Vamos Travel Blog

Ali shows us his samples of perfume .. from the Tunisian favourite jasmine to cactus ("same as Chanel # 5", he says) and the 'boom boom' oil for men for great sex. We purchased pure lemon oil for relaxation - we felt obligated after his tour to the 'panorama' which included other stops including one to a Mederasa, school for the study of the Quran, as well as several more mosques, all located within the walls of the medina with its maze of narrow twisting streets.

Another Day, Another Scam, aka Ali Part 2

Post author:heatherr1
Post published:February 4, 2020
Post category:Africa Tunisia
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Ali shows us samples of his perfumes.

12 hours of steady tropical downpour leaves many streets in Cozumel's downtown to be impassable.

Cozumel: Maya Island of People, Pirates and Plenty of Fishes

Post author:heatherr1
Post published:January 21, 2020
Post category:Mexico
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Cozumel - then and now - from the 70s to today

Palais des Papes - (Palace of the Popes) built in the early part of the 14th century.

Of Popes and Wine

Post author:heatherr1
Post published:December 11, 2019
Post category:France
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If you thought Roman Catholic Popes always lived in the Vatican City in Rome, think again. Better yet, visit Avignon, a historic mediaeval city in central France in Provence.…

Sur le Pont

Post author:heatherr1
Post published:December 3, 2019
Post category:France
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Ever been disappointed when you finally reach a travel destination that’s been on your bucket list forever? Happens all the time: a monument is not as large as you…

Ali Part 1

Post author:heatherr1
Post published:April 4, 2019
Post category:Tunisia
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As soon as our guide dropped us off at the Souk (a smaller version of The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul) in Sousse, Ali appeared by our side. I recognize you…

Panama Hat - originated in Ecuador as Montecristi hats, named after the town where the Toquilla plant is grown. The leaves are dried and the fibers separated and used to make hats. The Spanish recognized the quality and exported them via Panama to Europe. Since they came from "Panama" they got the name Panama hats. Also the workers digging the Panama Canal used these light and very durable hats to protect themselves from the sun.

How to Buy the Perfect Panama Hat

Post author:heatherr1
Post published:March 20, 2019
Post category:Ecuador
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What do actresses Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow and celebrities like Miss Ecuador have in common? And when they were alive, President Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Humphrey Bogart and Gary Cooper…

How to be Fish Bait

Post author:heatherr1
Post published:March 20, 2019
Post category:Greece
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Home of a fish spa in Rhythmno, Crete I am in Crete where life appears more laid back than my home country of Canada where a spa on the west…

Family-sized scooter

Motorbikes…..Yikes!!!

Post author:heatherr1
Post published:March 19, 2019
Post category:Thailand
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Motorbikes----Yikes! A sinister looking stranger---streaked with black dirt, smeared with black asphalt--- loomed over my sunbathing body on this Greek Island beach. He cast a shadow, forcing me to open…

The Elusive Elephant

Post author:heatherr1
Post published:March 19, 2019
Post category:Thailand
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“Come ‘ere! Come ‘ere!” One of our tour companions waves excitedly. Points. We rush to where he’s standing. Hopeful. “Right there! See them trees moving! Right there!” Squint…

heatherr1 on Ecolodging in Panama
arlene turner on Ecolodging in Panama
heatherr1 on Ecolodging in Panama
Arlene on Ecolodging in Panama
heatherr1 on Ali Part 1

Fernando de Noronha, Natural Wonderland
UNESCO recognition This stunning archipelago of 21 islands lies in the Atlantic Ocean, 350 km (271 miles) off Brazil’s northeast coast, 3 degrees south of the equator. The islands have never been connected to the South American mainland. Thus, all endemic species of the archipelago have colonized the islands by flight or rafting over the […]
Sweating and Swimming in Tayrona Park, Colombia
Sweat Panting, sweating, occasionally swearing, we follow a meandering up and down jungle trail in Tayrona Park — on the outskirts of Santa Marta — to Colombia’s Caribbean coast. To our chagrin, insects and heat are constant companions. Tourism Tayrona Park. Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta This area lies near the foothills of the Sierra […]
What do the Chapel of Bones, Cork Trees, and Megaliths Have in Common?
All are located in or near the UNESCO heritage site of Évora, Portugal. Taste of the Past Évora, beautiful walled city of about 60,000 citizens, lies 1.5 hours east of Lisbon by bus or train. Its beginnings provide a taste of the past in Portuguese history. Tourist information here. Influenced by the Moors and […]
Ecolodging in Panama
More than Panama hats Indeed, the famous Panama hat is actually made in Ecuador. You can read about this phenomenon in a previous Vamostravelblog. On this trip, however, we experience more of Panama’s natural world at Los Quetzales, a mountain ecolodge in Guadalupe village not far from the border with Costa Rica. Cloud Forest […]
Singapore-The Trip That Never Happened
One year ago this month, we planned to fly to Singapore. Then COVID restrictions appeared, we cancelled, and now we drool over the sights, sounds, and tastes of the trip that never happened. Singapore Singapore is a republic, a sovereign island city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It is about the same size as Bahrain. Singapore […]
The Secret War in Laos
Secret War After a visit to the local night market in Luang Prabang, Laos, we learned about The Secret War. Backgounder. Landlocked Country A communist country, Laos is landlocked, almost hidden in southeast Asia. ‘Simply Beautiful’ Luang Prabang We were in Luang Prabang, Laos. Described in travel brochures as ‘Simply Beautiful’, this former Royal capital […]
Eats ‘n Treats in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Street Food, Fine Food in Northern Thailand From the Cowboy Hat Lady cook in a street stall to a more refined Northern Thailand restaurant, your tastebuds will find delicious rewards in Chiang Mai. Spicier Northern Thai food is known for its more fiery, hotter taste than its southern counterpart. You are often invited to order […]
Petra – One of the Seven Wonders of the World
Why a Wonder of the World? The ancient city of Petra in Jordan became one of the 7 New Wonders of the World when it was chosen in 2007 by a vote of 100 million people. Petra was the capital of the Nabatean Empire, an ancient Arab state that grew rich due to its […]
Casanova and the Bridge of Sighs
Venice, Italy The Lover, the Bridge and the Doge The great lover, Giacomo Girolamo Casanova, once crossed the Bridge of Sighs on his way to prison in a dingy, dark, small cell. Known as the Leads, these dreaded cells were in the attic of the Doge’s Palace in Venice. Casanova was only 30 and had […]
Hoi An, Vietnam – Falling in Love
Falling in Love in the Rain The year is 2006. We are touring Vietnam from Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south. On a rainy, misty night we arrive in Hoi An. Located on the South China Sea, the city lies in the middle of the country, about 30 km […]

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