jrguitar21

....but wouldnt wanna live there. Everyone there is welcome to get his own slice of the american dream; and its admitedly not a bad place to start. This city is the center of the materialistic world. Alas, i am a small town boy from the country and at the end of the day, the concrete jungle does nothing for my senses.

it was on the way from the argentinian border headed to potosí. This town was an unplanned stop along the way and a most unexpected and pleasant surprise as an introduction to bolivia. The town is relatively clean, colorful, and the climate rules compared to the more popular and more heavily traveled altiplano region of bolivia.

was in a breezy field near salta. it was a great experience albeit nowhere near what i expected for paragliding. I thought we´d be jumping off one of the mountains that surrounds this interesting city, but instead we were lifted off the floor of a valley plain tethered to a cable attached to a land cruiser that pulled us across the valley in order to move the parachute enough to create lift. once we reached an interesting altitude i released the tether and floated back to valley floor.

this island is dotted with old fishing villages built of nice wooden houses some over 200 years old. Also, there is really good seafood and an interesting and rarely visited nature reserve.

The seafood here rocks!

The argentinian side of the falls provides much more hiking and viewpoint possibilities than the Brazilian side.

some of the most breathtaking mountain-skapes in Conosur.

a truly interplanetary experience.

Volcano Tungurahua near Ambato and Baños is erupting right now!

Unfortunately due to the extreme popularity of this world monumental site, the “Inca Trail” up to Machu Picchu is now highly regulated and the perfect treat for someone looking for a unique backpacking experience where porters carry your food and tents and kitchens up the mountain, while you skirt along beside them. On the other hand there are MANY other ruins in Peru and especially near Cuzco that can be approached by three or four days backpacking on trails that are not nearly as crowded and comfortable as the inca trail. That being said, Machu Picchu definitely takes the cake for its remote and breathtaking settings. Get there early and avoid the flood of tourists or sneak in at night for an incredibly spiritual experience.