Bonnie's South America Travel Blog July 2007 Archive

"Later this year, I'll be on my own in Caracas for five nights. Is it safe? If not, can you name a reputable travel company to arrange accommodation and escort ... Read More

Brazil enjoys golden finish to record Panamerican Games (Guardain Unlimited): "Brazil celebrated a golden finish to the 15th Panamerican Games on Sunday topping the podium in three of the final ... Read More

Ecuador is a compact country, with most of the rainforest area easiy reached within hours from Quito. Transportation is not the lengthy process it can be in other rainforest areas ... Read More

Even though Eva Duarte de Peron, best known as Evita, died in 1952, her memory lives on as people still come to gaze up at this balcony of the ... Read More

Runway reopens at Brazil airport after deadly crash (CNN.com): "10 days after a passenger jet skidded off its rain-slicked surface and crashed, killing almost 200 people in the country's worst ... Read More

With only a day to go before the closing of the XV Pan American Rio Games 2007, the Medals Chart shows the US in first place, with Cuba in ... Read More

"Found on the crystaline flats of the Salar de Uyuni desert in Southern Bolivia, this hotel is one of a handful of properties made entirely from blocks of salt. Until ... Read More

Even with tightened security and police patrols for the Pan American games, crime in Rio continues and this time, two Rio police arrested for mugging U.S. cops . "Policing in Rio ... Read More

Machu Picchu has always been a prime tourist destination in Peru, and with its inclusion as a New 7 Wonder of the World, Machu Picchu Prepares for Tourist Influx (living ... Read More

In Bolivia, Fiestas Are A Way Of Life (Christian Science Monitor): "Many of the country's grandest fiestas align with major celebrations within the Roman Catholic Church, but in towns across ... Read More

In Venezuela, Speak No Ill of Hugo (Time.com): "Many foreigners can travel to Venezuela without a visa. But now there's a new requirement once they get there. President Hugo Chavez ... Read More

Beginning on August 30 and ending on December 10, 2007; with all travel compledted by December 13, 2007, American Airlines Puts All Central and South American Destinations on ... Read More

Sixteen countries will be represented from Asia, Africa, Australia/New Zealand, North America, South America and Europe as runners are scheduled to compete in the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2007, "held ... Read More

Argentina - South America’s premier golfing destination (Travel Guide): "Argentina’s courses offer golf-links for every player and taste, with 270 clubs throughout the country, 138 of which are in ... Read More

Following Hiram Bingham's exploration in 1912 and subsequent visits, many of the artifacts he found were transported to Yale University in the US. Now, Peru demands return of Machu ... Read More

From crisis to crisis in Brazil (Ecpnomist.com): "The government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is scrambling to dodge the fallout from Brazil's worsening aviation crisis following the second ... Read More

Peru celebrates “Pisco Day” and revives origin dispute (mercoPress): "Peru celebrated Sunday “Pisco Day” promising to improve the quality of the grape distilled alcohol, but above all defend its domestic ... Read More

Ski season is in full swing at the South American ski resorts. With ski season running from June through September, international skiers flock to the slopes to participate in ... Read More

2007-07-21 13:27 (Mw 6.1) AMAZONAS, BRAZIL -8.0 -71.1‎ Region: ... Read More

Radar outage halts S. America flights (AP): "An unexplained two-hour outage at a radar facility in the Amazon forced at least four American Airlines flights from the U.S. heading to ... Read More

Cruise lines tap Antarctica (Marco Island Sun Times): "Regent Seven Seas Cruises, meanwhile, has added four new Antarctica cruises in late 2007 and early 2008 due to what ... Read More

It seems a universal truth that a females watches her weight to attract a male, but Choosy mating habits are costly to female iguanas (Hulik.com): During "a month-long mating period, particularly ... Read More

Prosecutors try to close Sao Paulo airport after worst Brazil plane crash (international Herald Tribune): "A TAM jet pulled out of an attempted landing Thursday at Sao Paulo's Congonhas airport ... Read More

Now might not be the best time to visit Peru with a teacher's strike and farmer's protests affecting much of the country and its transportation systems, but a recent trip ... Read More

Rain and slippery runways were involved at the Congonhas airport in São Paulo when a TAM Airbus A320 skidded off the runway and crashed into buildings. Around 200 ... Read More

Adding to their existing domestic and international service, LAN Peru to launch Direct Flights to Europe (ASIA Travel Tips.com ): "LAN Peru is to launch direct flights to Europe, commencing ... Read More

Pan American Games Results (USA Today) has the statistics and medal results. A Turbulent Opening Day in Brazil (NYTimes): "The Pan American Games had a sputtering start Saturday with the ... Read More

Ruthless Brazil beat Argentina 3-0 to win Copa (Reuters): "Brazil produced a ruthessly efficient performance to beat old rivals Argentina 3-0 on Sunday and win the Copa America for the ... Read More

