As many of you know I have had an incredible life exploring, living in, and sharing my life in Latin America with my husband. It has been an amazing journey which I will always cherish.
Recently I have started sharing some memories of places we had visited, lived in, or explored in the past, but which have never been included in my Mexico and Beyond: Laura's Photo Journey postings.
Consequently, I have decided to create this blog posting about those "other" travel memories with some of my favorite photographs from countries including Guatemala, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Panama, and Venezuela. So if you are ready, buckle up and here we go!
Guatemala
Lake Atitlan is a body of water in a massive volcanic crater in Guatemala's southwestern highlands. Ringed by steep verdant hills it is known for its Mayan villages and volcanoes with striking pointed cones. It is simply gorgeous and in today's vernacular it is awesome.
The town of Panajachel is less than 90 miles from Guatemala City and is located on the Northeast shore of Lake Atitlan and yet is a world apart. It has become a center for the tourist trade of the area as it provides a base for visitors crossing the lake to visit other towns and villages. Our living experience in "Pana" was without doubt one of my fondest memories.
Florinda, my Spanish instructor in Panajachel, and her daughter are representative of the lovely Maya people of the area.
Guatemala has a wonderful Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival with the flying of huge kites in honor of those who have departed and my husband was asked to participate. What an incredibly special memory.
Argentina
A lovely Mapuche woman who kindly posed for a photograph in Argentina. The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina including parts of present-day Patagonia.
The beauty of Nahuel Huapi National Park and its lake outside the town of San Martin de los Andes where we lived was stunning.
La Boca is a neighborhood, or barrio, of the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. It retains a strong Italian flavor with many of its early settlers being from the city of Genoa. Aren't the colors incredible!
The Tango is part of the lifestyle and image of the Porteno culture in Argentina and watching it in Buenos Aries was a special way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I loved the Portenos of Argentina and their zest for life. Bravo!
The modern skyline of Buenos Aires is spectacular and this photo was taken at the riverside port while waiting for the ferry to take us across the river to Uruguay for a visit.
Uruguay
The Portenos, locals of Buenos Aires, never miss the opportunity to soak up the rays as seen on the river crossing to Uruguay.
Uruguay is a South American country known for its verdant interior and beach-lined coast and Colonia del Sacramento is a town in southwestern Uruguay across the Rio de La Plata from Buenos Aires. It is known for its cobble stoned Barrio Historico (historic neighborhood) lined with buildings from its time as a Portuguese settlement. (Check out the vintage cars in this photo!)
La Calle de los Suspiros (street of sighs) is a historical street located in the Colonia (neighborhood) of Sacramento, Uruguay. The street was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995. I definitely felt as though I was stepping back in time and found it to be magical.
Colonia de Sacramento in Uruguay was a happening place with great food, people, and entertainment. It is renowned for its historic quarter and we were captivated by the vibe and the people.
One of the most striking aspects about Colonia de Sacramento in Uruguay is the number of old vintage cars just parked randomly in the street. Many are in some state of disrepair and some deliberately so.
For example, there is an old 1950s Citroen with a tree growing out of it and an even older Ford with its side cut away with a dining table for two. I found the people and culture of Uruguay totally enchanting and I would love to return.
Crossing over the Andes to Chile from our home base of San Martin de los Andes in Argentina was an easy bus ride with spectacular scenery along the way. This photo shows the date of November which was springtime in the Andes and consequently the sparse amount of snow.
A Chilean herder with his flock of sheep was a great photo opportunity while we crossed the Andes to visit Chile and since it was springtime he and and his flock looked particularly content.
Chile is a long narrow country stretching along South America's western edge with more than 3700 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline. Fishing in Chile is a major industry and due to the Humboldt Current, the Chilean Sea is considered among the most productive marine ecosystems in the world.
Founded in 1541 by the Spanish conqueror Pedro de Valdivia the city of Valdivia (his namesake) is located at the junction of three rivers where an amazing seafood market is located and of course we had to check it out.
Local sea lions waiting for their lunch handouts with local birds waiting for the scraps at the local fish market in Valdivia, Chile. Can you believe the size of those sea lions!
Valparaiso is a port city on Chile’s coast which is known for its colorful cliff top homes and the steep funiculars which definitely beat hiking up the stairs!
Colorful and charming Valparaiso on a gorgeous day.
