Monthly Archives: August 2008
Cuento de Dos Ciudades/Tale of Two Cities
by Francisco Collazo Translated by Julie Schwietert Collazo [English version; Version en espanol abajo] The summer Olympics are held every four years, an event of international importance and historical significance for many reasons. One of them is the peace and unity that characterize the spirit of the Games. This year, more than 180 countries participated … Continue reading
Mexico City by Metro
If my count is accurate, Mexico City’s Metro has 146 stations. We thought it might be fun to visit all 146 stations and to introduce you to what’s around them in an occasional series called “Mexico City by Metro.” The first stop is Chapultepec, the station that is closest to Bosque de Chapultepec, the large … Continue reading
From A to Z: Guide to Getting Around by Taxi in Mexico City
[English version; Version en espanol abajo] Text & Photos by: Francisco Collazo Translation: Julie Schwietert Collazo * Besides the statue of the Angel located on Avenida Reforma, there’s another stamp that distinguishes Mexico City from any other metropolis: the two-door Volkswagen taxis, or Beetles. One can say with total certainty that the Beetle taxis have … Continue reading
Impressions of Cartagena, Colombia
by Francisco Collazo Translated by Julie Schwietert Collazo [English version; Scroll down for Spanish version] I sit on the bank of the Magdalena River to write my initial impressions of Cartagena. I can’t help but think of Havana and San Juan, both places we know well, places where we’ve lived. The air is warmer and … Continue reading
How to Home Swap
A few months back, I wrote a post on MatadorPulse offering advice for stretching your travel dollar. Since accommodations are often the most expensive part of a trip, one of my recommendations was to look into alternative lodging. Today’s traveler has tons of creative lodging choices, from traditional hosteling and couchsurfing to home swapping. My … Continue reading