By Jennifer Lubrani I am not superstitious. I especially don’t follow all those silly New Year’s rituals that so many perform year after year. That is until one member from the Colombian side of my family turned me into a New Year’s superstition believer. You see, in Colombia, there’s a tradition that when the clock [...]
Posts from ‘December, 2009’
Tune Into a Drinking Primer for Latin America
Drinking alcohol and watching television are two things I usually resolve to do less of just before a new year. But when it comes to figuring out what drinks to order in which countries in Latin America, watching a few episodes of Three Sheets is a worthwhile way of breaking a couple of resolutions. The [...]
A Look Back at the First Year of Travelojos
Yesterday, I asked you to fill out a quick survey and revealed some key statistics about Travelojos. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Better indicators are the content and people behind the results. The year began with an interview with Julie Schwietert Collazo, managing editor of the Matador Network, about her visit to [...]
Please Take Short Survey to Improve Travelojos
Help me make Travelojos even better by taking this short survey: Click here to take survey It’s nearly the end of 2009 and the decade. Prime time for some serious navel gazing. While I have a spotty record of making good on New Year’s resolutions, one promise I did make good on was sticking with [...]
Intrepid Traveler Dispatch: Colombia
“The only risk is wanting to stay,” Colombia’s new slogan says. David Lee—creator of the blogs Medellin Living and Go Backpacking— tells us why the country’s sights and people make the slogan ring true. (Follow Dave on Twitter at @rtwdave). THE TRIP: 5 1/2 months living in Medellin, Colombia, plus 2 weeks in Bogota, Cartagena, [...]
The Expat Files: Living in Latin America
I’ve got a long way to go until retirement. But that doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about it. The more I do, the better places like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama seem. Even countries further south such as Chile seem like an attractive retirement option. Or better yet—if I can figure out a location-independent way [...]
Some Negative Thoughts About Latin America
“If you don’t have anything nice to say, sit next to me,” the saying goes. After spending a year in bloglandia, I’ve noticed that some travel bloggers adopt a tirelessly positive tone when writing about the destinations they cover. They relentlessly churn out lists of things such as “the 10 Friendliest Countries in the [...]
What Food Tells Us About Latin America
The food we eat not only sustains us, but defines who we are. Our values, lifestyles, and physiques are shaped by our diet. One of the aspects I enjoy most about visiting Latin America is experiencing a food culture that is different from the U.S. I used to fret that the proliferation of Wal-Marts and [...]
A Guide to Surviving and Thriving in Latin America
Here are some tips for preparing for or experiencing your next travel adventure in Latin America. Five Ways to Immerse Yourself in Spanish at Home The Bus: A Cheap Comfortable Way to See Mexico (and other countries in Latin America) Expats’ Secrets for Avoiding Montezuma’s Revenge A Guide to Sleeping in Latin American Airports Some [...]
Latin Music Sees Continued Rise of Alternativa in 2009
Eugene Hütz, the frontman for Gypsy-punk band Gogol Bordello was explaining in an interview a few weeks ago why he believes the sound his band creates should be judged on its own terms. “For me, it was always known that Gypsy music can become a very much appreciated subculture. It was always marginalized in this [...]
