Grand Escapades
Travel Photography & Travel Experiences of Africa, South America, the Middle-East & Asia
Cartagena de Indias – The Walled City
Colonial City of Cartagena de Indias
The Old Town of Cartagena de Indias is a maze of beautifully restored colonial houses, churches, plazas or convents, most of which have been recently turned into boutique or luxury hotels. A characteristic of these colonial houses is an overhanging wooden balcony covered by a tiled roof and one or more shady patios inside. Continue Reading →
Basilica Menor de la Inmaculada Conceptión
For years, la Zona Cafetera has been one of the most popular areas of Colombia, and large numbers of visitors, Colombian & foreigners alike, have flooded this part of the country. Jardín, a comfortable 3 hour ride from Medellin, is a welcome change! So close from the main tourist centers, and so much Off The Beaten Track: even if the city is no longer completely a well-kept secret, only a handful of “Gringos” can be seen there…
Igreja da Nossa Senhora do Carmo, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
The great Gold Rush did not take place in California, but almost two Centuries earlier in the hills of Minas Gerais, 500 kilometers northwest of Rio de Janeiro. Between the early 17th and the middle of the 19th Century, this area produced more than half of the Gold of the whole world! Continue Reading →
Igreja e Convento do Carmo, Pelourinho, Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
Salvador has changed a lot since 2007… I remembered a somewhat rundown, decrepit Colonial City completely overrun by tourists. First, the drive from the airport to Santo Antonio, near the Pelourinho, showed a highly modern city, large avenues lined with modern high-rises and brand new shopping centers. Then, the Pelourinho has been completely restored for the Football World Cup in 2014. Last but not least, Salvador was almost void of tourists… Maybe being there on a Sunday and a Monday explains things, but at times I had the streets for myself… Continue Reading →
Olinda, old Colonial Town near Refice, Brazil – In the historic center, each house has a specific color … In former times, the color of the house would stand for its address!
The good news is, there is a direct flight from Manaus to Recife … The bad news is, the plane stops at Santarém, Belem, Sao Luis & Fortaleza before reaching Recife, each a 50 minutes flight and every flight the same sandwich. When we arrived in Olinda at about 05:00 pm, without our luggage, thanks to TAM, we had been going for 13 hours. However, our backpacks were delivered to the hotel the same evening! Continue Reading →