The more I travel, the more I perceive the world as vast, complex, intriguing, yet somehow closely woven . Over the past 11 years- since I began traveling- I’ve been to 22 countries and easily more than 250 cities. Some of these places were memorable, some gave me horror stories to tell for a lifetime, and … Continue reading Five Places Where I’ve Left My Heart- and Must Return
Category: Nicaragua
Birthday Wishes
Another year of my life has come and gone, filled with hopes, aspirations, daydreams, adventure, and a whole lot of hard work. It's hard to believe that I'm 33, when I still feel like I'm 27. Nonetheless, if years are representative of what one learns, explores, sees, and accomplishes, then bring them on. As long … Continue reading Birthday Wishes
Streets and Scenes of Bogota
Colombia. Drugs. Violence. Guerrillas. Death. Corruption. There is a common misconception within the US- and other first world countries- that these words are synonymous. I decided to write my Master's thesis on La Violencia, or "The Violence", in Colombia to prove that this notion was terribly false. From 1948 to 1958, the country experienced a massive … Continue reading Streets and Scenes of Bogota
Stark Street Blues
Stark Street Blues "Romancing the Stone" = Romanticizing the Zone I don't really remember that movie, but I do recall how much I wanted to be here. How much I wanted to go there how I worked and worked and saved and sacrificed money and time and friends and jobs and careers and family and … Continue reading Stark Street Blues
Recurring Dreams of a Travel Addict
...Or should I say nightmares? There is always an elaborate trip planned out with a few of friends of mine. An itinerary example would be Nicaragua, Venezuela, Croatia, and Russia. We get to the first destination, do what we're supposed to do, see what we're supposed to see, eat what we're supposed to eat, and then … Continue reading Recurring Dreams of a Travel Addict
To a Wandering Soul, Dirty Animals Need Love, Too.
I've often been accused of caring about animals more than people. (After all, I'm a vegetarian-turned-vegan and an animals-rights supporter. Or so the arguments have gone.) While this couldn't be further from the truth at this point in my life, there have been times where I was a die-hard misanthrope that wanted to be a … Continue reading To a Wandering Soul, Dirty Animals Need Love, Too.
Art in the City Dump- Volunteering in Managua, Nicaragua
I arrived in Managua, Nicaragua on May 28th, 2007 at about 11 am or so. I stepped out of the airport and into the humid, enveloping heat. A feeling of reassurance and ease came over me like returning home after being away for years. I had never been to Central America before, but my surroundings— the … Continue reading Art in the City Dump- Volunteering in Managua, Nicaragua
Chronicles of a Travel Addict 