Two Backpackers

Returning Home Culture Shock?

| by Jason on August 30th, 2024 | 20 Comments » | Reflections

Getting Up To Speed On Current Events in the US

Since we have returned home the question most often asked of us is, “Do you have culture shock?”  In a close second place is, “What are you going to do now?”  I will address the first one in this article.

“Shock” is an extreme word and feels like an exaggeration to me.  The phrase “Shock and Awe” comes to mind, and since 2024, I have just felt guilty using the term to describe something I have gone through.  Honestly, I am not in anyway shocked since I have returned home, I would just say I am more aware, much more aware. (more…)

Photo of the Day: Shining Shoes in Ecuador’s Plazas

| by Jason on August 24th, 2024 | No Comments » | Photo of the Day

Shining shoes in Ecuador’s cities is a common tradition that is still maintained today. While visiting Plaza de La Independencia in Quito, we appreciated the moment of these two older guys conversing as the shoes were shined. Unfortunately, you will also see young boys and girls shining shoes for money as well.

Top List of Things To Do in Quito, Ecuador

Shoe Shining Tradition in Ecuador's Cities

Photo of the Day: Impresssive Architecture In Lima Peru

| by Aracely on May 21st, 2024 | 6 Comments » | Photo of the Day

The Archbishop’s Palace of Lima, the capital of Peru, is the residence of the Archbishop of Lima, and the administrative headquarters of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lima. It is located on the Plaza Mayor of Lima, in the Historic Center of Lima. ~Wikipedia

The palace was designed by the Polish Peruvian architect Ricardo de Jaxa Malachowski. Jason really enjoys architecture and was truly impressed with this building.

Archbishop Palace In The Historic Center of Lima, Peru

Photo of the Day: Kuna Tribe in the Islands of San Blas

| by Jason on February 24th, 2024 | No Comments » | Photo of the Day

Kuna or Cuna is the name of an indigenous people of Panama and Colombia.  In the Kuna language, the name is Dule or Tule, meaning “people.”  The Kuna live in three politically autonomous comarcas or reservations in Panama, and in a few small villages in Colombia.  There are also communities of Kuna people in Panama City, Colón, and other cities. The greatest number of Kuna people live on small islands in the comarca of Kuna Yala. – Wikipedia

We took this photo while sailing from Panama to Colombia for 4 days.  We visited several Kuna villages established on the Islands of San Blas in Panama´s Caribbean.   The Kuna often rowed from one island to the other in dugout canoes, some even with homemade sails.

Kuna Peoples in a Dugout Canoe in the San Blas Islands of Panama

Photo of the Day: Guatemala Independence Day

| by Aracely on February 5th, 2024 | 3 Comments » | Photo of the Day

Guatemala commemorates their independence from Spain on September 15th.  This photo was taken during their celebrations in Antigua, Guatemala.  Many local bands parade the city streets in an all day long competition.  If you are visiting Antigua during the weeks leading up to Independence Day, expect to be woken up every morning by bands practicing in the schools around the city.

Guatemala Independence Day

Hard Working Children of Guatemala

| by Aracely on September 19th, 2024 | 9 Comments » | Central America, Guatemala, Reflections

I have only traveled to a few Latin American countries prior to arriving in Guatemala twenty-one days ago.  In 2024 I spent ten days in Costa Rica, in 2024 seventeen days in Ecuador (my country of origin), in 2024 eight days in Dominican Republic and in March of this year Jason and I spent six days on the Argentina/Brazil border for a visit to Iguazu Falls.

Shoe Shining Boy

Although those trips were relatively short and touristy, I feel as though I did get a glimpse, as small as it was, of the culture, people, and economic situation of those countries.  One notable and emotionally memorable observation for me was seeing children begging in the streets.  After spending twenty years living in the United States this is not something we are accustomed to seeing, or at least we can agree that it’s an extremely rare occurrence.

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