Items filtered by date: November 2025

São Paulo is the financial center of Brazil and is a city larger than New York. Some people call it a concrete jungle but although it houses many skyscrapers, the city itself is built around parks. We toured Trianon Park just off Avenida Paulista which is a main shopping and business area. We were fascinated by the array of goods sold at the Municipal Market of São Paulo and thoroughly enjoyed our Mortadella sandwiches which are a specialty there.

You cannot visit São Paulo without an excursion to Batman’s Alley where local artisans display their artistic talent and offer various local handicrafts. And a panoramic view of the city will be a memory you’ll always remember!

No trip to South America is complete without a visit to Igaussu Falls. This is without a doubt the epitome of waterfalls! Niagara Falls and Victoria Falls pale in comparison. We were fortunate enough to stay at the Belmond Hotel Das Cataratas situated in the park with incredible views of Igaussu Falls. Our guide escorted us to both sides of the falls as the experience is quite different on the Argentinian and Brazilian sides.

We decided to take the boat ride which offers a first hand, up close trip even going under the falls. Be prepared to get wet no matter how protected you are. Many people dress in shorts and go barefoot for the pure pleasure of getting soaked.

Our ultimate excursion was a private helicopter ride which soared over the entire area encompassing Igaussu Falls and provided an overview of the falls.
Igaussu Falls is definitely one of the major wonders of this planet earth that we inhabit!

If you’re planning a trip to South America, Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital city, is a must stop. This city is known for Eva Peron, empanadas, steak and the tango, but has so much more to offer a traveler.

Buenos Aires, although a large city with many different neighborhoods is easy to navigate by subway, bus, taxi or Uber.

El Caminito is the most famous pedestrian street in the city and is the birthplace of the tango so many dancers may be spotted there.

At the Plaza de Mayo, which is Buenos Aires historic main square, you’ll be able to see the Casa Rosada ( Presidential Palace ), the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo( since 1977, mothers have marched weekly demanding answers for their children who disappeared during the dictatorship.

The Recoleta neighborhood is full of shops, boutiques and restaurants. It’s well worth an afternoon of exploration. And if you have the time, try to venture outside the city to a gaucho ranch. Their exhibition and a tango show will provide you with memories to last a lifetime.

Are you looking for an adventure that combines incredible scenery, spectacular landscapes, unpredictable weather and animals only indigenous to this area? If those are your criteria, then Patagonia ( Nature’s Wonderland) is for you. Our expedition began in the Chilean part of Patagonia. Traveling in October ( summer in Patagonia), one must still be outfitted in layers of clothing as the weather can change hour by hour. Rain, cold and the wind are key factors in dress….especially the wind! Hats, gloves, scarves and waterproof wear are a must for this trip.

Be prepared for boat trips and hikes surrounded by nature in all its splendor. Our journey began with a flight to Punta Arenas. There we got our first glimpse of the Magellan Strait and Guanacos who are closely related to camels and llamas.

Our stay at the Singular Hotel near Puerto Natales was magical in that it’s a five star hotel in the middle of nowhere. This area is the gateway to Torres Del Paine National Park which contains rivers, glaciers and amazing natural beauty.

We saw condors and marveled at the difference in scenery from one side of the bus to the other.
We then drove to the Argentinian border of Patagonia and stayed at the Xelena Hotel in Calafate. One of our most fun excursions was visiting the Glaciarium and having drinks in the ice cafe.

Upsala Glacier is not to be missed as well as all of the icebergs on the way. Perito Moreno Glacier gave us an opportunity to hike a few miles of trails with close up views of the glacier.

And Calafate, a town of about 25,000 residents, has more chocolate and candy stores than one can imagine. Additionally, it is also home to a number of great restaurants.

So maybe it’s time to put Patagonia on your list of future destinations!

Our trip to Patagonia began in Santiago Chile, a cosmopolitan city full of historical sights. One of its highlights are the many pedestrian streets filled with stores and kiosks featuring local handicrafts as well as goods from around the world.

Do not miss the Mercado Central, Pablo Neruda’s house, La Chascona, in Bella Vista or Wonderland Cafe in Lastarria all easily accessed by Santiago’s modern subway system, taxi, uber or good old fashioned walking.