After staying in Quito for six weeks, working tirelessly day and night from the hotel room on a dozen photo essays that I recently published on Facebook I was back on the road. My bicycle felt heavier but my wallet, much lighter, with a little money left for the next leg of the travel. Leaving … Read more
How much weight have I lost in this journey so far? Judging by the clothes I wear and feeling my rib bones while sleeping at night I already knew that I have lost some, but how much exactly? Today in Quito, I saw an old man in the street with a weight-machine and after paying … Read more
How to wrap up old year and start a new one? In Ecuador, people bring an end to their año viejo (old year) by burning it. At midnight they bring effigies of politicians, cultural icons and fictional characters, and torch them in the street as a part of their tradition. The effigy can also be … Read more
Over 2600-m above sea-level, a swing was hanging over a steep rock face. They called it the “Swing at the End of the World” because a fall from the swing into the abyss could bring the end of the world to the rider. The swing was attached to a wooden house nestled in a tree … Read more
Today while cycling uphill in the Central Highlands of Ecuador, I saw a woman working alone with the hay near a 3300-m pass. Nearby, some cows were grazing. “How is life in this village?” I asked her. “Only a few people live here. The weather is cold. There is no other work except agriculture and … Read more
Walking around in the streets of Aluasi, I stumbled upon two Quechua women in traditional dresses. It took me quite a while to convince them before I could take their picture as they were very shy and reluctant to be photographed.Here you see them in traditional Inca dress which is worn by most Quechua women … Read more
Standing at the edge of a road in the Southern highlands of Ecuador today, a sweeping valley was in front of me. The view was so big that my eyes couldn’t contain it, similar to holding a bowl under a large waterfall. The bottom of the valley was covered with thick clouds. It appeared like … Read more
Cycling along the Utcubamba river in North Peru today, my bicycle and I achieved a little milestone on this journey. We completed 10,000 km out of 25,000 km from Ushuaia to Alaska. It was hot today but the sun was behind the clouds, so I took a little break along the road and tried to … Read more
After a long day of cycling today, I was about to reach Celendin when I passed through a small town with the name Bellavista. There, I saw a bunch of people gathered in a circle not far from the road. The curiosity to know what was happening overwhelmed me and I steered the bicycle towards … Read more
Today while cycling under the intense sun of the northern highlands of Peru, I saw a woman cooking something in a giant pot outside her house. Out of curiosity, I stopped and asked what she was cooking. She told me it was Shambar soup made of wheat and beans. To my surprise, she offered me … Read more
During the past four days, I was cycling in the National Park of Huascaran in Peru. This park covers the area of the Cordillera Blanca (the world’s highest tropical mountain range). The Cordillera Blanca is part of the Cordillera of the Andes which extends from Venezuela to Argentina and Chile all along South America. Out … Read more
Descending from the 4390-m pass in the Central Highlands today. It has been raining every day and it is just the beginning of the rainy season in Peru! Since leaving Cusco about three weeks ago, I have spent 101 hours on the saddle during 16 days of cycling, covered over 1200 km and climbed 17 … Read more
At the moment I am cycling in the remote and rocky Central Highlands in Peru. The mountains are steep, the valleys, lonely, and the roads, narrow and carved from the side of steep mountains. The elevation of the road is between 2200m to 4000m. For the first time since the beginning of this trip nine … Read more
After a day of cycling on the gravel road, I reach the bank of Rio Baker river. Each screw of my body is loose. I wipe off the dust and sweat on my face with the cold turquoise-blue water of the river. It is very quiet but in my head I can hear the bicycle … Read more
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