Guide to PUNO and a visit to lake TITICACA

This is a guide to Puno, a town on the shores of lake Titicaca from where you can visit the self-made Uros islands and the mesmerizing Isla Taquile where the men are knitting hats’n’gloves with the most varied patterns.

Man overlooking Lake Titicaca on the Taquile island - seen on a daytrip from Puno to the Uros Islands and Isla Taquile
A Taquileño overlooking the deep blue lake. I wonder if he’s dreamily enjoying the view – or just dreams of getting away from all that knitting.

However, you might want to prepare yourself for some annoying altitude sickness since Puno is more than 3,800 meters above sea level – so don’t hold your breath.

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PUCALLPA – Gateway to the Amazon

Pucallpa is the gateway to Perú’s Amazon region and has the charm of a B-movie.

It’s the jungle. Therefore, you can watch birds and sloths and fish for piranhas in the river Ucayali as well as the Yarinacocha lagoon.

On the banks of river Ucayali that goes into the Amazon in Pucallpa.
On the banks of river Ucayali.

So I had seen Lima and Paracas on the costa, Perú’s pacific coast. I also visited Arequipa, Cusco, and Machu Picchu in the sierra of the Andean region. Hence, all that was missing was a little selva, the jungle.

That would make the Peruvian trilogy complete.

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Guide to Peru ‘s Five Mountainous Highlights

So here comes my guide to the Mountainous Highlights of Peru – and this pun is totally intended!

Indigenous Man in the Andes, the mountainous highlights of Peru
The indigenous people living in the Andes still wear their traditional attire – and not for touristy purposes.
(Photo: Fred Wanderley Fred on Pixabay)

While Peru does invite its visitors to experience the sierra, selva, and costa – hence, the mountains, the jungle, and the coast – the first-mentioned is definitely the most unique and alluring of those regions.

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LOS ANTIGUOS – borderline serenity

Argentina is Latin America’s second-largest country and shares with Chile one of the world’s longest international borders – and at Los Antiguos, you can cross this borderline walking. From North to South, those two countries snuggle on about 5,300 kilometers!

Lago Buenos Aires at sunset
The sun is tenderly setting over Lago Buenos Aires.

Unless you are flying, these dimensions can make travelling a bit challenging. Routes can be very long, trips of about 15 hours are not unusual.

An invitation to include some stops – for instance in the border town of Los Antiguos.

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Best Things to Do in BARILOCHE – a Swiss Town in Northern Patagonia

Dramatically jagged mountains, covered by a picturesque layer of eternal snow overtowering fir-covered hills – Bariloche is a Swiss Vacation, however, on the Opposite Side of the Globe.
Trouts jumping in ice-cold turquoise waters of glacier lakes, rivers, and creeks.
Still not Swiss enough?
Well, the town of San Carlos de Bariloche cranks it up a notch by manufacturing some of the world’s best artisan chocolate and making you pose with a Saint Bernard dog – including the small barrel of rum around the neck; his neck, not yours.
In this post, I’m introducing some of the best things to do in Bariloche, a Swiss town in Northern Patagonia.

Renata Green standing on the shore of Lago Puelo close to El Bolson on a day trip from Bariloche - enjoying a Swiss Vacation
Embracing Beauty!
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Complete Guide to COMO – a Lake to Like

I love Italy: The gelato, the papagalli, the dolce far niente. Somehow my head got tangled in these clichés like a fork in a heap of spaghetti. The funny thing is: On my frequent trips to Bella Italia, I actually find these clichés reflected in the reality around me. Just like around the North Italian lake land.
Need proof?
Here is a complete guide to the wonderful Lake Como – truly a lake to like.

Sail and motorboats quay at Colico, the Northernmost village at Lago di Como - a lake to like
Sail and motorboats quay at Colico, the Northernmost village on Lake Como’s shores.
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KAWAGUCHIKO – Taking a Shot at Mount Fuji

I’ve heard that there are people travelling periodically to the Lakeland of Kawaguchiko west of Tokyo just to take a good shot of Mount Fuji.

Mount Fuji seen from Kawaguchiko
This is the picture I intended to shoot.

This majestic, perfectly shaped volcano – that erupted lastly in 1707 – seems to be hiding behind clouds most of the time. Therefore, it can be a challenge – or a hobby – hunting the best view. Or at least a glimpse.

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Guide to POLONNARUWA, the ancient capital of Sri Lanka

Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka after the destruction of the ancient city of Anuradhapura in 993. Sidenote: I’d like to say that due to their length, these Sri Lankan names are very Social Media-unfriendly.

Statue of King Parakramabahu I in Polonnaruwa
Welcome to the Kingdom of  King Parakramabahu I

Apart from the Brahmanic monuments built by the Cholas, Polonnaruwa consists of the monumental ruins of the garden-city created by Parakramabahu I in the 12th century.

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Guide to KANDY and a Temple Hike from Embekke to Pilimathalawa

During a visit to Kandy – geographically and metaphorically Sri Lanka’s navel – I’d like to guide you to the small town of Embekke from where you can take an idyllic temple hike to Pilimathalawa.

Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy before a Temple Hike from Embekke
Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

After having spent four days in Kandy, I ask myself: Why?

Honestly, I didn’t really get it. And after some additional online research, I’m definitely convinced that it is almost hysterically overrated.

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