tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39652213597966503002024-10-04T23:01:57.635-04:00Traveling is more than just a destination. Sometimes, it's about exploring what right in your own backyard. Or, it's visiting different countries and experiencing different cultures. Just go!Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-12510566331691628392011-08-10T22:53:00.000-04:002011-08-10T22:53:35.526-04:00

Sure, it gets a bad rep in the press, but Washington, D.C. is actually a really beautiful place that also just happens to have politicians living in it. It's also an extremely tourist-friendly destination. Whether you're new to town or planning a trip, you will eventually visit the Washington Monument, the Air & Space Museum and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Below, are the five

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-28967803751728146102011-08-03T23:39:00.000-04:002011-08-03T23:39:42.194-04:00

It seems a bit entitled to say something like "You owe it to yourself to travel." After all, we are in an economy that is poised to recover...until it isn't and then it's back again. Taking trips is becoming more and more of a luxury. But, if you love to travel, nothing could be closer to the truth than "You owe it to yourself" because it's during the tough times that we realize what really

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-43505318447837016382011-07-26T17:23:00.000-04:002011-07-26T17:23:57.000-04:00

One of the joys of traveling is planning. I am obsessed with planning for my travels.  Sometimes, this means finding the perfect flight: what time will it get there? Is there a cheaper flight that will get me there earlier? A better flight that will mean I arrive ready to go? Sometimes, it means finding the perfect place to stay: hostel or hotel? Close to museums and the city center or

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-79263685637456495322011-07-12T21:13:00.000-04:002011-07-12T21:13:44.296-04:00

Nothing says "Ask me a question!" like a smile Smiling at another person can be a sign of approval, affection or just simple friendliness. It is a gift that asks only to be accepted. A smile is not to be confused with the leer from the would-be-Cassanova or the smirk from the high-and-mighty among the rest of us mere mortals. Unlike those, a smile usually merits simply a smile or a nod back:

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-39013853602340338932011-07-07T21:28:00.000-04:002011-07-07T23:22:34.832-04:00

This week I visited Jamaica, Peru, Mali, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, and Colombia. No, I have not won the lottery or become a contestant on the Amazing Race. The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is taking place and the tents were full! The Peace Corps section included organic farming from Jamaica, weaving from Peru and Kyrgyzstan, pottery from Peru, mudpainting in Mali and shea butter from Ghana. In its own

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-83825889296068220882011-07-06T20:20:00.000-04:002011-07-06T23:21:22.600-04:00

Before I went, everyone told me that Montréal, Québec is as close to Europe as you can get in North America. I haven't been to Europe (yet), but if that is true Montréal made a great first impression. The dates are starting to become blurred now, but I know we spend to wintry weeks in Montreal, so it could only have been last December! I won't bore you with the details, since they are

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-75137620989322357222011-07-05T20:19:00.000-04:002011-07-05T20:19:43.280-04:00

If you're a plan-ahead type of person, you're probably planning your Fall Foliage tour now. Which is why I will deem this post about Maine in October, relevant now.  Lots of airlines have specials to the Northeast in late Fall. We took JetBlue to Boston and drove from there. With the right music and right friends, the trip is a breeze. Everything you've ever heard about the Beauty of the

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-76498169384630941022011-05-26T23:13:00.000-04:002011-05-26T23:13:59.757-04:00

I have been traveling! Just not blogging about it, sometimes it feels like there are not enough hours in the day! So, time to update!Over the next few weeks, I will update with pictures of Maine, Canada and the lovely DC area.

