TravelStream™ news feed for member vivirconvalor on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/vivirconvalor en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Tue, 17 Jul 2007 23:22:40 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/africa2006-07/1175916000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/africa2006-07/1175916000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/africa2006-07/1175916000/tpod.html Tue, 17 Jul 2007 23:22:40 -0400 Another year in Africa: back to Botswana for more exploration

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Maputo, Mozambique

coming one day in the future
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1168203660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1168203660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1168203660/tpod.html Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:46:41 -0400 Three weeks. Three countries. I'm home again for the holidays...

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Koeln, Germany

As soon as I figure out the technologically advanced baggage storage unit, I ditch the luggage and grab my camera. In the rain and looming darkness across from the train station, I capture a few images of a greyer, sombre Cologne--a city much better known for its giant, vivicious February carnival. Then it's time to rush back to catch the train to Belgium...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/colombia-2007/1182741840/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/colombia-2007/1182741840/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/colombia-2007/1182741840/tpod.html Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:30:50 -0400 ¡Qué bonito este país! Travelling in Colombia has been laced with surprises, luck and lessons rather than the substance of narco-trafficking...

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Bogota, Colombia

Actually, it is easy to forget about the soldier standing on the sidewalk armed with a heavy-duty semi-automatic.

Bogotá D.C., the capital of an erroneously ill-reputed country, has literally taken my breath away. Situated at an altitude of 2600m, the city offers much more than the notorious international reputation associated with all things Colombian. I find myself feeling at home here, no longer hit by the effects of reverse culture shock that I experienced after briefly returning to North America in my life after Africa (round one, anyway). But it must also have something to do with the gente amable who offer some of the most amazing hospitality I have ever encountered around the world.

Rich lessons from history, a modern city with few tourists, late night rumbas, impeccable Spanish and stunning vistas are all part of my daily grind--so far-removed from the infamous dark side of Colombia.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/africa2005-06/1127397600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/africa2005-06/1127397600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/africa2005-06/1127397600/tpod.html Thu, 08 Mar 2007 02:24:58 -0500 Living con valor. Exploring Botswana and beyond moment to moment...

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Gaborone, Botswana

As fast as its eight legs can scurry, the spider scuttles towards a dark corner just barely escaping the boy's wrath.

Suddenly, the seven year old swoops again. This time, the spider isn't so lucky.

Smack! He brings the force of his black dress shoe down on the ground, then again and again.

"I got it!" yells Tumisang proudly.

The arachnid now resembles a pancake.

"You can stop now," I say as I begin the ritual clean up. "I think it's dead."

Several times a week, Tumisang and I spot one of these creatures in the house. When stretched out, they each span roughly the circumference of a drinking glass. They are bigger than any I've ever seen naturally inhabiting North America or Europe.

I'm relieved that I don't suffer from arachnophobia or a fear of insects in general because there are so many species of critters here that I have never before seen or even heard of. Many of them are much larger than their cousins in the Northern Hemisphere.

Even in the city, a walk can take you past various-sized colonies that serve as the homes for various-sized termites or ants. Some are huge mounds that reach the height of my waist. Seemingly constructed of dirt, their unmistakably unique structures are punctured sporadically with holes-no doubt as the door to the outside for the army of thousands and possibly millions that live within.

At home, Tumisang is a most formidable warrior against the spiders and says, at times, he takes the offensive against ants and termites, too.

"I'll kill them and smash them out," he divulges. "I don't like them."

He tells me he's afraid they'll bite him when he's sleeping. To be fair, he admits he's never been bitten by any of them ever.

Smack! From another room, Tumisang is in fighting form again. It's time to go clean up.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1168302600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1168302600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1168302600/tpod.html Mon, 08 Jan 2007 20:42:44 -0500 Three weeks. Three countries. I'm home again for the holidays...

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London, United Kingdom

coming soon
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1167691080/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1167691080/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1167691080/tpod.html Mon, 08 Jan 2007 20:39:45 -0500 Three weeks. Three countries. I'm home again for the holidays...

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Wuerzburg, Germany

dfdfd
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1168220100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1168220100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1168220100/tpod.html Mon, 08 Jan 2007 20:37:16 -0500 Three weeks. Three countries. I'm home again for the holidays...

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Brussels, Belgium

coming soon
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1167297240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1167297240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1167297240/tpod.html Thu, 04 Jan 2007 04:30:14 -0500 Three weeks. Three countries. I'm home again for the holidays...

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Würzburg, Germany

coming soon
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1167037980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1167037980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1167037980/tpod.html Thu, 04 Jan 2007 04:28:30 -0500 Three weeks. Three countries. I'm home again for the holidays...

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St. Albans, United Kingdom

coming soon
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1167556680/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1167556680/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/vivirconvalor/europe-2006-07/1167556680/tpod.html Thu, 04 Jan 2007 04:19:38 -0500 Three weeks. Three countries. I'm home again for the holidays...

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Mainz, Germany

coming soon
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