World Wide Image

Oh my life is rough – here I’ve been finding myself going through countless amazing images of South America as my job. Couldn’t help but share some of these that haven’t quite made it into any of our publications yet…

Un Beso, Tara

Ps. All of these photos were taken on travels to South America – click on any photo for an itinerary that will bring you there.

8 Women, 8 Days in Peru

Amy is one of eight women recently returning from eight days in Peru. The women’s group connected through AdventureHer and created a custom Knowmad itinerary journeying through Lima, the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu and more.

Muchisimas gracias to Amy for her delightful travel journal. Below are just a couple morsels from the full journal.

 
“Each of us has different backgrounds, occupations and life experiences but were all brought together by the desire to experience a new culture.”

Money Matters in Chile

Today one U.S. dollar equals 484 Chilean pesos and of course exchange rates fluctuate, so check online before your trip to Chile – I like www.xe.com. For those of you out there like me, quick math has never been my thing (especially when in a foreign language!) so the following is a little system I’ve come up:

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Pin Us on Pinterest

Because images are some of our most beloved things here at Knowmad (after traveling of course), we are more than thrilled to announce our arrival to one of the most amazing image sharing sites out there – pinterest.com.

If you haven’t heard about it, and beautiful photos of anything and everything from pets to hair to food and more are something you’d be into, then check it out. But be warned: it’s addicting!

And if you’re already spending way too many of your waking hours pinning and repinning (you know who you are) then Knowmad’s Pinterest can’t be missed. Follow us for stunning photos, good reads, tasty dishes, gear, and all around good, clean inspiration from the Southern Hemisphere!

 

Gastronomy: Merken in Food & Wine Magazine

While perusing through the August issue of Food & Wine the other week I was delighted to find that not only was Minneapolis (Jordan and I’s hometown) featured as a foodie’s paradise, but Knowmad’s favorite spice, Merken, from Chile got a mention as well. I’ve of course been throwing it on everything since…roasted tomatoes (yum), hard boiled eggs (why not?), or cereal (alright, now I’ve gone too far!). It’s an excellent substitution to paprika, adding just the right amount of smoky flavor.

Un beso, Tara

(Image via Food & Wine Magazine, August 2012 Issue.)

Parting Shots: Chile

Overjoyed to be visiting their son in Chile after not seeing him for months while he studies abroad, Larry and Betty Oestenstad returned with great travel tales and photos. Helping plan the Oestenstad’s trip to discover the country their son Trevor had fallen for was especially gratifying to me, as a study abroad experience in Chile nearly 15 years ago kindled what has proven to be a life-long love affair with Latin America.

Book Review: Death in the Andes

The high Andean Cordillera of Peru is where Mario Vargas Llosa weaves this tale. Tomasito, a young Lieutenant, finds himself stationed in Naccos – a desolate and dying town commenced with a now closed mine and surviving by building and rebuilding a road that’s continuously buried by landslides but leads nowhere anyways. Lituma, the Corporal, listens night after night to Tomasito’s lamenting and memories of his lost love Mercedes, a dark beauty from the coast. That is, until the disappearance of three men distracts his attention. Were they murdered by the terrucos? Maybe their bodies were made to shrivel up so that a pishtaco could boil their fat. Or was the coca-leaf-reading Dona Adriana and her lush of a husband Dioniosi involved? Only the “bowels of the earth” where the “bulls, serpents, condors, and spirits lived” may ever know the truth…

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Lake Titicaca Travel: 4 Ways to Get Off The Beaten Path

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world and, after Machu Picchu, one of the most popular destinations in Peru. Straddling the Peru-Bolivia border at over 12,000 feet high, the lake is a sacred place for many Peruvians. According to ancient Andean mythology, the first Inca king and descendant of the sun surfaced from this lake to create the Incan Empire. It is also said that the sun, moon, and stars rose from Lake Titicaca and into the sky. These days, it’s a wonderful spot to get off the beaten path, connect with Peruvian culture and mythology, and have a truly unique experience in the high plains of Peru.

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