Pile of coconuts beside a log with a machete on top

At Least the Coconuts were Free…

Mark Stewart Destinations 10 Comments

Being budget travellers we’re always looking for ways to stretch the dollars as far as possible. One of the best ways to do this is to volunteer your time in exchange for food and accommodation. While it isn’t quite as helpful as actually earning an income, we just aren’t yet in a position to make that happen, simply not spending anything is better than nothing. However, on some rare occasions, the description of the situations are slightly misleading to what …

Pickles beside a pickle jar holding a pocket watch

Pickle Perspective, or: Memento Mori

Mark Stewart Opinions 12 Comments

Before we hit the road for 18 months of continuous travel, we had temporarily moved out of our condo and into our respective parent’s basements. I was relaxing on the couch one evening, eating a pickle. It was a Bick’s Dill Pickle, Polski Ogórki to be specific. Pickles are a near-perfect food and include many distinct styles, each serving their own purpose: Kosher dills to accompany a nice smoked meat sandwich, spicy pickled beans in a ceasar, or cornichons along …

Man sits by a lake with two volcanoes in the background at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Reflecting on Five Months Central America

Mark Stewart Destinations 25 Comments

Tuesday. 02-06-18. Medellin, Colombia. It’s such a tiny area. The entirety of Central America – including the regions of Mexico we visited – could fit within the country of France. Yet every country is different than the next, each one having its own distinct culture. In Guatemala for example, the Mayan roots are very obvious; from physical features to traditional clothing and general way of life. While right next door in El Salvador, due to several tragic moments in recent …

Tall and thin waterfall in front of a large cluff

Cliff Jumping in El Salvador

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El Tunco is typically known for two things, either a quick stopover point after crossing into El Salvador from Guatemala, or for surfing. Considering the rocky coastline and our lack of surfing skills, we fit into the first category. A few short hours on a bus from Antigua to El Tunco, or five chicken busses over an entire day to get to anywhere else in El Salvador, it wasn’t a tough decision…

How to Get from San Cristobal to Lake Atitlan

Mark Stewart Destinations 4 Comments

It’s been many years since we’ve done any real travel; meaning spending an extended period of time in developing countries, where schedules and timelines only exist on paper. While this definitely isn’t something new to us, the journey from San Cristobal to San Pedro was slightly less than smooth. Most hostels and tour agencies in San Cristobal will be able to sell you a ticket straight through to several locations within Guatemala. The majority of travellers are headed for Antigua, …