Blog – Lose the Map

Palenque, Colombia: First Free Town in the Americas

Joanna KalafatisJanuary 26, 2021

About an hour and a half south of Cartagena, Colombia, is the 3,500 town town of San Basilio de Palenque; or Palenque, for short. This unassuming town has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a pretty incredible reason. It is "the first ... Discover More..

Tips

What To Do In Ushuaia: The Southernmost City in the World

Joanna KalafatisJanuary 20, 2021

An article on what to do in Ushuaia may seem weird to anyone who's been there. After all, most people who end up in "el fin del mundo" - the end of the world - in Ushuaia are there to get somewhere else, not explore the city itself. The southernm... Discover More..

Tips

Exploring, Sailing, Hiking Patagonia: The Ultimate Guide

Joanna KalafatisJanuary 13, 2021

When most people hear about Patagonia they think of adventure, the majesty of nature, a journey to the edge of the world...or, possibly, a clothing brand you wear to show the world you're outdoorsy. Well, I'm here to talk about the former. I've h... Discover More..

AdventureHistoryNaturePhotographySouth AmericaTips

2020 Non-Amazon Gift Guide for Travelers

Joanna KalafatisDecember 5, 2020

Let's face it: 2020 has been a pretty terrible year all around, and especially for those used to life on the road. So this holiday season, give the avid traveler in your life (or yourself) a heartwarming gift for when adventure season comes back aro... Discover More..

AdventureInspirationTravel Gear

Food & Philosophy: The Real Local Guide to Athens

Joanna KalafatisNovember 29, 2020

There's no better way to explore Athens than through the ideas that inspired the foundations of the city, and, of course, its many delicious Mediterranean tastes. People tend to associate ancient Greece with philosophy, and modern Greece with the ... Discover More..

CultureEuropeFoodHistory

Mount Parnitha: Experience Nature Right Outside Athens

Joanna KalafatisNovember 23, 2020

In most European capitals, you have to travel pretty far to experience the quiet, solitary tranquility of nature. Not so in Athens. In fact, just under an hour from the dead center of the chaotic, sprawling city I love, lies one of the most beautiful... Discover More..

EuropeNaturePhotography

What It’s Like to Travel During a Pandemic (My International Flight Story)

Joanna KalafatisOctober 28, 2020

You've seen the think pieces, the random social media posts, the over involved aunts and uncles of the world shaming traveling during a pandemic all over the place lately. In fact, I'm willing to bet a sizable chunk of people who read the title of th... Discover More..

Health & FitnessResponsible TravelTips

Top 5 Websites to Learn a New Language

Joanna KalafatisJune 22, 2020

Travel lovers everywhere have spent the last months feeling kind of down, which is inevitable. To get through this flightless period, I have been working on improving my Spanish and generally learning languages (Japanese is up first). After all, w... Discover More..

CultureTips

Six Stories of Ramadan Around the World

Joanna KalafatisMay 23, 2020

The holy month of Ramadan ends tomorrow, and around 1.8 billion people around the world will mark the end of this holiday with a celebration called Eid ul-Fitr - The Festival of Breaking the Fast. Having had Muslim friends throughout my life, I ha... Discover More..

CultureInspiration

Cerro de los Siete Colores northern Argentina

How Quarantine Feels Strangely Like Traveling Alone

Joanna KalafatisApril 29, 2020

"This title sounds insane". That's the first thought that went through my head upon rereading it. I know it does. How can being restricted to your house, completely physically disconnected from people, places, and experiences, feel like travel? Tr... Discover More..

InspirationOffbeatTips