollantaytambo is a village in the Sacred Valley of south Peru that’s known for an Inca archaeological site. Lauded as an architectural jewel on the way to Machu Picchu, a big draw is the Temple of the Sun. The locale served as a city, a fortress and a site for nobility and is one of the very few places where the Incas held back the invading Spanish. An easy commute from Cusco, be sure to hire a local guide to understand the history there. A tour lasts about two hours.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 