AnayaPapaya

I have only been to Austin, which i loved! but i feel like texas is one of those places that may not sound very appealing, but you should go once in your life to see what everyone is talking about. ha! Texas is just so different than everywhere else, it is worth seeing it first hand.

I spent a few days in Lima (big and dirty) and then headed to Cusco to hike to Machu Picchu. this was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, the people are just beautiful and many still hold onto their ancient culture. Even better than Machu Picchu itself i think, was the trek i went on. I went on the Lares trek. it isnt the traditional Inca Trail but it is way better – there are hardly any other people on the trail and you can see/meet Andean people living in the mountains. It felt more like an adventure than the highway of the Inca trail. in any case, peru is one of my favorite places in the world and i would love to go back to explore further

Washington is a great state because you have Seattle – which is a decent sized city, but not too big – and you have mountains nearby for skiing, camping, and hiking. and you have the ocean and the Puget Sound for all things water related. I’m glad people think its depressing actually because maybe that will keep people from moving to seattle by the masses? oh and dont forget eastern washington with the gorges and canyons – so beautiful. i love washington for its diverse environments and easy access to both mountains and water. plus the weather is temperate – not too cold or too hot, its just right!

Chicago is the only part of illinois worth visiting. the rest is flat and boring and takes FOREVER to drive through.

Very beautiful place with some expensive and some reasonable places to stay. If you dont do anything else while you’re here, take the water taxi down the coast to one of the more remote beaches because they are BEAUTIFUL. but be careful walking around san juan del sur at night, there are many stories about theft.

I spent a month in Costa Rica and Puerto Viejo was the best! It is touristy, but what part of Costa Rica isnt? I guess I liked it more than other parts of Costa Rica becuase it is more of a tourist destination for twenty-somethings. definitely go surfing here and eat at “Bread chocolate”. I stayed at Puerto Viejo Hotel which is owned and run by surfers and is made up of like 30 wood cabins/rooms. the atmosphere in Puerto Viejo is very laid back and the reggae music is great! go to reggae night at club bambu and bike to manzanillo. but be careful about walking around at night, especially if you are a girl or are carrying expensive items.

I was here in July and it was cold and dreery. the hostels were a rip off for what you got – most importantly NO HEAT! it seemed touristy and just like one big outdoor mall. maybe it would be nice during the summer because I hear its a hot vacation spot for Chileans, but dont go during their winter because there is nothing to do!

I LOVED Valparaiso. the hills are so cool to explore and the Ascensors are worth riding just for the novelty. Stayed in a hostel called Luna Sonrisa and it was awesome – owned by a Chilean organic baker and a British travel author. definitely eat at la desayuno and cafe vinilo and visit Pablo Neruda’s home. it was a little cold in July though…

I grew up in Seattle and still plan on moving back someday. It is SO BEAUTIFUL and the people are friendly, outdoorsy and liberal! If you’re going to complain about the rain, you might not want to bother, because it does rain a lot. but I would much rather have rain than sub-freezing temps in the winter or over 100% humidity in the summer! Seattle is surrounded by water and mountains, how can it get any better than that? plus the city is always GREEN, which helps to get through some gray and rainy winters…

I recommend doing the Lares Trek to Machu Picchu because there are much less people on the trail. Along the way you will meet beautiful Andean people – mainly children – who exist in what seems like another world. Machu Picchu is spectacular, especially if you get there right when the park opens. and definitely hike up to Waynapicchu but be prepared for a STEEP hike. I definitely recommend going to visit Machu Picchu, it is amazing!