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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Peruvian Textiles

 
The tradition of producing textiles is still very much alive in the Andes. Their vibrant colors and geometric designs are displayed in every artisan market you’ll find. Not to mention, the traditional garb of which belts, satchels, and skirts are made from these textiles are still worn by native women daily.

Knowmad News: Published in Frommer’s Again!

It was rewarding last year when Frommer’s Budget Travel made our Northern Patagonia Odyssey itinerary their Featured Real Deal Trip as it’s an innovative and authentic itinerary that makes the Patagonia more accessible. Far more rewarding however, the magazine recently interviewed the Seviers who found us by way of the Frommer’s accolade, took the trip, and were blown away by how well it facilitated them being a part of the diverse cultures of the region.

GOING OFF THE GRID
(as published in Frommer’s Budget Travel, May/June 2012)

“My wife, Sarah, and I live in Manhattan. As lifelong big-city dwellers, a trip to Chilean Patagonia was a 180-degree change for us. We wanted to be immersed, not pampered. Only twice did we eat in restaurants – instead, we ate with our hosts in local homes. We stayed with a couple in Cochamo Valley – at one point we were eating fresh salmon the husband had caught the day before from the river that runs through their property. What I remember most: the wood stoves. There’s one in everybody’s kitchen, going 24 hours a day. The coffee’s always on, and you can smell the wood smoke all throughout the house. I’m desperate to find a way to import those stoves to New York—I just don’t know too many landlords who would allow it.”

–Ben Sevier, New York, NY

The related nine-night itinerary starts at $1,550. Call to talk to your trip specialist 1-877-616-8747. Or visit us online at www.KnowmadAdventures.com

Winner, Winner, Heck-of-a-lot more than Chicken Dinner

Michelle Gedney is the lucky winner of a free 3-day stay at the lush Amazon jungle lodge Reserva Amazonica in Peru.
She was picked randomly among over 300 hundred entries who stopped by to talk travel with us at the 54thMidwest MountaineeringExpo this past weekend. The event brought thousands of people from the outdoor community together and we can’t thank Midwest enough for putting on such a special event.
Hope to see you all at this fall’s expo November 16th– 18th; it could be your turn to win adventure.

Curried Quinoa

Quinoa seems to be all the rage lately, as this world is discovering how hard gluten can be on your body. This grain, native to the high Andean regions of Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Columbia, is a great source of protein, calcium and iron. The Incans revered the crop and considered it sacred, referring it to it as “the mother of all grains.”

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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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