lyza's blog

The Inca Jungle Trail, Chevy Chase style

lyza — Fri, 7 Dec 2007 16:46:25 -0600

We got to Cusco, and naturally had not made any plans regarding our trip to Machu Picchu. We scouted out different travel agencies, fully aware that we were too late for the classic Inca Trail trek. We decided on the Inca Jungle Trail as a fun alternative....mountain biking and hiking through the...

A Weekend in Ecuador´s Cloud Forest

lyza — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 16:44:03 -0600

Mindo is a tiny little town in the cloud forest in the mountains just a couple hours outside of Quito. It is a destination for ecotourism - attracting international birdwatchers, as it is home to rare and endemic species, and is a popular weekend retreat to city dwelling Ecuadorians and backpacker...

A Month in Colombia

lyza — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 21:44:37 -0500

I am now sitting in a cafe in Quito, Ecuador reflecting on the past twenty-eight days since Megan and I left San Francisco. Though it´s exciting to be in a new country, I loved Colombia and would have spent a lot more time there if we didn´t have any time restrictions and had a...

Colombian Time

lyza — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 11:56:24 -0500

Megan and I are getting accustomed to Colombian time,
though I have reason to believe that it is actually South American
time. Colombians are wild drivers, absolutely always in a hurry.
Taxis, buses, and motorbikes rule the road, so you'd think that would
make travel time impeccable,...

Las Monitas in Bogota

lyza — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 17:34:29 -0500

Megan and I arrived in Bogota on Tuesday and stayed through the weekend, only for 5 days, but I think we got a good feel for the city. We stayed with friends of friends in their apartment in the north. Our bedroom has a view of the mountains that border the eastern side of the city, part of...

Need fresh eyes?

lyza — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 13:30:58 -0600

I just saw the most incredible and heartbreaking film, "God Grew Tired of Us", a brilliant documentary about the Lost Boys of Sudan's decades-long civil war. If youre in need for a little change of perspective (i know ive been rather mopey), this will wake you up.

Among others, it won the Audience...