Adventures and fascinations of Matt Pāz
My shuttle van sped downhill from the Andean highlands of Bolivia into the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.
Once it reached San Pedro de Atacama, we had to go through Chilean customs. Chile has a strict policy about bringing plants into the country, and I had a bag full of fruits and vegetables I was hoping to get through. … Read more
After two hours of snaking through the mountains that form the southwestern boundary of Lake Titicaca, my bus arrived at the Bolivian border. The doorman popped into the back of the bus, “El Estadounidense?” I raised my hand, and he beckoned me to the front of the bus. … Read more
My flight into Lima, Peru landed at 12:45am. By time I went through customs and exited Chezar Chavez International airport it was 2am. A cabbie approached me on my way out, “Miraflores? Barranco?” Why yes, Miraflores, please. How’d you know? … Read more
The lease on my apartment expired on June 8th, and the time had come to leave Medellín.
After more than two months in the city, moving onward was extremely bittersweet. The prior night, I had gone out with my buddy Jason for one last trip to Café Zorbas (my favorite restaurant in Medellín and the best pizza in South America), and lamented that part of me didn’t want to leave—I had grown comfy. … Read more