Below are seven quirky facts about countries in Central and South America. (Two of the entries were suggested by a Latin America Fanatico via Twitter). Venezuela adopted its own time zone in 2007. The time the country adheres to is 4.5 hours behind GMT. Before the change in 2007, Venezuela was 4 hours behind GMT. [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Ecuador’
2009 Murder Statistics: U.S. Visitors to Latin America
Out of the approximately 2.5 million U.S. visitors to Mexico in the first half of 2009, at least 126 Americans died of non-natural causes, according to U.S. State Department statistics. The Los Angeles Times points out that, of these, there were: 36 homicides, and 22 drownings. The balance of the non-natural deaths resulted from accidents [...]
A Man’s Tale of a Cold Streak in South America
There’s no question that Roosh Vorek, the author of South American travelogue A Dead Bat in Paraguay, is a “player” when it comes to the ladies. Before self publishing a memoir about his travels in Brazil and other countries, Vorek wrote Bang—“a collection of simple but powerful techniques, moves, and lines that make it easier [...]
Lonely Planet, Ex-Writer Trade Blows on Travelojos
Two posts last week (here and here) mentioned some disparaging remarks the author of Lonely Planet’s guide to Colombia made about Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. The author, Jens Porup, made the unflattering characterizations of these countries in a speech in Bogota before Colombia’s minister of tourism and other highly ranked officials. His comments generated a [...]
Lonely Planet Writer Slams Peru, Other Countries
Yesterday’s post about Lonely Planet writer Jens Porup’s speech in Bogota mentioned some harsh comparisons he made between Colombia and Peru. He also characterized Ecuador and Venezuela as being generally unpleasant places to visit. I’ve never been to these countries, so it’s hard for me to gauge the validity of Porup’s assessments. But, I support [...]
Colombia Should Cater to Backpackers, Expert Says
As Colombia begins to shed its reputation for crime and violence, it still struggles to attract international visitors. A lack of an iconic tourist attraction is chief among the country’s problems. In a speech before the Bogota Tourism Board a couple of weeks ago, travel writer Jens Porup offered a strategy to Colombia’s top tourism [...]
Author of Grandaddy of South American Travel Guides Identifies Cheapest Places, Recent Tourism Trends
In this interview, Ben Box, author of the South American Handbook, notes the growing trends of volunteerism and community tourism in South America. He also points out the destinations offering the best values and the places that travelers best avoid. Follow the directions below to receive a 25 percent discount on any Footprint guide about [...]
Despite New Drug Law, Mexico Is No Amsterdam
On Friday, Mexico removed most of the criminal penalties for possessing small quantities of illicit drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, and heroin Portugal is the only other country that has “legalized” several types of drugs, according to the Houston Chronicle. But this policy change is not as dramatic as some make it out to be. [...]
Interview with Steve King, the Andean Trekker
From time to time I post short interviews with people who have made a life for themselves in Latin America. Making this transition usually means abandoning old stereotypes and coming to appreciate different cultures and values. This interview is with Steve King, who goes by the name “Sumajman” on his blog–The Andean Trekker. Steve has [...]
Travel Media’s 2009 Latin America Picks
Latin American countries are included among many publication’s top travel picks for 2009. Colombia received three mentions. In each case, the publication explained that the country’s security situation has vastly improved. Bolivia, Mexico and Peru were cited as affordable countries to visit. Below are some top 2009 destination lists I found on the Internet. (If [...]