The following link will take you to my blog posting on Valparaiso:
THE PORT CITY OF VALPARAISO
Vina del Mar which translates to "Vineyard of the Sea" is a city on Chile's Pacific coast within the Valparaiso Region and is often referred to as La Ciudad Jardin, the Garden City. Visitors and locals enjoy the parks and water fountains of the city including a large flower clock (Reloj de Flores) with its numbers made up of flowering plants.
Wulff Castle is a historic castle of neo-Tudor style overlooking the sea in Vina del Mar, Chile. It was built in 1906 for the Wulff family and it is now the headquarters of the city heritage center. Pretty impressive location for an old castle, si!
Panama: Bocas del Toro
Christopher Columbus and his crew first visited the area of Bocas del Toro in 1502 on the Caribbean Coast and I can imagine they felt they had arrived in paradise. Bocas del Toro which translates to "Bull's Mouths" or "Mouths of the Bull" is a province of Panama.
The area of Bocas del Toro is approximately 1,800 square miles bordering the Caribbean Sea and is made up of the mainland and nine main islands. The capital is the city of Bocas del Toro which is referred to as "Bocas Town" on Isla Colon.
Bocas del Toro was a total escape from reality and we loved the biodiversity and the friendly inhabitants. You could literally dive into the water from your over-water cabin and be enjoying the marine life in seconds. We also loved teaching the local children to swim and use our snorkel gear. Simply magical!
I found the refurbished and colorful buses in Panama works of art and wonderful!
Venezuela
The incredibly welcoming people of Venezuela were warm and friendly and they made our stay in their beautiful country some of our fondest memories. And for my Pisces "fish" husband fishing with local pelicans on the Caribbean coast of Venezuela was an awesome experience and cherished memory.
The locals were very curious and cautious about us, but with a little time and the encouragement of their mothers we were accepted and made to feel right at home. Many, many thanks for sharing your beautiful children with us, mamas!
The local ladies of Venezuela were definitely eye-catching which comes as no great surprise as Venezuela is the undisputed queen of the pageant world. In addition to seven Miss Universe titles, women from Venezuela have won eight Miss International competitions, six Miss World titles, and two Miss Earths. These particular ladies were promoting a local beer and I say cheers to that!
I hope you have enjoyed these travel memories from Guatemala, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Panama, and Venezuela. I have certainly enjoyed this nostalgic visit to some of my favorite places on this planet. Until next time, I wish you well wherever your travels may take you. Saludos, Laura
Recently I have started sharing some memories of places we had visited, lived in, or explored in the past, but which have never been included in my Mexico and Beyond: Laura's Photo Journey postings.
Consequently, I have decided to create this blog posting about those "other" travel memories with some of my favorite photographs from countries including Guatemala, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Panama, and Venezuela. So if you are ready, buckle up and here we go!
Guatemala
Lake Atitlan is a body of water in a massive volcanic crater in Guatemala's southwestern highlands. Ringed by steep verdant hills it is known for its Mayan villages and volcanoes with striking pointed cones. It is simply gorgeous and in today's vernacular it is awesome.
The town of Panajachel is less than 90 miles from Guatemala City and is located on the Northeast shore of Lake Atitlan and yet is a world apart. It has become a center for the tourist trade of the area as it provides a base for visitors crossing the lake to visit other towns and villages. Our living experience in "Pana" was without doubt one of my fondest memories.
Florinda, my Spanish instructor in Panajachel, and her daughter are representative of the lovely Maya people of the area.
Guatemala has a wonderful Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival with the flying of huge kites in honor of those who have departed and my husband was asked to participate. What an incredibly special memory.
Argentina
A lovely Mapuche woman who kindly posed for a photograph in Argentina. The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina including parts of present-day Patagonia.
The beauty of Nahuel Huapi National Park and its lake outside the town of San Martin de los Andes where we lived was stunning.
La Boca is a neighborhood, or barrio, of the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. It retains a strong Italian flavor with many of its early settlers being from the city of Genoa. Aren't the colors incredible!
The Tango is part of the lifestyle and image of the Porteno culture in Argentina and watching it in Buenos Aries was a special way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I loved the Portenos of Argentina and their zest for life. Bravo!
The modern skyline of Buenos Aires is spectacular and this photo was taken at the riverside port while waiting for the ferry to take us across the river to Uruguay for a visit.
Uruguay
The Portenos, locals of Buenos Aires, never miss the opportunity to soak up the rays as seen on the river crossing to Uruguay.
