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Preparing for Aussies in America
When I first got the call to lead a 3 week tour of America’s National parks, I seized the opportunity. Though I hadn’t been to most of the parks we would visit in years, I had two months to prep for it. What I hadn’t realized is that I would be prepping for three tours…
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How I entered Europe without leaving Africa
The wind that blew through the night was the kind that slammed shutters against the wall and rattled doors to the extent that sleep was reduced to sequential naps interrupted by a series of banging noises. As I ate breakfast across from the reception desk of the Moroccan hostel, the doorbell rang. It was a…
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Getting flooded out in Paratay, Brazil
At 12:30pm, I boarded the 10am bus for Paratay with my ticket for 4pm. What I hadn’t realized when I arrived at the bus station is that the incessant rain throughout the previous night was unusual. Normally Brazilian summers at the coast include an afternoon thunderstorm, which provides a temporary relief from the hot humid…
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A cost saving detour to a world wonder, Iguazu Falls
Iguazu falls was one of the first highlights added to my list when I decided to come to South America. Larger than Niagra falls, the only national monument I haven’t visited in the United States, it is a destination everyone asks you about when you tell then you will travel to Brazil or Argentina. That…
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How to plan a trip: From idea to itinerary
I am often asked how much planning goes into my trips. For someone who doesn’t like walking around town, knocking on doors to find an available bed at nine o’clock at night, I would say I’m a pretty thorough planner. That doesn’t mean that I lock myself into a time sensitive itinerary before I leave…
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It’s windy at the end of the world
On the way to town from the airport, I asked the driver if it was always this windy in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in South America. He said it was unusual, but that ran contrary to what I’d been experiencing since I arrived in Patagonia. In fact, just last week I was actually blown off…