Spectacular Angel Falls is one of South America's top destinations. Located within Venezuela's Parque Nacional Canaima, the falls are 3,212 ft (979 m) high and the highest ... Read More

Brazil and Argentina to write latest chapter of storied rivalry (USA Today): "Argentina is 15-8-8 against its larger neighbor in Copa America matches, but it's Brazil which will be trying ... Read More

Brazil welcomes athletes to the party (globeandmail.com): "Brazil welcomed the Americas to dance last night, a lush and lavish opening ceremony to kick off the 15th Pan American Games that ... Read More

La Virgen del Carmen is the patron saint of Paucartambo, near Cuzco, where streets of white colonial buildings topped with red roofs are the setting for the dancing ... Read More

Once the largest and the wealthiest city in South America due to the rich silver mine in Cerro Rico, or Rich Hill, now named a World Heritage site, Potosí declined ... Read More

Protesting Teachers Storm Peru Station (Wahington Post.com): "About a dozen public school teachers tried to light a train station on fire in southern Peru amid nationwide protests against a new ... Read More

The US National Earthquake Information Center reports that a 6.0 Mw Powerful Earthquake Shakes Peru (Novinite Ltd.): "There were no immediate reports of injuries or serious damages, but the tremor ... Read More

Argentina routs Mexico in Copa America (latimes.com): "Argentina beat Mexico, 3-0, in the Copa America on Wednesday night and set up a rematch of the 2004 final against defending champion ... Read More

To the benefit of travelers to the Caribbean countries of South America, Airlines to start Guyana-Suriname flights next month (Caribbean Net News): "The new operations by Blue Wing Airlines ... Read More

Brazil is home for Pan Ams, but not likely to contend (International Herald Tribune): "Enthusiastic Rio citizens will be watching a sporting competition of this type for the first time, ... Read More

In one of the coldest winters in South America, temperatures in Patagonia are at freezing and belowe and Buenos Aires gets first snow since 1918 (AP) The snow didn't stick, ... Read More

Text and photos of a visit to Peruvian Amazonia reported in Exploring the mighty mystic Amazon (news.com.au): "There's plenty to see as you cruise the Amazon, from numerous villages perched ... Read More

Argentina, Mexico Enjoy Routs to Set Up Copa America Semifinal INew York Times) : "Argentina, seeking a record 15th title in soccer's oldest international competition, underlined its status as ... Read More

Brightly colored colonial houses, a vivid bouganvillea and cobblestoned streets are part of the charm of Colonia del Sacramento, the only Portuguese settlement along the Rio de la Plata. Click on ... Read More

Among the winners are Machu Picchu and Cristo Redentor Statue in Rio de Janeiro as the New "wonders of the world" named after online poll (AP): "The seven winners ... Read More

400,000 people pack Copacabana Beach for South America's Live Earth Rio concert (International Herald Tribune): "More than 400,000 people packed Copacabana Beach on Saturday for South America's Live Earth concert, ... Read More

Background, team news and predictons for the Copa América Quarter-Final Preview: Brazil - Chile (Goal.com): "What: Copa América Quarter-Final (S2 Fixture) When: 07/07/2007 (Saturday) 21:50 (Venezuela), 04/07/2007 (Sunday) 03:50 (CET) ... Read More

If you haven't already done so, you can vote at www.new7wonders.com/voting.php. The voting closes at midnint on July 6, 2007. Results will be psoted from Lisbon on 07/07/2007. Poll winds down to ... Read More

The secrets of Easter Island (TimesOnline) is not only the moais and mysteries behind them, but the physical attractiveness of the islanders and their culture. The article reports on a visit ... Read More

Saying there aren't enough security officers to ensure crowd safety, a Judge cancels Rio Live Earth concert because of security concerns (International Herald Tribune): "Organizers of the free show ... Read More

Brazil, Chile Fill Last Quarterfinal Spots at Copa; U.S. Exits (Bloomberg.com): "Defending champion Brazil and Chile secured the last two quarterfinal spots at soccer's Copa America, setting up a ... Read More

Brazil tourist attraction: Rio favelas (Mercury News): " Most of the massive hillside slums that rise up around Rio's posh Ipanema beach district are places where middle-class Brazilians would never ... Read More

SALT AND SKY: The remote Salar de Uyuni salt desert in Bolivia is a land of extremes (freep.com): Report of a trip through the salt apn. "Salar de Uyuni ... Read More

Carnival Releases Details on South America Itineraries (Cruise Critic News): "Carnival's recent announcement that it would sail its first-ever series of South American itineraries (plan ahead: we're talking about ... Read More

The Tahuayo Lodge on the Tahuayo river is five hours by boat from Iquitos, and a marvelous place to learn about the rainforest, view wildlife and indulge in sporting activities. Click ... Read More