Last Friday night marked an important milestone for me: My thirtieth consecutive night in my apartment in Copan. Now, this may seem like I am trying to commemorate the fact that a whole month has already passed since I moved to Honduras, and in some ways, I am.  However, more notably, this is probably the [...]

The one-year anniversary of my last post on this blog is fast approaching. I hope to begin posting more regularly again, but—before I begin—I feel the need to explain my absence. In the last year, I have: Worked over 130 days “in the field” as an instructor with Where There Be Dragons (predominantly in Bolivia, [...]

Today is the first anniversary of an event that sent shock waves throughout an already staunchly divided Bolivia and indirectly affected the direction of my life to date.  On September 11th, 2008, a group of campesinos from rural Pando marched into their departmental capital—Cobija—and were met at the edge of the city by departmental [...]

Wow. What a summer. If you are interested in viewing a photographic summary of my highlights from leading a course in Bolivia with Where There Be Dragons, check out my article on matadorabroad.com (click this link). In a word: Revitalizing. In two words: Awesome challenge. In a haiku (and the words of one of my beautiful students): By letting go and diving [...]

Just a quick note to inform my dear blog readers of my next adventure.  In just over a week, I’ll fly to California to begin staff training with a company called Where There Be Dragons.  Following two weeks in CA, I will be working with a team of two other fabulous instructors and nine students. [...]

Six months ago today I was driven in a Land Cruiser from the “Huampani Vacation Center” to the Peace Corps office in downtown Lima.  The last official act of the Peace Corps on my behalf after closing my service after evacuation.  From the moment I walked out of the office and into the chaotic Lima [...]

One year and three days after I touched down on the South American continent’s highest commercial airport in La Paz, Bolivia, I went wheels up from Buenos Aires’ sea-level international airport bound for an icy Washington, DC. And what a year it was. It took place predominantly in Bolivia, but with geographical cameos from Peru, Argentina, [...]

Yours truly in front of what is arguably the largest waterfall in the world.  Some measuring methods put Africa’s Victoria Falls in the number one slot, some say it’s Iguazu.  True to its Guarani name, this is big water, regardless if it is the biggest! You can take the Adventure Links staff out of the Mountain, [...]

It’s been a while since I posted. I know.  And much has happened.  If I had the time, I would give each of the following events the time and webspace they truly deserve.  But, alas, the life of a wanderer that I am currently living doesn’t often allow for such luxuries. Since returning from Sajama in early December, I [...]

Nevado Sajama is Bolivia’s highest peak. It’s summit is a cool 6,542 meters above sea level. That’s 21,463 feet. You pretty much have to go to Asia to see peaks much higher than this. It also happens to be the best place place I have visited in Bolivia so far. And, you all know [...]

I could take the time to list all the “world’s highests” that can be found in La Paz, but that wouldn’t paint the proper picture of the city I have come to know and love over the past few months. It’s true that La Paz is the world’s highest capital city (followed by Quito, and then [...]

Things that I found myself being grateful for as I tried desperately to prepare a turkey in a Bolivian oven, without ever having done so in a normal oven before in my life: Bolivia. Friends, new and old. Around the world. An unconditionally supportive family. This unexpected time in my life to explore this continent, myself, my thoughts [...]

The palindromic capital of the department of the same name is not often on the “must see” Bolivian itinerary, but, it is well worth a visit. While it is home to an infamous Carnaval celebration each February, the rest of the year, the streets of Oruro are nothing but tranquilo. I had the privilege [...]

According to Quechua and Aymara legend, it was here, on the Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) in the southern (and Bolivian) end of Lake Titicaca, where the bearded God-King Viracocha first appeared and commanded the Sun and the Moon to be born.  The first Quechua people, Mano Capac and Mama Ocllo were also [...]

After Potosi, we took an overnight flota up to La Paz. From there, we had an express taxi ready to drive us the few hundred kilometers north (and 13,000 feet down) to Rurrenabaque, up in Beni. What a road… What a road… Leaving La Paz, the road climbs to nearly 14,000 feet, and [...]

After a few days of relaxing and showing my friends around Sucre, we headed up to Potosi, which just so happens to be the highest city in the world (at least of any real size). It sits at a cool 4070 meters above sea level (13,300 feet, give or take), and is home to [...]

It is with great pride for my country that I announce to my dear blog readers that I have officially accepted an invitation to serve again as a Peace Corps Volunteer.  I will be joining the Environmental Education program in Ecuador, which begins (probably in Washington, DC) on February 24th. I am in Bolivia for now.  [...]

I haven’t the words to describe Southwestern Bolivia, so I will allow the following photos to speak thousands of their words in place of my own.  I will say that it is absolutely one of the most impressionable and awesome (in the true sense of the word) landscapes I have ever had the privilege of [...]

I have been lost and found in Argentina these past few weeks.  (With the exception of our two day sojourn to Uruguay.)  Our Argentine time has been filled (to the brim) with sun and rain, with wine and cheese, with friends new and old, with sea breeze and the world’s highest peak outside of the [...]