Six Stages of Traveling to Colombia
Departing on a trip can cause a wide array of emotions from unparalleled excitement to constant nervousness, especially when traveling to Colombia. Known for its not-so-positive past, many associate Colombia with drug lords, cocaine trafficking, and violent streets, however Denise Howell- loving mother, dedicated lawyer, and blogger extraordinaire grabbed the opportunity to really experience Colombia’s true culture and beauty. Despite her initial hesitance, we follow along as Denise describes her excitement and overall fears on her adventure to South America.
It’s Trivia Time: Prize Giveaway!
It’s 2012, and what better way to start off the New Year then to give away an amazing prize? Travel lovers, photography lovers, or really anyone that just wants to win, this one question quiz will be perfect for you. Capture this year’s memories with an underwater digital video recorder. With 8.1 megapixels, under water resistance up to 10 ft, 2.4″ LCD screen, and light weight structure, it is the perfect camcorder that fits in your pocket for the ultimate mobility on your next vacation.
Journey to Colombia: Lawyer Turned Travel Blogger
A technology lawyer turned travel guru is an interesting change, but how does someone go from blogging about 
intellectual property to swimming in mud bathes in Colombia? Denise Howell can tell you. Follow along on this multiple part story of her travel adventures during her first time on a Colombia tour with viventura. Traveling with her friend and both of their 8 year old sons, Denise walks you through her preparation, anxiety, and once-in-a-lifetime experience that she will never forget.
Handmade Fashion, Indigenous Jewlery
Wandering through the San Alejo market in Medellin, Colombia I couldn’t help but feel let down. I had waited an entire month in hopes of purchasing a pair of handmade earrings with natural flower accents. Yet to my disappointment the one and only lady who creates these amazing pieces of jewelry wasn’t there that day. For days I thought about buying other souvenirs and gifts, but nothing really compared. The authentic feel and creative items would not be replaceable. After much time I found that “perfect” pair of earrings and even more handmade gifts for my family members when a friend suggested the Native Source… Read more … »
Christmas Time in the Barrio
Even through cold rains interfered with our activities, there was nothing but smiling faces during viventura’s trip to the Pablo Escobar Barrio in Medellin, Colombia. Riding in taxis up winding streets to the biblioteca, viventura carried bags upon bags of reading books and textbooks for the children in need. I’m sure we looked a lot like Santa Claus, minus the red suit and sleigh lead by reindeers. At first glance, the small library seems run down and quite hard to find if you didn’t know where you were going. But don’t judge a book by its cover, because inside are shelves filled with used-books covering all topics and shiny toy cars lining the walls for the children to play with. This is a perfect place for children of all ages to come and read, play, and do their homework. Read more … »
Get a Chance to Experience the Culture and Beauty of Peru
Want to experience the vibrant culture of Peru and the unforgettable beauty of the Galapagos? Ever dreamed of swimming in pristine blue waters amongst 2500 unique marine species or hiking cliff side stairways up the century old Inca Trail to discover the lost city of Machu Picchu? Want to help support a non profit organization that promotes education, health-care, environmental preservation, and community development? Now you can do both. Literally, it is a Win/Win situation!
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Updates from the Barrio
For those of you who have been following our social responsibility activities, you know that our office in Medellin has been a regular supporter of a private biblioteca (library) located in the Pablo Escobar Barrio of Medellin, Colombia. Perhaps in another year, this budding social project will be a stop for travelers that pass through Medellin on their Colombia tour. The biblioteca is a safe haven in the neighborhood where children come to read, play and do their homework. Despite his physical disability, Don Luis is always ready to help.
Our October visit, was filled with a riot of color. We came armed with paints, brushes, markers and color papered. We set up shop as always on the streets. We find that this works best to attract families to join us in our activities. Today our goal was to create ‘living Read more … »
Spontaneous vs. Engagement – You Choose
We have a bet going on in the office. It’s just a friendly little thing between my boss, Andre Kiwitz, and myself. Both of us have been taking photos of our South American vacations for more than 10 years. Over the years we have developed vastly different approaches to photography. In our more extreme moment he might call my style ‘ paparazzi-esque’ and I might say his photos are ‘contrived’. Regardless, we haven’t been getting very far ‘discussing’ this amongst ourselves, so we have decided to ask a more impartial party… YOU.
Check out our ‘dueling’ articles and photographs. Tell us who you think is right. Comments are welcome, but please be gentle.
The Tricks of Spontaneous Photography – by Rachel Robar
5 Reasons to Get Engaged in Photography – by Andre Kiwitz
Sincerely,
Rachel Robar
Photo Loco – The Tricks of Spontaneous Photography
“Photo Crazy” that’s me. I’m the one who always has my camera out, on and in front of my face. I love trying to find that perfect angle where a person looks their most beautiful. I don’t mean that I only take photos of beautiful people, I think that everyone has something beautiful about them. I just like trying to capture that beauty on camera. I am not a fan of posed photos. People ham it up or have that unfortunate automatic response to blink. However, when traveling, the Golden Rule is Ask Permission. That doesn’t jive with my inclination to find someone’s natural beauty. So, over the years, I have tested and almost perfected my less than ethical methods of taking people pictures.
5 Tips to Taking Sneaky Spontaneous Photos Read more … »
5 Reasons to Get Engaged (In Photography)
“I don’t take pictures of people in the streets, it’s like stealing from them…” a photographer in Berlin told me last week. What? Stealing from somebody when you make a picture? I don’t agree at all. First of all photos without people usually suck, and second it’s so easy to avoid this bad feeling you get when you take those sneaky shots with your telelens. Don’t worry, you can do better. Check out these five reasons why it’s worth the trouble.
1. The pictures are more intensive
