http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/EJL/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from EJL en-us Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:00:57 +0000 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:00:57 +0000 I changed my mind. I have decided that the itsybitsy speedolike bathing suit on Brazilian men is actually pretty hot. Only in Rio de Janeiro do they and can they wear it oh so well.I have also changed my mind about Rio. It really is the Cidade Maravilhosa a gorgeous city constantly at play its people phenomenally kind generous and welcoming to a foreigner like me. I am happy to say that http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/blog-440225.html I don't know why I got off the bus. I knew it was turning onto the street on which I am currently living Rua das Laranjeiras sounds like larangitis.My Portuguese is still pathetic but with a little effort I could have mumbled through the words to confirm the bus' general direction. But I didn't ask for help and instead stepped off and into a swarm of drenched Cariocas rushing home from their http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/blog-439392.html I am cheating on my Portuguese tutor with another. Yes I am a twotimer. Please don't tell. But the goal is a lofty one thus requiring as much help as possible learn Portuguese in the next five days. Can it be doneAfter a twoweek whirlwind tour around Colombia I am now back in Bogota and it was a formality that brought me here. You see I rarely follow the path of most normal people tha http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-437043.html Once again a stranger's hands reach out and grab at my bag. I am startled but quickly realize this is not an attempted mugging. Te ayudo they ask and without waiting for an answer my heavy suitcase if lifted out of my hands and hoisted to the top of the staircase.Such is the way of Colombia. Maybe I lived in New York and Spain for too long because and how sad this is I am repeatedly sho http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-436219.html As the saying goes careful what you wish for.I have always thought it would be pretty amazing to look like Angelina Jolie. And wouldn't you know this morning I awoke with lips so puffy and swollen you'd swear I had been injected with collagen overnight. Only unlike it is for Miss Superstar Humanitarian Wondermom big lips aren't looking so sexy on me. It must be a sunburn unless some creepy cr http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Cartagena/blog-435248.html Under the brightest of moons with a cool breeze blowing through the plaza just outside the city's walls the voice of Placido Domingo live in the flesh rises up into the clear night. On the other side of the wall just steps away this magical sound is swallowed up by the heavy rhythms of salsa music pouring out of Donde Fidel Salsa Bar. Like you might find in any American sports bar a larg http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Cartagena/blog-434454.html Yes I lie. And just like when with a group of 20something backpackers I am 28 years old end of story my name when receiving unwanted attention from locals mostly men is now Sevilla. It's a good one don't you think First of all it's more easily pronounced around here than my real name second it offers a degree of anonimity and mostly I just love the way it sounds. So exotic.So La Bl http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Santa-Marta/blog-434290.html Let me tell you a bit about traveling by bus in Colombia photos forthcoming.First of all we are not talking rusty old openair trucks with caged chickens on the roof and 30 people packed into 10 seats. Hardly These intercity buses are super deluxe coaches with cushy seats full power aircon and movies galore. And thakfully so since the lack of trains leave little alternative.Walk into a bus http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/San-Gil/blog-434289.html Here's something you may not have known about Colombia everyone has great teeth. Shiny straight white beautiful teeth. For those of you who know me and know how obsessed I am with straight white teeth you can imagine how much I am enjoying this discovery.Apparently dental work is very affordable here and those who don't yet have perfect teeth have braces. In fact I have seen more adults http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/San-Gil/blog-434288.html The movie was in German and Turkish with Spanish subtitles. El Otro Lado The Other Side. It was a compelling indie drama about race and political persecution a great way to spend a sleepy Sunday night in Villa de Leyva. The real attraction though was the movie theater if one can call it that. Set up in La Patriarca Salon de Eventos the screening room was nothing more than a largeish meeting http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/San-Gil/blog-434286.html On Saturday afternoon I stepped out of the lovely little La Roca hotel and was greeted by Andres a local guy hanging around the plaza doing nothing in particular. He and his rescued dog Venga escorted me to the weekend market where I proceeded to go nuts over all the luscious fruits and veggies. Fresh produce my idea of heaven. Andres introduced me to a variety of fruits I had never before ta http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/blog-434285.html I woke early this morning to the sound of church bells clanging and roosters crowing. Glancing around the room I sighed with relief and went back to sleep. Ahhhh.... I though no roommates.For the sheer kick of paying only 7 per night for a place to stay I spent Friday night in a shared dorm room at a backpacker hostel the ecolodge Renacer Guesthouse. One night was more than enough. Especially http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Villa-de-Leyva/blog-434284.html I recently read that in 2008 Colombia ranked the third happiest country in the world. From what I have seen so far I have absolutely no reason to believe otherwise. And I am not referring to a they have nothing but they are happy anyway kind of situation. Quite the contrary Colombians seem to enjoy a very high quality of life and appear to have everything they need. There are no obvious disp http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Villa-de-Leyva/blog-434283.html My first taxi ride in Bogota involved a lot of fearing my personal safety. Can you blame me After all I had just stepped off the flight during which I had carefully read LP's indepth warnings to women and related horror stories about taking a taxi alone after dark. But my flight was delayed and I was to arrive after 9pm. What choice did I haveSo the entire ride from the airport I am clutch http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Bogota/blog-434280.html When traveling there are only two reasons a backpacker doesn't go out to party at night in a city like Bogota 1. He has no money. 2. He doesn't want to get mugged. For me the latter is most definitely true. Such is the reason I find myself deep in a game of poker with 7 guys at the youth hostel Destino Nomada enjoying the relative comfort and security of being off the street without a money b http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Colombia/Bogota/blog-434277.html I often wonder why my brain works the way it does.Just one month ago I altogether gave up coffee. Cold turkey. Done. And I havenrsquot touched the stuff since. Tomorrow I am flying into Colombiahellip a country that boasts one of the best coffee roasts in the world. In fact my hostel in Bogota offers free coffee service All. Day. Long.What was I thinkingTwo weeks ago I purchased a shiny http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/blog-431091.html This is an old story never before toldA small trickle of blood collected on my neck as I tried desperately to recall the Spanish for ldquostop humping my leg you stupid dogrdquoIn all my confusion the words failed to come and that mangy mutt just kept doing its thing against my bare sweaty leg. Its owner seemed to neither notice nor care and she brushed me off despite my pleas for hel http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-430892.html Yesterday while driving my sisterrsquos minivan to the nearest Target store I got smashed into by a car that had spun out of control on the freeway. Four cars total were involved but thankfully that minivan is sturdy and everyone was fine. For over an hour I was one of those people standing by the roadside being gawked at by slowmoving donutmunching drivebys as though they had never see http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/blog-430350.html ldquoHey Evan how about thisrdquo I said. ldquoNext time you go to your dadrsquos house spin the globe. Wherever your finger stops thatrsquos where Irsquoll go.rdquoHe looked up at me with those big brown eyes and a knowing smile lit up his face. He seemed to understand my life is wide open at the moment. The possibilities are infinite. That blank page before me is to steal a l http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/blog-429947.html Follow me here ejroundtheworld.blogspot.com http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/blog-399774.html