Half way between the cities of Chennai and Pondicherry, in Tamil Nadu, sits Mammallapuram (also known as Mahabalipuram). Famous for its grand stone carvings and structures, this town dates back to the 7th/9th century and it’s one of the oldest examples of South Indian architecture within the Dravidian style. This … more »
I had never thought about the consequences of colonialism as much as while we were traveling around Latin America. I am half Portuguese and half Spanish and, having studied in Portugal, I have obviously learnt a lot about “the great discoveries” of my people and the subsequent colonial actions in … more »
(Read History and fun in Easter Island, part 1/2) Exploitation: the island as a case-study for the world! It is believed that, when the Rapa Nui originally came to the island about 700 years ago, it was a place covered in greenery and trees. If the land was fertile … more »
I must confess Easter Island was never on my travel plans. Not because it didn’t seem like an interesting destination on my mind (quite the opposite!) but because, somehow, it always felt like “too far, too hard to reach”. Before visiting Chile, I actually didn’t even know Easter Island is … more »
When you visit historical monuments, like Sao Jorge Castle in Lisbon in this case, you often get this feeling that, inside those places, time has remained still. This cat napping by the entrance to the castle is a metaphor of that: he is sleeping the afternoon away like the crazy … more »
Iorana means “greetings” in the local Polynesian language of Easter Island, aka Rapa Nui. Today we went around the archeological sites of the island to only realize that the whole land is an open air archeological ground. You can find Moais like these all over the place. The Moais are … more »
Chichen-Itza: majestic and awe inspiring. This monument was built atop another building which is currently underground. A serpent can be seen slithering down the staircase of this monument during the Spring and Autumn equinoxes! Crazy stuff, huh?!