Rumi, the celebrated 13th-century poet, philosopher, scholar and founder of the Sufi mystical cult, would have been 817 years old today. Notable – his works have lasted. They are translated all over the world and he is still considered the “top-selling poet” in the United States. Not to condense Rumi’s contributions to a few pithy … More Celebrating Rumi’s birthday in Konya
Many people come to this area for just a couple of days, with the primary attraction being a ride in a hot air balloon. Now, one can certainly see the attraction of climbing into a wicker basket and lifting off at sunrise over an otherworldly landscape. The romance, the bucket-list box ticked, the celebratory champagne … More Cappadocia: So Much More than Hot Air Balloons
When we were planning our trip, we knew we would be in Peru for at least part of the Easter celebrations, and we wanted to find a place that went all out for pomp and pageantry. Ayacucho kept coming up as “one of the top places in Peru to celebrate Semana Santa (Easter)” and once … More Ayacucho Kicks off Semana Santa
Have you ever built up a place in your mind so much that when you finally see it there is a sense of disappointment? A friend of mine reacted that way to the Trevi Fountain in Rome; wondering what all the fuss was about. It will be impossible for anyone to see Machu Picchu and … More Minds Blown in Machu Picchu
When we were travelling a few years ago through the desert regions of California, I imagined there would be little difference between Joshua Tree, Death Valley and Anza Borrego. I couldn’t have been more wrong; the differences were pronounced. A desert is not just a desert. Such is the case with the many ruins that … More The Ruins of the Sacred Valley
When I thought of travelling in the Amazon, the following images came to mind: hammocks slung on sweaty passenger boats slowly drifting into the heart of darkness. Monkey screeches, oppressive heat, jungle smells and a low-key dose of yellow fever (or at least a fever of some sort) thrown in for good measure. We knew … More Roughing it in the Amazon
When we were reading about Arequipa, we were intrigued and excited about visiting Peru’s second-largest city. Founded in 1540, this colonial-era city of about one million people sits at 7661 feet above sea level and is framed by three volcanoes, Chachani, Pichu Pichu and El Misti. El Misti is the most prominent volcano, with its … More Arequipa: Finding Colour in “The White City”
Prior to this trip, when I thought of bus rides in the Andes, I didn’t think of lengthy sedate journeys through spectacular scenery. I imagined bald-tired relics driven by teenagers, careering around hairpin turns, crucifixes flying and music blasting. Luckily for us, we were treated to the former and as we drove for seven hours … More Cajamarca – We Climbed up the Andes and Missed the Party.
There is something so light-hearted and happy about watching surfers; you just know there is nowhere else they would rather be. Huanchaco, a small town just north of Trujillo on Peru’s northern desert coast, is pretty darn close to surfing heaven. Unlike many other destinations, this area has consistent waves all year, thereby attracting surfers … More Riding the Waves Near Trujillo
We’ve just spent our first week in Peru; in the clifftop waterfront neighbourhood of Miraflores, Lima to be exact. Miraflores is where most tourists tend to gravitate to, even the backpackers. Although the descriptors “upscale”, “luxury shopping” and “highrise hotels” are not normally our drivers, we decided to play it safe and go with the … More Coming Up For Air in Lima
Leaving Ourselves Behind 