Author Archives: ‘Gareth’

Sustainable social initiatives change lives forever and the visionary people who create these incredible projects that grow and impact the fortune of an existing community are who inspire me the most. There isn’t a more perfect example of this than what the Proyecto Horizonte organization is developing in the small town of Ushpa-Ushpa just outside the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia. Thanks to a connection made by friend and fellow traveler, Kiersten, we had the opportunity to visit Ushpa-Ushpa and work with Proyecto Horizonte for a few days to learn about all the amazing things they were providing for this community. Home to approximately 1,500 families, Ushpa-Ushpa was established by former miners in August of 2001 who migrated to Cochabamba in search of brighter prospects. Beginning as an illegal settlement outside Cochabamba, the community eventually grew to be recognized as part of the neighboring city even though it lacked any infrastructure …

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Salar de Uyuni is home to the world’s largest salt flats and makes for the most amazing photo shoot backdrop. If you search around the web you can find some pretty creative shots from Salar de Uyuni, so we decided to explore the space and snap some fun pix of our own. As I’ve mentioned before, Salar de Uyuni is one of most breathtaking places I’ve ever had the opportunity of experiencing. Like Machu Picchu in Peru, Salar gives you this incredibly euphoric feeling and makes you appreciate how beautiful this world is. The only thing I can really compare it to visually is a giant frozen lake with a perfectly flat snow cover across the surface. The snow is in fact salt, which covers more than 4,000 square miles. The salt actually carves crazy hexagon-like shapes into the surface because of the freezing and thawing process that exists at …

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Okay so maybe Mars wasn’t in the cards, but the next best thing was Salar de Uyuni in Southwest Bolivia. The incredible scenery, diverse landscapes and remote surroundings make you question what planet you’re really on! Last month, Kiersten and I decided to leave the world we knew behind to venture off on a 4-day, 4×4 tour in and around the famous salt flats of Bolivia. The trip was absolutely mind blowing as we crossed rugged deserts, cut through epic volcano-lined mountain ranges and admired breathtaking multi-colored lagoons along the way. There were flamingos, llamas and more photo ops than a Victoria Secret Fashion show. I’ll give you a little information along the way, but words really don’t compare to the photos, so go ahead and come along with me on a visual ride through 4 days of Mother Nature’s greatest Bolivian creation… Salar de Uyuni! Day 1: Tupiza-To-Paradise The …

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April 2012 has been one of the most overwhelming, fulfilling, frustrating, inspiring, and confusing months I’ve experienced in a long time. I made the transition from the completion of an amazing experience in Sucre, Bolivia to a tropical adventure in Mexico to home with family and friends in Indiana and Upstate New York. April has been an internal battle of emotion and composure, as the closing of one chapter brings the excitement and uncertainty of the next. It’s the sadness that comes with saying goodbye and the anticipation of reuniting with loved ones back home. April messed with my mind, but it also gave me a lot of great memories. It’s kind of like the same thing that happened last April. April Recap: April started off with the BiblioWorks team and I running around like crazy to get things setup for the first ever book fair (Feria de la Lectura) …

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Sucre, Bolivia is the third place I’ve called home over the past two and a half years of living in South America. While the lifestyle here is much different from the bustling Buenos Aires and seductive Medellin, it has been an amazing place to experience life like a local. Sucre is Bolivia’s judicial capital and is nicknamed la blanca (the white) because of all the beautiful Spanish-style, whitewashed buildings that canvas the city skyline.  It’s home to just over a quarter of a million people, which makes Sucre feel more like a small town than a major metropolis. The weather is beautiful all year round, the people are humble and friendly and your money goes a long way. The food is basic, the streets are hilly and travelers don’t venture far from the main square. There isn’t much tourist hype or famous attractions in Sucre – it’s just a peaceful, …

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