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-9790223961970784932010-02-27T21:34:00.001-05:002010-02-27T21:41:44.589-05:00

The Botanic Garden is part showcases of flora in Colombia, part conservation effort, part teaching gardens plus a beautiful Butterfly Garden. It is named after astronomer and botanist José Celestino Mutis who also contributed Colombia's first observatory and was fundamental to increasing knowledge in the country.My favorite parts were the palm grove and the rose garden that had roses that looked

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-51712980302985836122010-02-24T20:41:00.000-05:002010-02-24T20:45:20.010-05:00

Back in the snow, I have over 2, 000 pictures more to publish and tell stories about. In the meantime, I made this short video:The song is "Volverte a Ver" by Juanes. It's a song about missing someone you love and I think it applies to Bogotá.Bogotá is unlike anything you'd ever expect. It's a city of 8 million people and it's always alive. These are just some of the beautiful things you can see

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-39996051671556810222010-01-31T21:32:00.000-05:002010-02-26T22:53:46.201-05:00

On Sundays and holidays, Bogotá opens up the Ciclovia and closes principal avenues to clear the way for cycling and skating aficionados. We rented two bikes and joined in on the fun. Although the ciclovia extends for most of the city, we stayed in a 8-block area since we were on rentals and I didn't exactly think I could rush back to the bike shop in time.Nonetheless, we had an awesome time and,

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-83329947470353606852010-01-31T20:32:00.000-05:002010-02-02T15:34:28.208-05:00

Friends of friends took us on a small tour of the towns around Bogotá today that can be reached by the highway. All along the way, the Cordillera provided beautiful vistas. We forgot the camera, so the pictures below are similes of sorts. Suba: Exurb of Bogotá. It started out small but is now a place for the upwardly mobile. It's grown really big and has a lot of construction.Chia: We just saw a

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-78793497915650817372010-01-26T10:23:00.000-05:002010-02-02T15:12:44.043-05:00

La Candelaria is Bogotá's historic district. It's filled with universities, schools and museums. Scattered throughout the neighborhood are a myriad of hostels so the area is always filled with tourists from abroad and Colombia. You can walk to most of the museums and the buildings are almost all colonial.It's a bit disconcerting to see the dogs that run around free here- back home I am always

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-16402511706942939432010-01-25T22:47:00.000-05:002010-02-01T18:31:02.606-05:00

The Museum of Gold in Bogotá is a sight to behold: the metal workings of pre- and post-Columbian South America are on display there. Most of the gold-workings are pre-Columbian since the Spanish weren't especially interested in the local art, they just wanted the gold.In the second floor, there is a fascinating display that shows how early goldsmiths were able to use as little as 10% gold mixed

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-72498506885431335352010-01-25T22:04:00.000-05:002010-02-01T18:31:02.609-05:00

"La Libertadora del Libertador"The former house of Manuelita Sáenz is now the Museum of Regional Clothing. It is an exhibition of typical, historical and modern clothing from all over Colombia. Part of the exhibit is dedicated to the different types of weaving to be found in South America and includes tools and samples. Manuelita Sáenz was one of the most influential women of post-colonial South

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-16774118074704455782010-01-25T21:40:00.000-05:002010-02-02T14:17:47.201-05:00

This museum is simply amazing. It is located in La Casa de las Aulas, which a guard told us used to be a convent. It has a beautiful courtyard garden and the best part about it is that it doesn't sugarcoat history while at the same time showcasing the beautiful art pieces that came out of one of the most violent parts of colonial history.The colonial art produced in Spanish New Granada (it was

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-55767971798241899632010-01-25T21:16:00.000-05:002010-01-25T22:32:31.440-05:00

For some reason, whenever we get directions people assume we wouldn't want to walk anywhere. We walk as much as we can, but everywhere we've gone, we are told that taxi is the best way to get around. But, it's not the only way.Bogotá has this bus service called the Transmilenio and we decided to try it today. Despite warnings you'll get about hugging your things close to you and watching out for

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3965221359796650300.post-79866808747753640612010-01-25T20:55:00.000-05:002010-01-27T16:25:58.859-05:00

The first few days in Bogotá were a mixed bag. Viewed at night from the foot of Monserrate, the city is beautiful, resplendent. The food, however, wasn't what I expected. (Read: where were the fresh fruits, vegetables and local dishes I'd been looking forward to?) The best places we found to eat were a local chain Oma and a place called Crepes & Waffles. They are both very popular, but the

Chabelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027042048369780920noreply@blogger.com0