I had very low expectations for Cartagena because many people told us that the costeños try to rip you off and there isn´t much to do, however, when we arrived Sunday night with a bunch of guys from our last hostel, I was very pleasantly surprised. The city´s colonial architecture and beautiful lighting was so enchanting. I just couldn´t get enough of the 15 ft. wooden doors and the intricately designed balconies and terraces. We ended up staying at Hostel de la Pirata in the historic center with the group of guys we came with for the first night, and Sim was definitely not happy with the place. Needless to say, it was less than comfortable with stiff beds, one bathroom for the entire hostel and 3 huge dogs growling at you from the top of ... read more

Before I recount my daily journal entries from the past 6 days, I just want to establish the this was the hardest yet most beautiful and rewarding hiking trek I have even been on. I never thought I would actually be caught in the rain in the rainforest, see exotic butterflies with the number 89 perfectly painted on their wings by nature, or meet people who used to work in the coca fields making cocaine. Literally a once in a lifetime experience. So let the trek begin.... Day 1: 50 degree inclines....The journey began this morning at 9 am when we piled our group of 7: Dan & Brianne (Canada), Janica (Miami), George (Switzerland), David (Belgium), Sim and I, into an antique jeep with a broken speedometer. The first 45 minutes were a smooth ride past ... read more

Oh one week in and where to begin. First of all, let's reflect on the fact that I am not kidnapped and my parents have not received a phone call for ransom. Bogotá is not as dangerous as it used to be. Yes, there are still plenty of muggings that go on and I have already experienced an aggressive beggar that I had to run from, but I haven't felt unsafe at all yet. First impressions: 1) lot's of construction. It seems that Bogota has made the decision to overhaul the entire city and improve everything at once, which will probably be better in the long run, but right now it's a bit chaotic. And since the city is built over a swamp, reconstruction of the roads is going to be incessant. 2) surprisingly clean and ... read more

You can't beat Vienna as a spontaneous post-Christmas trip! Beautiful architecture, friendly people, and divine coffee and apple strudel. I ate my first roasted chestnut and Taz saw his first Mozart orchestra symphony--a magnificent trip full of firsts! ... read more

Apologies for the extreme tardiness in posting the next couple of entries--once finals started at uni in London and then I was back at Rutgers, there were no spare moments. However, now that I officially have my B.S. degree, I can update you on the past 6 months to prep you for my next adventure to South America this summer! ... read more