Uruguay is a South American country known for its verdant interior and beach-lined coast and Colonia del Sacramento is a town in southwestern Uruguay across the Rio de La Plata from Buenos Aires. It is known for its cobble stoned Barrio Historico (historic neighborhood) lined with buildings from its time as a Portuguese settlement. (Check out the vintage cars in this photo!)
La Calle de los Suspiros (street of sighs) is a historical street located in the Colonia (neighborhood) of Sacramento, Uruguay. The street was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995. I definitely felt as though I was stepping back in time and found it to be magical.
Colonia de Sacramento in Uruguay was a happening place with great food, people, and entertainment. It is renowned for its historic quarter and we were captivated by the vibe and the people.
One of the most striking aspects about Colonia de Sacramento in Uruguay is the number of old vintage cars just parked randomly in the street. Many are in some state of disrepair and some deliberately so.
For example, there is an old 1950s Citroen with a tree growing out of it and an even older Ford with its side cut away with a dining table for two. I found the people and culture of Uruguay totally enchanting and I would love to return.
Chile
Crossing over the Andes to Chile from our home base of San Martin de los Andes in Argentina was an easy bus ride with spectacular scenery along the way. This photo shows the date of November which was springtime in the Andes and consequently the sparse amount of snow.
A Chilean herder with his flock of sheep was a great photo opportunity while we crossed the Andes to visit Chile and since it was springtime he and and his flock looked particularly content.
Chile is a long narrow country stretching along South America's western edge with more than 3700 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline. Fishing in Chile is a major industry and due to the Humboldt Current, the Chilean Sea is considered among the most productive marine ecosystems in the world.
Founded in 1541 by the Spanish conqueror Pedro de Valdivia the city of Valdivia (his namesake) is located at the junction of three rivers where an amazing seafood market is located and of course we had to check it out.
Local sea lions waiting for their lunch handouts with local birds waiting for the scraps at the local fish market in Valdivia, Chile. Can you believe the size of those sea lions!
Valparaiso is a port city on Chile’s coast which is known for its colorful cliff top homes and the steep funiculars which definitely beat hiking up the stairs!
Colorful and charming Valparaiso on a gorgeous day.
The following link will take you to my blog posting on Valparaiso:
THE PORT CITY OF VALPARAISO
Vina del Mar which translates to "Vineyard of the Sea" is a city on Chile's Pacific coast within the Valparaiso Region and is often referred to as La Ciudad Jardin, the Garden City. Visitors and locals enjoy the parks and water fountains of the city including a large flower clock (Reloj de Flores) with its numbers made up of flowering plants.
Wulff Castle is a historic castle of neo-Tudor style overlooking the sea in Vina del Mar, Chile. It was built in 1906 for the Wulff family and it is now the headquarters of the city heritage center. Pretty impressive location for an old castle, si!
Panama: Bocas del Toro
Christopher Columbus and his crew first visited the area of Bocas del Toro in 1502 on the Caribbean Coast and I can imagine they felt they had arrived in paradise. Bocas del Toro which translates to "Bull's Mouths" or "Mouths of the Bull" is a province of Panama.
The area of Bocas del Toro is approximately 1,800 square miles bordering the Caribbean Sea and is made up of the mainland and nine main islands. The capital is the city of Bocas del Toro which is referred to as "Bocas Town" on Isla Colon.
Bocas del Toro was a total escape from reality and we loved the biodiversity and the friendly inhabitants. You could literally dive into the water from your over-water cabin and be enjoying the marine life in seconds. We also loved teaching the local children to swim and use our snorkel gear. Simply magical!
I found the refurbished and colorful buses in Panama works of art and wonderful!
Venezuela
The incredibly welcoming people of Venezuela were warm and friendly and they made our stay in their beautiful country some of our fondest memories. And for my Pisces "fish" husband fishing with local pelicans on the Caribbean coast of Venezuela was an awesome experience and cherished memory.
The locals were very curious and cautious about us, but with a little time and the encouragement of their mothers we were accepted and made to feel right at home. Many, many thanks for sharing your beautiful children with us, mamas!
The local ladies of Venezuela were definitely eye-catching which comes as no great surprise as Venezuela is the undisputed queen of the pageant world. In addition to seven Miss Universe titles, women from Venezuela have won eight Miss International competitions, six Miss World titles, and two Miss Earths. These particular ladies were promoting a local beer and I say cheers to that!
I hope you have enjoyed these travel memories from Guatemala, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Panama, and Venezuela. I have certainly enjoyed this nostalgic visit to some of my favorite places on this planet. Until next time, I wish you well wherever your travels may take you. Saludos, Laura
