Category Archives: South America

Travels with Charlie: An Ecuadorian Adventure

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AI Prompt: Write a 2500 word story about traveling in Ecuador by motorcycle for submission to BMW MOA magazine in the style of Travels with Charlie. The road called to me once more, as it always did when the world beckoned with its mysteries and adventures. This time, my faithful companion was my trusty BMW motorcycle, a mechanical steed that had carried me through countless journeys. My destination was Ecuador, a land of astonishing beauty and cultural diversity. The trip had been brewing in my mind for some time, and as I set out, I couldn’t help but recall the words of John Steinbeck in his classic “Travels with Charley,” which had been a guiding … Continue reading →

Una Gran Aventura – The Goal

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My goal, explore South America. Such a simple, concise statement for something that could easily take months if not years to accomplish. Of course, the “what” is almost always easy to define. What Columbus wanted to do was find an easier way to get to the Far East. What NASA wanted to do was land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth. And all I want to do is explore a continent. However, when you start getting into the “how”, things can get a bit more complex and as the saying goes, the devil is in the details. Step 1 – Retire ✔Step 2 – Hike the Pacific Crest Trail (just … Continue reading →

Photographing Ecuador

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AI Prompt: What should I photograph while in Ecuador? As an AI language model, I do not have personal experiences; thus I cannot tell you what to photograph in Ecuador from my personal experience, but I can suggest some popular destinations for photography in Ecuador. Ecuador is a country full of natural and cultural treasures, and there are many beautiful places to photograph. Here are some suggestions: 1. Galápagos Islands – famous for its unique wildlife and unspoiled habitat.2. Cotopaxi National Park – home to the Cotopaxi volcano, and many other peaks and snowcapped mountains surrounded by beautiful landscapes. 3. The Avenue of Volcanoes – a chain of 14 major volcanic peaks are waiting for … Continue reading →

A day in the Atacama Desert

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AI Prompt #1: Please write a 500-word story about the Atacama Desert.AI Prompt #2: Where can I find a photo of the Atacama Desert that I can use for free? The Atacama Desert in Chile is a place of endless beauty, of treacherous heat and bone-dry landscapes. It is a place that is both unforgiving and breathtaking, where the sun is harsh and the stars shine brighter than anywhere else on earth. It is a place where life seems impossible, yet it thrives. I was on a desert safari in the Atacama, a journey that would take me through some of the most stunning landscapes I had ever seen. I had heard that this desert … Continue reading →

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

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AI Prompt #1: Write a story about UNESCO World Heritage SitesAI Prompt #2: Write a story about UNESCO World Heritage Site Cuenca UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places of cultural or natural significance that are considered to be of outstanding value to humanity⁵. There are over 1,100 UNESCO World Heritage Sites worldwide, including natural wonders like the Grand Canyon and cultural landmarks like the Great Wall of China³. Each UNESCO World Heritage Site has its own unique story and history. For example, the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt are one of the oldest seven wonders of the world and were built around 4,500 years ago during the Old Kingdom³. The Mausoleum of First Qin … Continue reading →

The Galapagos Islands

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AI Prompt: Write a travelogue about the Galapagos Islands The Galápagos Islands are a collection of islands in the Pacific Ocean that are known for their unique wildlife and natural beauty. The islands’ distinctive flora and fauna inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution¹. The Galápagos Islands are now a popular tourist destination, with visitors coming to see the many species of birds, reptiles, and other animals that can only be found on the islands¹. There are many different ways to explore the Galápagos Islands, from cruises to land-based tours. Some of the most popular islands to visit include Santa Cruz, Isla Isabela, and San Cristobal⁵. Visitors can take tours and day trips to see everything … Continue reading →

Barebones Galapagos

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The Galapagos Islands, with their incredibly abundant and accessible wildlife, should be on every traveler’s bucket list. As there are literally hundreds of blogs, videos, and websites dedicated to convincing you of this, I won’t duplicate their efforts. I want to focus on helping you get the most out of your trip while minimizing the cost. For those of you wanting to see the Galapagos Islands on a true backpacker budget, I am going to disappoint you. For a number of reasons that I will explain, there is no dirt-cheap way to do this. You can keep costs down, but nobody can really describe a trip to the Galapagos as cheap. Two Ways to See … Continue reading →

Why Ecuador?

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As some of you might know, I plan to retire to Ecuador in the fall of 2022. I have retained an immigration attorney (Sara Chaca, www.ecuadorvisas.com) to help me through the process of obtaining a temporary residency visa, resident ID card, and driver’s license. My move is tentatively planned for October 1st. Some of you have asked about the thought process that lead me to select Ecuador. So, here you go. First, why retire overseas?This is of course a personal decision and not one I can really help you with, but there were three reasons that I started considering this. One, I had no real attachments to the US. My family is all gone and … Continue reading →