south america
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¡Vámonos a Granja Porcón, Perú!
As you sit in the back of a rickety taxi, winding higher and higher through the northern Andes and away from civilization, you may nervously wonder if you should have picked a more generic vacation spot. Rest assured. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see the thirteen million hand-planted evergreens lining the mountains of Granja Porcón, Peru’s most impressive cooperative community.
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Books to Read While Boarding
“In books I have traveled, not only to other worlds, but into my own.” —Anna Quindlen There is absolutely no way you can convince me that anything makes travel more fulfilling than reading. For every destination I travel to, I find a book that takes place in that corner of the world. These stories, true or fictional, draw me into the place, making my destinations come alive. Nothing beats the rush of discovering the history of a place or being delighted by a romance set in a foreign city. While you’re packing your bags, consider throwing some of these books into your carry-on. I have curated a list of books that you must read as you travel to these places. If you want to travel to these places but don’t quite have the funds yet, these are perfect for you! As Jhumpa Lahiri said, “That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.” Stateside Travel If you’re traveling to New York City read Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart. Summer at Tiffany is the true story of two friends, Marjorie and Marty, who move to New York City in 1945. They become the first women to ever work on the sales floor at Tiffany & Co. This charming book is a homage to friendship, hard work, and the wonder of the city. If you’re visiting the Midwest, read The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald. Sara, a timid book-lover from Sweden, makes her way to Iowa to meet a pen pal. The small town of Broken Wheel, Iowa is skeptical of Sara but eventually she wins them over. Asia Travel If you’re traveling to Southeast Asia, read Carpe Diem by Autumn Cornwall. Vassar Spore is a sixteen-year-old girl with a ten-year plan. What she didn’t plan on was an eccentric relative forcing her to spend the summer backpacking through Southeast Asia. Join these two on their crazy adventure. If your destination is Russia, read A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. Count Alexander Rostov has been sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol Hotel in Moscow during a time of political unrest. This historical fiction is both a romance and a thriller. Europe Travel If you’re vacationing in France, Italy, or England read A Rather Lovely Inheritance by C. A. Belmond. Penny Nichols’s humdrum life is turned upside-down when she is left an unexpected inheritance. This leads Penny on an adventure across Europe, discovering family secrets and protecting her inheritance. Africa Travel If your trip takes you to Morocco or Spain, read A Time in Between by Maria Duenas. Sira Quiroga is a young girl from Madrid who is swept into a life in Morocco. Set in the time of the Spanish Civil War and WWII, Sira’s story is a coming of age story full of espionage, romance, and family. South America Travel If you’re exploring Brazil or the Amazon, read Lost City of Z by David Grann. Lost City of Z is the true story of Percy Fawcett, a British explorer who disappeared in the Amazon while searching for a city of gold. Grann also tells of his own trips and discoveries deep in the Amazon.
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Obscure Ecuador
Ecuador, a small country on the west side of South America, is full of rich history and beautiful landscapes. There are so many places to visit and experience, but here are three attractions that should be at the top of your list:
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Ecuadorian Equator(s)
Though the smallest of the three South American countries to boast the equator, Ecuador is arguably the most enthusiastic. It would be a shame to miss visiting the equator in the country named after it, but finding your way to the right place is more complicated than you’d think.
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Volunteering in Paradise
What makes nature such a tempting getaway? For most, it’s the peaceful contrast to a bustling city. However, much like the city that never sleeps, the Amazon’s constant humming and buzzing reveals a similar atmosphere. Come join the Amazon wildlife community to see what all the commotion is about.
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¡Baile!: The Passion of Latin Dances
One of the easiest ways to absorb rich Hispanic culture is by observing Latin dancing. Latin dances have developed over hundreds of years. Many began as folk dances and social dances. Others began as competition dances. Some of these dances were even meant to tell a story. Over time, many of these traditional dances have grown in popularity and form, and some have become staples in international competitions. Regardless of where they came from or how they started, these dances all have one thing in common: each gives the audience a little taste of Latin culture while also displaying incredible skill from the dancers.
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One-Wheel Wanderings
“If you want to get good at writing, you write. If you want to get good at camping, you camp. If you want to get good at life, you go on a unicycle tour.”
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Summer Skiing in Portillo, Chile: Chile Powder
Need a fresh idea for weekend activities during your Chilean study abroad? Bored on your business venture? Wishing for one more week of good skiing? Portillo’s got you covered.
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The Art of the Deep
Underneath the glistening sun and crashing waves of Cancún, Mexico, lies a hidden treasure—an underwater sculpture museum in Manchones Reef. The sculptures, created by British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor for the Museo Subacuático de Arte (MUSA), is a collection of four hundred life-size statues modeled after workers, farmers, and other people who live near the reef. The exhibit provides an opportunity for scuba divers, snorkelers, and other tourists to interact with the ocean in a new way, all while preserving the life and natural beauty of the ocean.
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On Eating Insects: Bugs Bite—Is it Time to Bite Back?
For westerners who consider an eight-ounce bloody slab of cow muscle to be mouth-wateringly delicious, a crispy fried grasshopper or mealworm should pose no problem. But let’s face it, it does. And the whole “facing it” issue may be the problem. If our food has eyes and a mouth and looks back at us, it causes a gut reaction—literally. But here are five ideas to consider about insect consumption that might help you overcome your squeamishness should you be offered something six-legged to eat during your travels.
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Building Hope in Peru
Ruth was kidnapped when she was nine years old. She had been poor—an orphan child who had spent much of her life scavenging for food in the littered streets of Cusco, Peru. Yet she longed for that life after she was towed five hundred miles away to a brothel outside of Lima. Forced to live a life of horror and condemned to physical and emotional abuse, Ruth was held hostage for more than six years.
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Patagonia: Las Torres del Paine
Get a close-up view of Grey Glacier in Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park. Photo by scorbette37Patagonia remains somewhat of a mystery to many world travelers, and at the same time serves as a symbol of the extreme in world geography. In his book Patagonia Revisited, travel writer Bruce Chatwin sums up the mystery of this largely unfamiliar region: “Since its discovery by Magellan in 1520, Patagonia was known as a country of black fogs and whirlwinds at the end of the habited world. The word ‘Patagonia’ lodged itself in the Western imagination as a metaphor for The Ultimate, the point beyond which one could not go” (p. 7).
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Antarctica: Land of Frozen Beauty
Antarctica, a barren, frozen desert, supports very little life. There is no indigenous population and very little vegetation. Of all the continents, it has the coldest average temperature, the highest average elevation, and the fewest native species. A tourist nightmare, right?
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7 Wonders of Peru
From culture to conquistas, rock-climbing to reggaeton, llamas to piranhas, Peru has something for everyone. Due to its diversity, accessibility, and, above all, affordability, many are familiar with the attractions this country has to offer.
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