fun adventure

A year ago we began our travels. We fulfilled our goals of fun and adventure, and so much more. What stays with us still are three things: the grand spaces of nature world wide, from the glaciers of Patagonia to the islands of Halong Bay and the grasslands of southern Africa; the comforting familiarity of people going about their daily lives in so many diverse places; and how very rich and selfish we are as Americans. Steve returned with renewed energy and determination to make a difference in the world, through his work. Cindy's channeled this into living a more sane lifestyle. 4 continents, over 2 dozen flights, including one airport doubling as a soccer field. Many bus and ferry overnights. Also travel by train, jeep, tuk-tuk, motorbike, boats large and small, bicycle, and foot. My ... read more

Zimbabwe was hard. As sson as we crossed the border, planted fields and grazing gave way to abandoned, dusty plots; seed was too expensive this year. I was followed for blocks by able bodied young men whose only income is crafts and hounded by carvers desperate to trade for my used clothes and shoes. The government pays police to escort tourists to Victoria Falls past these illicit hawkers. Zimbabwe is a closed, collapsing economy, imploding under its own restrictions, with unimaginably drastic impacts on its citizens. I had that old time China feeling; no one will talk publicly about the government or the economy; too many are watching, listening. Mixing with ordinary citizens in shops and eateries is nearly impossible. But beyond the desperation and the police state the citizens are warm and hospitable. Unofficial ... read more

friends in the strangest places Africa » South Africa » Cape Town By fun adventureJune 1st 2007 When our daughter was younger, a young woman from Cape Town watched her and her friends after shool. We finally met her family during our stay in Cape Town. Depsite some uncertainty on both parts about bridging the cultural gaps (income, racial labels, government) it worked out fabulously. Everywhere in Cape Town we saw the legacies of apartheid. We hesitantly took a township tour, where we met some incredible people doing amazing things to help themselves, their community and the "new South Africa." Most impressive: a home converted to 2-room bed & breakfast built from scrap metal and lu... read more

We arrived in Iquitos by plane on a day off, and that night the riverway was crowded with locals celebrating the end of a long weekend. Iquitos had a carnival atmosphere, much more laid back than other places in Peru we had been. Iquitos is still boomig, being the main Amazo port for some distance around, and its heyday was during the rubber boom about 100 years ago. We also met three Shipiro women, teen daughter mother and grandma, who sold us a tribal weaving, gave me a seed bracelet and necklace for my daughter, shared their address and email and posed for a photo.... read more

What a transition from island Chiloe to the bustling port of Valparaiso! Shipping containers piled high on the docks, megaships in the harbor steered by tugboats, the Chilean navy, all spur contemplation of global commerce and international trade, just as the bus trip here through Chile´s central valley prompted thoughts of agribusiness. Chiloe´s salmon and shellfish mega farms ship internationally, and from the central valley wine, berries, beef, from the north copper, who knows what else. Do I really need Chilean raspberries from the coop out of local season, and why are they so cheap... Easter week is a big family and vacation time in urban Chile, and Valparaiso is crowded with families enjoying the warm sunny weather. The local daily paper boats a 95% hotel reservation rate for this weekend. Yesterday afternoon and evening ... read more