Photo of the Day (4.11.09)

by Brenda Yun on


For the past two years I’ve been in Latin America on the days leading up to Semana Santa (or Holy Week), and I’ve been completely astounded by the Colombian and Cuban people’s devotion to their faith. By way of contrast, here in Honolulu, I didn’t even get a day off yesterday (Good Friday), though most state businesses did. My students tell me that in Europe they observe a 4-day weekend during Easter or have their Spring Break coincide with the Easter holiday, which I believe should be the case for any Christian majority nation.

Regardless, Semana Santa is on my mind right now. For Christians around the world, today is that waiting period post-crucifixion and pre-resurrection. Easter Saturday activities this year range from bargain deals at grocery stores to Easter Eggstravaganzas all over the U.S. and Canada.

Our photo today comes from our friend from Montreal, epicxero, who appears to have traveled extensively around South America. This particular photo nicely contrasts the church tower with city as a backdrop.

If you have some great travel shots you’d like to share, be sure to upload them to the Gadling pool on Flickr. We might just pick one as our Photo of the Day!

Happy Holy Week/Semana Santa/Easter, everyone!

Gadling Take FIVE Week of March – April 3

by Jamie Rhein on

Perhaps you noticed our annual April Fool’s offerings. Although there are some odd TRUE stories here at Gadling every once in awhile–sometimes daily, nothing this past Wednesday was true. At least, I don’t think China is planning to put an escalator up Mt. Everest.

Here is a sampling of what has been true this week.

  • Annie has happily continued to sample jerky. This week’s post on Oberto Beef Jerky made me hungry and itching for a road trip.
  • If you have not taken the time yet to watch the video in Jeffrey’s post “Afghanistan, an accordion, ‘Elvis’ and Johnny Cash,” do. It’s a wonderful example of an unexpected cross cultural-exchange.
  • For anyone 30 years or younger, Allison has news about a way you can win a trip through STA. There is a free trip being given away every day this month. With several days left, you might get lucky.
  • The golden arches of McDonald’s are almost a world-wide icon, although every country has its own version of some menu items. Aaron names some of them like Israel’s The McShawarma. He didn’t say if he tried some on his trip there.
  • In his post on tourism’s effect on the Amazon, Kraig talks about his upcoming trip to Peru where he’ll be traveling on the Amazon in a riverboat. We’re looking forward to what he discovers on this venture and shares with us here at Gadling.

And here’s one more. In case you missed this bit of news, our favorite pilot Kent Wien and his wife Linda won the Competitours race in Europe. Set up like an Amazing Race challenge, Competitours is offering a unique way to travel that Kent and Linda were happy to try. We’re certainly proud!!!

The Highest Cities in the World

by Kraig Becker on

The BootsnAll Travel site has a great article up listing the highest cities in the world. Amsterdam doesn’t make this list however, as we’re talking the cities that fall at the highest altitude. These mountain communities will have you gasping for air as soon as you step off the plane, both with their thin air and stunning mountain scenery.

Topping the list as the highest city in the world is La Rinoconada in Peru. This city of 30,000 is known as the highest permanent human habitiation” and rightly so. Located in the Andes, La Rinoconada sits at 16,728 feet, more than 3100 feet above the next highest city, El Alto, Bolivia at 13,615 feet.

The only city from the U.S. to make the list is Leadville, Colorado which, with 3000 permanent residents, is the highest incorporated city in the country. Leadville falls at 10,152 and is famous for the Leadville 100, a 100 mile long mountain bike race held annually that notoriously punishes endurance athletes.

A couple of the other cities on the list are famous amongst adventure travelers. Lhasa, Tibet at 12,002 feet and Namche Bazaar in Nepal, at 11,482 feet are both stops for trekkers and mountaineers on their way to Mt. Everest. And Cuzco, Peru, which sits at 10,800 feet is a popular starting point for backpackers hiking the Andes and visiting Machu Picchu.

There are some amazing cities on this list, and if you have the opportunity to visit any of them, be sure to bring your camera. And bottled oxygen.

tripwolf and Footprint Handbooks team up

by Brenda Yun on

There are definitely some crazy partnerships popping up across the world wide web, but this one doesn’t really surprise me too much. The up-and-coming social travel guide tripwolf.com teamed up with the fabulous Footprint Handbooks to provide even more travel information at your fingertips.

The idea here is to merge tripwolf’s user-generated content with the professional tips from Footprint. The beginning phase will begin by integrating Footprint’s Peru Handbook on the tripwolf site. Both European-based companies are hoping to develop increased readership and interest in travel destinations that are jointly covered.

What’s even cooler is that tripwolf, which is already available in English and German, will soon be accessible for Spanish, Italian, and French speaking travelers in a few months. While I find tripwolf only somewhat useful, the Footprint Handbooks are great travel resources particularly for people traveling in Europe.

This kind of partnership, which comes a year on the heels of the mega merge between BBC and Lonely Planet, appears to be a sign of the times: that the world is flattening, and traveling will become that much easier with a consolidation of worthy travel tips and information.

Five Great Road Trips From Around The World

by Kraig Becker on

Australian newspaper The Age has put together a list of five of the top drives from around the world. These scenic byways encourage drivers to get behind the wheel, explore, and, as the article says, take the long way home.

Some of the roads that make this exclusive list include the Hana Highway in Hawaii, which is lauded for its 80km of winding road, that includes 56 one lane bridges, that meanders past beautiful beaches and up and down rolling hills, with small ocean villages and spectacular waterfalls as a backdrop.

For something a bit longer and more epic, the Pan American Highway from Lima, Peru to Santiago, Chile is offered as a suggestion. This stretch of road is more than 3000km in length, a mere fraction of the 48,000km total distance of the Pan American, which runs from Alaska to the tip of South America. Running along side the Pacific Ocean for much of the way, this route wanders past the famous Nazca Lines and up into the high desert of the Atacama, all the while weaving in and out of small Peruvian and Chilean villages along the way.

The classic road trip is still one of the best ways to see any country, and each of these drives will not only show you the scenic side of the places they run through, but also get you immersed in the unique cultures of those places as well. So, jump behind the wheel and take in one of these amazing road trips for a travel experience unlike any other.