Bonnie's South America Travel Blog September 2003 Archive

Instead of avoiding these pesky, biting ants, the Pemon Indians in Venezuela's savanna consider them a welcome, seasonal addition to their diet. Fire ants are a rainy season treat deep ... Read More

The ELN Colombian rebel group claims responsibility for abducting tourists instead of the FARC, as originally thought. No demands for ransom yet in the action taken to commemorate Chile's Sept ... Read More

Discovered in 1535 and made famous by Charles Darwin after his 1835 visit, the islands of the Galapagos Archipelago are famous for their wildlife. Thousands of visitors make ... Read More

350 tourists, Bolivians and foreigners, who traveled to the hard-to-get-to village of Luquisani, not far from La Paz, for the Sept 14 celebrations of Señor de la Exaltación are now ... Read More

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and Pope John Paul II are on the short list of favorites for the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize, won by ex-President Jimmy ... Read More

Episode 2 of Survivor 7: Pearl Islands has a surprising contestant wanting to quit, a team losing two challenges, a non-contributory member voted off, and a display of tempers over ... Read More

Read the latest press release for the Ecotourism and Adventure Travel: World Innovations – New Experiences scheduled for October 29 through November 1 in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela, for an impressive ... Read More

That's what President Hugo Chavez is claiming, citing his cancelled trip to the UN in New York is due to terrorist threats. For more of this story, read Venezuelan President ... Read More

In a daring move, "Londoner Matthew Scott, 19, dived down a cliff into a river 10 days after being taken hostage" from Ciudad Perdida. He followed the river to an ... Read More

During Episode 1: Beg, Barter, Steal, after the Morgan castaways had trouble working together to set up camp and finding water, they lost the first challenge. Their team captain encouraged ... Read More

If you're like me, looking at old photographs is a way to appreciate the past and wonder what life must have been like then. We'll never really know, of course, ... Read More

Episode 1 of Survivor 7: Pearl Islands begins with a splash as the contestants are tossed overboard with only the clothes on their backs and a pair of athletic ... Read More

Tourists beware: in 2002, 2986 people were kidnapped, making it an average of 8 victims a day. 32 victims are non-Colombian citizens: Brazilians, Canadians, French, Italian, Lebanese and Spanish. According ... Read More

I'm testing a new page intended for students (of all ages!) who want to learn more about Argentina, the country and its people. Take a look at this ... Read More

Two planes left Chilean Patagonia on a rescue mission to airlift a sick researcher at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, but are delayed by stormy weather at British Rothera Air ... Read More

Okay, folks, you asked for it. To start the Pearl Island episodes of Survivor 7, begin with reading a little bit about the islands themselves to see what the contestants ... Read More

Update 09/16/03: The commander of the Colombian army is personally overseeing rescue efforts. Story at Colombian Army Chief Takes Kidnap Case from AP. Eight foreign tourists were kidnapped from Colombia's ... Read More

The Incas are renowned for their building blocks of stone without mortar as well as finely crafted bricks. When a French developer pulled down an ancient Inca wall in Cuzco ... Read More

Celebrate Chile's Fiestas Patrias or Independence Day, on September 18 with Dieciocho events, including rodeos where huasos like the one pictured compete in rodeos. There's also music, dancing, food, ... Read More

"The purpose of the International Simón Bolívar Prize is to reward an activity of outstanding merit which, in accordance with the ideals of Simón Bolívar, has contributed to the freedom, ... Read More

Last year's weekly recap of Survivor 6: Amazon was a great hit with readers. Want to see the same with Survivor 7: Pearl Islands, set on the islands off the ... Read More

In advance of the September 11 remembrances of Chile's overthrow of Salvador Allende, Chileans are absorbing the events and deeds that preceeded the coup, the aftermath and the Pinochet years ... Read More

Popayán is one of Colombia's most beautiful colonial towns with a rich religious and cultural heritage. Fully restored after an earthquake, it's a national monument and known for its spectacular ... Read More

We have been pondering the idea of traveling in Latin America for the last 3 weeks of December...If anybody has experience going with the family - I would appreciate any ... Read More