Laura T PetersenFeb 28, 2020Complicated MedellínWe spent 5 weeks in Medellín studying Spanish at Toucan language school. I didn’t do any writing about Medellín because I was so busy...
Laura T PetersenFeb 24, 2020Carnival in Barranquilla!We were able to score some great seats for the Carnival Parade. Our taxi driver Vladimir seated us with his parents and made sure we...
Laura T PetersenFeb 17, 2020A World AwayHere in the bustling Colombian city of Medellin our January adventures in rural Peru seem a world away. It’s hard to believe the two...
Laura T PetersenFeb 2, 2020A truly Sacred ValleyThe day we went to Machu Picchu we returned to our beloved Ollantaytambo via train together with the Arboricos. We stayed another night...
John Rae-GrantJan 30, 2020Magnificent, Picturesque Machu PicchuWhen we first started planning this trip, one of the few places we knew we wanted to go was Machu Picchu. I don't know whether both...
Laura T PetersenJan 13, 2020Galapagos AweMy knowledge of the Galapagos Islands before our visit was limited to images of rugged islands with lizards and tortoises on land and...
John Rae-GrantJan 5, 2020Natural New ZealandThis article is out of order, as we left New Zealand on December 4 (we are now in Ecaudor, headed to Peru on the 7th). As I mentioned in...
John Rae-GrantDec 14, 2019Mellow Mo'oreaI realize that I haven't yet written anything about New Zealand. I will get to that soon, but there is a lot that I want to say about...
John Rae-GrantNov 29, 2019Kava and KindnessLike so much of this trip, our time in Fiji was abruptly planned. The first part was spent on Denaru island, near Nadi, as we had a...
Laura T PetersenNov 26, 2019Gravel and Art - ChristchurchWe arrived into Christchurch from Fiji and were welcomed by Bruce and Simone whom we met in Vietnam. Bruce was only able to have lunch...
Laura T PetersenNov 20, 2019Bula Fiji!We decided to fit Fiji into our travels between Australia and New Zealand since we had a timeshare there we could use. Our first few days...
Laura T PetersenNov 19, 2019Good-bye AustraliaOur last week in Australia was spent watching the final Rugby World Cup in Brisbane and saying good-bye to Geoff. It was clear that a...
John Rae-GrantNov 19, 2019Seductive SydneyWhat makes a city incredible? I don't mean "What are the features of an incredible city?". I mean "What is the dynamic - the unique...
Laura T PetersenNov 14, 2019Birds, Turtles & Birds on Heron Island and more BirdsAfter our sailing adventure we did another long drive and an overnight in Gladstone before we boarded the 2 hour ferry to Heron Island....
Laura T PetersenNov 9, 2019Sharks, Rays & Turtles with FriendsIt’s been a busy two weeks. We flew from Bali to Cairns, Australia on October 21 where we met up with our Seattle friends Geoff and...
Laura T PetersenNov 7, 2019The Joy of Blending In - SingaporeWe had decided the dates long ago to stay with John’s college friend Fritz in Singapore. The plan was to experience the luxurious ex-pat...
John Rae-GrantNov 4, 2019Uplifting UbudAfter a few days of encountering many waves and many Australians in Kuta, we decided to leave the coast and explore other parts of Bali...
John Rae-GrantNov 3, 2019Busy Beaches of BaliHaving left the tranquility of low season Kho Lanta, we found ourselves in the midst of high season Kuta Beach in Bali. We came here...
Laura T PetersenNov 2, 2019Being Grateful in BaliWe didn’t know what to expect when we went to Bali as it was a last minute destination, chosen by Naomi and Keegan because it has...
John Rae-GrantOct 9, 2019Lanta SunsetsI know, intellectually, that sunset and sunrise occur every day. I have lived, sometimes, in places where either or both were obscured...