August 2016
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Intro
Rio de Janeiro is one of my favorite cities on the planet – for so many reasons, but none more so than its incomparable location, with towering mountains affording sweeping views of the city and its harbor. Add in the delicious food, gorgeous urban beaches, colonial architecture, and joie de vivre of the Cariocas, and you have a winner. So in 2009, when Rio won its bid to become the first South American city to host the Summer Olympics (which coincidentally was the year of my first visit to the city), I already knew I would be back for it! By 2011, when I had returned to Rio for Carnaval (I couldn’t wait until 2016!), the Galeão Airport was already full of posters promoting the Games, though it was still five years away. They were so excited, and so was I!
I saved the Guianas (you know, those three countries at the top of South America that no one ever seems to talk about) for this trip, with the plan to start in Rio and work my way up the coast of Brazil until coming to French Guiana, Suriname and Guyana. As excited as I was about the Rio Olympics, it was this part, the Guianas, that really sparked my wanderlust. They have always intrigued me – these diverse, unknown, non-Spanish, non-Portuguese speaking nations that eluded the memory of most people. I was anxious to explore them.
When it came time to book my flights, Quito appeared as the best return flight option for my mileage award ticket, and so, having not yet been to Ecuador, I excitedly booked the ticket! Additionally, the last few years had uncovered that a portion of my mother’s Syrian side of the family lives in Colombia, as one of my great-uncles had moved there many, many years ago. (You can easily follow how my train of thought goes when planning… and how the trips expand way more than originally anticipated!)
So, Colombia was added to the list – a quick visit to Bogotá to meet a third cousin, and then (since I’m in Colombia!) a stop in Medellín to experience the much-talked-about buzz of this vibrant, rejuvenated city – a bastion of modern architecture and an example for sustainable, inclusive, and successful urban development. Working my way down to Quito, I had to add in a stop at the amazing Santuario de Las Lajas in Ipiales, where I spent a few hours enjoying (and sketching!) the view with a morning coffee.
Finally across the border and into Ecuador, I spent a day exploring the cities and towns in the north, including Tulcan, Ibarra, Cotacachi, and finally Otavalo, with its famous Andean market, one of the largest in South America. Quito was a perfect ending to an exciting trip – a beautiful UNESCO-listed colonial city, with whitewashed cathedrals, charming architecture, and pretty squares – and of course, at the ‘Mitad del Mundo’, the opportunity to take plenty of photos straddling the equator!
Featured Image
Fernando de Noronha
This beautiful island off the coast of northeastern Brazil is just over an hour’s flight from Natal or Recife, and has over 20 gorgeous beaches, many of them considered the best in Brazil – or in the case of Baia do Sancho, the best in the world! This is Praia da Conceição, one of the most stunning beaches on Noronha, thanks to the backdrop of the towering Morro do Pico, the highest point on the island.
