Uncovering Bolivia- Landscapes, Cholitas, and a Sensory Explosion From day one, Bolivia captivated me with its dramatic landscapes, vibrant architecture, and profoundly warm people. It is the kind of country where hospitality feels genuine and effortless—where you are invited in to learn about local culture and history, rather than treated as an outsider. Everywhere you turn, centuries-old traditions are woven directly into daily life, deeply connected to the very spirit

Tragedy to Triumph – Paraguay’s Resilient Reconstruction We spent four days in Asunción, Paraguay, without a lot of prior knowledge of what the city or country offered. We arrived at night, but when we opened the window of our 12th-floor apartment to the skyline, all I can say is - Asunción’s skyline is booming! Since the early 2000’s, the country has completely revitalized its economy. It has become one of the most stable economies in South America, maintained its status a

Rio de Janeiro and Beyond - Exploring Wild Brazil Years ago, when I started daydreaming of a plan to go around the world, my mind always focused on Brazil and Rio de Janeiro (Rio) as the entry point. Something about palm trees, pristine blue ocean, and celebrating the start of an epic adventure with a fruity cocktail captivated my thoughts. Plans evolved, and instead, we started in Colombia. Brazil will still always have a place in my mind’s eye as a symbol of epic adventur

Stunning Landscapes and Coastal Energy If I’m being a little honest, the first day and a half that we arrived in Rio, I was underwhelmed. The rock formations were beautiful, but the city was blanketed with a thick marine layer. The first morning I woke up and saw the sun over the ocean and distant rocks, I was like WOW this is the Rio that you see in pictures. Reminds me that you need to have some of those overcast days, to appreciate when the sun comes out again. The natural

Raw Nature and Vibrant Culture Colombia always felt like an exotic place, anchored in raw wilderness and a tinge of danger. Popular culture and news in the United States have often focused on the drug trade and the guerilla groups of Colombia's past. Elements of those myths still exist, but our experience as ordinary tourists couldn’t have been further from those dangers. We felt safe at all times. The local people were friendly, and besides the occasional street performer

The Eternal City Rome is a city I will forever want to return to. Since my first visit as a 20-year-old, it has never ceased to amaze me with its stunning architecture and layers of history tucked around every corner. I vividly remember that first trip, I had just completed a university course on Classical Western Art History, and I was awestruck to walk through the city and see the magnificent structures I had studied in textbooks only weeks prior. As an architect, there i

Finding Our Forever Italy As a family, we spent four amazing years living in Naples Italy. In our last full year there, we took every opportunity we could to focus on the experiences that we treasured most. We returned to several places that we love, including Rome, the Amalfi Coast, the Dolomites for winter skiing, and the spiritual center of Assisi. We are proud to say that we have visited all 20 regions of Italy, including the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. We have driv