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HEART FLUTTERS AT MACHU PICCHU

    As a professional gypsy, I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel to some of the most amazing places on earth. I have been affected by all of the places that I’ve visited but am very aware that not all destinations are created equal and everyone’s personal experiences in those places are different. For me, there are those places on this planet that cause my heart to flutter and face to beam every time their names are mentioned. I light up when someone asks me about them and a sense of euphoria overwhelms me when I begin to talk about them.  Rapa Nui, Iguazu Falls, Torres del Paine, El Camino de Santiago, Ngorongoro Crater, and the Salar de Uyuni are a few of those places that make my heart skip a beat. The one place above all that has this euphoric effect on me is Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is one of the most mind-blowingly beautiful places that I have ever seen. Of course there are older and more important archaeological sites in the world, but few of them have a location as stunning as Machu Picchu. The Inca were not only ingenious architects but they knew it was all about location, location, location. They could appreciate a room with a view in the 14th century. Located high above the lush Urubamba Valley, the stone buildings hug the mountain and the terraces cascade down the steep-sided slopes into the dense vegetation. There is no question that this… Read More »HEART FLUTTERS AT MACHU PICCHU

    PIRAÑHA FISHING IN THE AMAZON

      Deep in Ecuador’s Amazon Basin, with sweat rolling down my back, I sat patiently in the dug-out canoe under the equatorial sun’s harsh rays. The surrounding jungle was tranquil in the mid-day heat and not the cacophony of sounds heard the night before. The occasional mosquito buzzing in my ear wasn’t enough to make me lose my concentration. Nope. Bathed in DEET, I was jungle-ready and determined to catch a piranha!  Piranha fishing? Whoa…back-up. Initially my boyfriend (Mike) and I were totally shocked by the guide’s suggestion, not because of the activity per se, but because there could not possibly be piranhas in the same river that we had swam in twice the day before, right?! Don’t get me wrong we were a bit crazy and had knowingly (some may say insanely) swam in the same river that we had spotted black caiman and massive anacondas in earlier…but piranhas?! They are all kinds of terrifying! Why didn’t the local guides tell us about the piranhas before we had gone swimming? Clearly because we NEVER would have gone had we known. Ever.  Armed with nothing more than fishing lines, rusty hooks and rotten pieces of chicken, my boyfriend and I were poised to catch ourselves some fierce little piranhas from our dug-out canoe. Our Huaorani guide, Eduardo, demonstrated his fishing technique with such ease and within seconds, he had a piranha on his line. The fish was voraciously gnawing away at the meat…not even on the hook…when Eduardo plunked it in… Read More »PIRAÑHA FISHING IN THE AMAZON

      THE ENCHANTED GALAPAGOS

        Ever since I was a kid flipping through my Animal Kingdom books, I’ve wanted visit the enchanted Galapagos Islands.

        PERU PHOTO BLOG

          The jewel of South America, Peru will send your camera into overdrive with its jaw-dropping terrain, colourful markets, white-washed cities, forgotten temples entangled in jungle vines, and massive archaeological complexes. The ancient citadel of Machu Picchu is one of the New Seven Wonders of the world…click through the Finisterra Peru Photo Blog below to find out why!

          HOW TO BARTER WITH THE BEST OF THEM

            You’ve landed in a foreign land, stepped off the plane and are immediately bombarded with sounds, sights, and smells that are exotic, exciting, and sometimes overwhelming. Armed with your trusty guide book in hand, you walk the gauntlet of cabbies vying for your attention and shouting prices at you – welcome to your first haggling experience. For many travellers, haggling or bartering can be an intimidating and often frustrating experience as most of us are from countries where the sticker price is the actual price without question. In many parts of the world, virtually all prices can be negotiated – trinkets, taxis, clothing, excursions, and even accommodation can all be bartered over. Haggling is culturally ingrained in many societies and is expected by foreigners and locals alike. A fine balance of finesse, patience and humour are essential to master the art of haggling. Here are some tips to help you fine-tune your haggling skills. First thing is first, you need to set a benchmark price for whatever it is that you are bartering for. Whether it is a taxi from the airport or a wooden trinket at the market, make sure you ask at least 3 vendors their price so that you have an idea. Of course make sure you know the exchange rate before you start any bartering so that you aren’t offending or overpaying (www.xe.com). Brush up on you local language skills. If you speak the local language (at least the basics), you are going to get a… Read More »HOW TO BARTER WITH THE BEST OF THEM

            MAGNIFICIENT PETRA

              Our local guide had everyone link hands and close their eyes. Not really understanding why, everyone begrudgingly abided and lined-up on one edge of the canyon. The walls of the steep canyon tower 50 stories above our heads on each side, while we stand in a gap so small that you can sometimes touch both sides. The canyon looks as though it were carved and painted, presenting a natural beauty that seems to add mystique to the experience. The canyon, known as the Siq, is nearly empty due to our early start, a choice most people won’t appreciate until they make the return journey amidst the daytime crowds. The Siq was actually carved, but not by the roughly 30 thousand people estimated to have lived here almost 2000 years ago. A giant sandstone slab of rock was split by an earthquake before being worn smooth by water over hundreds of years. Later additions, such as the Roman paving stones or the exquisitely cut mini-aqueducts on each side of the canyon can go almost unnoticed as visitors stare up at the immense 1.5 km canyon they are walking through. This wasn’t the usual front door, archaeologists now believe it was the royal entrance, reserved for special visitors and important caravans. My first trip to Jordan was only half for work. I tagged along on a friend’s tour of the country, enjoying the nice things about being on an organized group tour without having any of the responsibility. I spent a bit… Read More »MAGNIFICIENT PETRA