Exactly one year ago, I was embroiled in final edits on my first book, "Cheese for Dummies." It's a 408-page, comprehensive primer on all things cheese, including an extensive geography section.
I was reviewing the "America's" chapter, when I saw that my editor had taken ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Ecuador
Why Mexico Isn't Central America, And Other Things I Learned From Writing A Book About Cheese
Exactly one year ago, I was embroiled in final edits on my first book, "Cheese for Dummies." It's a 408-page, comprehensive primer on all things cheese, including an extensive geography section.
I was reviewing the "America's" chapter, when I saw that my editor had taken ...Win A Trip To South America With Richard Bangs
South America is a land of diverse cultures, stunning scenery and breathtaking adventure. Travelers can climb to the highest peaks of the Andes, experience unique wildlife, explore the biodiversity of the Amazon and indulge in a variety of wonderful cuisines. The continent ...Tim Leffel On The World's 21 Cheapest Countries
Tim Leffel's mission is to help skinflints like me find travel destinations they can afford. He traveled around the world on a shoestring with his wife three times and decided to write a book about the world's cheapest countries after realizing that there was no single ...Save $500 On A Mountain Travel Sobek Galapagos Island Adventure
If you're like me you're probably already looking ahead to 2013 and planning your next adventure. If that happens to be the case, and the Galapagos Islands have been a destination that you've always dreamed about, then perhaps January is the time to make that dream a ...180 Million Rats Targeted For Extinction In The Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are considered by many to be one of the top travel destinations in the entire world. Located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, the islands are famous for their unique wildlife that isn't found anywhere else on Earth. Those animals ...Travel Hacking: Best Holiday Gifts For Low-Tech Travelers
I'm an unapologetic Luddite. My colleagues at Gadling will attest to this. The fact that I write for AOL is both cosmic luck and hilarious irony given my initial reluctance to embrace the digital era.
I can't help it; it's hereditary. At least, that's what I tell ...Mental Math: Easy Rules Of Thumb For Converting Currency
Being in a new country is full of enough culture shock – trying to remember how many dollars to the krona doesn't need to be part of it.
After all, constantly whipping out a calculator (well, a cellphone) and spending five minutes trying to figure out if that ...MRSA, MRSA Me: How To Avoid A Community-Acquired Staph Infection
If you're at all squeamish, just skip the below paragraph. Look away. Look away!
Last Thursday, while a surgeon was lancing my second ginormous skin abscess in six weeks, I found myself thinking, "WTF?" I'd never had an abscess in my life until moving back to Colorado ...Mountain Travel Sobek Offers Rafting Adventure That Spans 25 Days, 6 Continents
Adrenaline junkies and globetrotting adventure travelers will want to take note of an impressive new itinerary being offered by Mountain Travel Sobek. Yesterday, the company unveiled a new excursion that will send travelers on a whitewater odyssey that spans six continents ...When Travel Helps You Appreciate Home
"Maybe that's the best part of going away for a vacation – coming home again." ~ Madeleine L'Engle, "Meet the Austins"
I had been dreaming peacefully – well, as peacefully as one can when riding a sweltering overnight bus along winding roads of Ecuador with a ...Getting Out Of Quito, Ecuador: Day, Weekend And Weeklong Excursions
While Quito, Ecuador, offers many opportunities for Inca history, diverse architecture and trendy restaurants, my favorite part about visiting this busy city was its side trips. In less than three hours you can be hiking through waterfall-filled forests, climbing one of the ...Photo Of The Day: Galapagos Crab
The unique diversity and one-of-a-kind wildlife of the Galapagos Islands makes it a hotspot for traveling nature lovers from around the globe. In today's photo, taken by Flickr user wesleyrosenblum, we find a brilliant red crab in close-up on the island of Santiago. This ...Lonesome George, The World's Last Remaining Pinta Island Tortoise, Has Died
The world's only Pinta Island Tortoise died on Sunday, leaving the planet one species poorer. Lonesome George, the iconic tortoise of the Galapagos Islands, was believed to be over 100 years old.
When Lonesome George was discovered on Pinta Island in 1972, Galapagos ...Banos: Ecuador's Top Adventure Destination
If you're the type of traveler who loves extreme adventure and being active, you'll love Baños, Ecuador. Located about three hours south of Quito, Baños is a small but lively town surrounded by mountains and lush greenery. There are dozens of tour agencies ...How To Visit The Galapagos Islands On A Budget
While the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador are known for being extremely expensive, once you pay for the flight and $100 entrance fee, it is possible to explore this beautiful area on a budget. After going there myself, I discovered these tips for saving money in this ...Would You Sleep In A 300-Year-Old Ceibo Tree In The Galapagos Islands?
On San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands, you can find a unique accommodation that is part treehouse, part underground cave. Known as El Ceibo, the property is located in the El Progreso neighborhood and features the largest tree on the entire island at 48 feet high. ...Swimming With Sharks And Sea Lions In The Galapagos Islands
"Don't freak out, but there are two huge hammerhead sharks right below us."
My guide Jens' attempt at having me "not freak out" over the two carnivorous beasts that are 10 feet away from my juicy calves only leads me to begin shrieking and jumping on his back. Soon, ...Mindo: A Nature-Inspired Day Trip From Quito, Ecuador
Quito, Ecuador, is a big, bustling city that can sometimes be overwhelming. For those who need a change of pace, one great day trip idea is to head to nearby Mindo, a tranquil town filled with nature-inspired activities. Located in the Los Bancos canton of the Pichincha ...Street Art Brings Color To Ecuador (GALLERY)
New York, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires and Melbourne are just a few of the cities known for street art. But that doesn't mean the streets aren't being spray painted, wheat pasted and stenciled in other cities – and more importantly, it doesn't lessen the messages ...Exploring The Dark Side Of Banos, Ecuador, Through Graffiti
Not only is Banos, Ecuador, home to pristine waterfalls, active volcanoes, adventure sports and delicious candy, it's also got some impressive graffiti art. What's interesting is that while the city itself gives off an optimistic and happy vibe through its natural beauty, ...
