Mendoza, Argentina is famous for it’s mountain ranges that surround the city, and just the right combination of cool and warm temperatures and soil that make the perfect recipe for growing succulent grapes, and in turn, producing delicious wine.  Mendoza being the highest wine producing region in Argentina.  When we arrived in Mendoza we knew we’d be in for drinking tasty local wine and enjoying the beautiful mountains, laying just east of the Andes, but what we didn’t know was just how luxurious and lavish the experience was going to turn out to be. From traveling around South America... Read More

Coffee is deeply imbedded in many people’s daily routines and personal rituals. For many coffee drinkers, coffee is more about convenience or comfort and less about complexities of taste or particulars in trade. Usually when you’re drinking a cup of coffee, you’re probably not thinking of all the steps taken by numerous individuals to bring that cup to you. From farmer to roaster to barista or packager, so many passionate and hardworking hands are involved in the coffee industry. It’s something worth thinking about, every once in a while, when you’re drinking your favorite brew. Coffee... Read More

Situated above the world famous Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro, the Dois Irmaos hike is one for the books. The Dois Irmaos, or the Two Brothers, are the famous double mountains you can see looking down the Rio coastline, lying between the areas of Leblon and Sao Conrado. Not only are the views amazing (looking out onto the ocean and almost all of Rio) but you also take a thrilling moto taxi ride through the favela of Vidigal on the way up. For those of you who don’t know, favelas are the slums in Rio. They are known as being hazardous, but nonetheless full of culture and amazing energy.   To... Read More

Cusco is most commonly known as the first, and major pit stop on the way up to legendary Machu Picchu. However, it’s much more than just a city people travel through; it’s an exceptionally beautiful and charming town where backpackers from all over the world come together.                                                     This was part of my first leg of my trip to South America, about a year ago. On the small plane to Cusco, most likely from Lima, (Peru’s capital... Read More