• Peru,  South America

    A Peru Trip: Philanthropy in Photography

    The clanging on the metal door rang hard through the air, the knocking sound reverberated across the playground and presumably through the streets of a small bread-making town outside of Cusco.  Little feet in worn shoes charged across the grass towards the door, taking turns letting in friends and then quickly returning to whatever game they were invested in, marbles, soccer, watering the garden, or playing in the sand. It seemed to be a repetitive task each afternoon, children in matching school uniforms spilling in after classes, the large rusty metal door as quickly as it closed would swing swiftly open, welcoming in dozens of kids each day. The program…

  • Colombia,  South America

    Take me to Coffee Town: Colombia’s Coffee Region

      The Coffee Zone The coffee triangle is in the heart of Colombia and there are several small towns in the region where you can take in the small town vibe, the stunning scenery and obviously, the coffee.  I immediately associate any coffee grower to have the whole Juan Valdez thing going on, complete with a little mild mannered donkey by his side, obediently toting his beans and although there aren’t white-brimmed hat coffee farmers lurking around every corner, the area exudes that farm town feeling, the air smells crisp and fresh, livestock are grazing on the surrounding rolling hills, and the further you walk down the dirt paths the…

  • Colombia,  Snapshot Sunday,  South America

    82 Hostel: A Bogota Review

    Bogota, Colombia Colombia’s sprawling capital, Bogota, is one of the largest cities in South America.  It’s comprised of individual neighborhoods, which are zones, or cultural pockets amidst the large urban city full of museums, galleries, theaters and libraries.  We opted to stay in Zona Rosa, or the T Zone, where there is plenty of shopping, nightlife and delicious restaurants and 82 Hostel is right in the middle of all the action. 82 Hostel: Home away from home in Bogota We had the fortune of coming across 82 Hostel in our research, a quiet, clean hostel in a great neighborhood. They had everything we were looking for while we spent our first…

  • Colombia,  South America

    A Sunday in Bogota, Colombia

    Sunday in Bogota The capital city, Bogota is a great place to begin your Colombian adventure.  An urban sprawl filled with smaller neighborhoods, each area are different “zones” so the city truly offers something for everyone, from booming nightlife, amazing art galleries, outdoor activities and gastronomic treats.  During the week large cities seem to exude the hum-drum feel of a standard work day, so I think the best time to get a feel for the personality of a place is over a weekend, especially when you can experience the vibe of a town on a weekend and our Sunday in Bogota was no exception. Gold Rush  There are over 50…