Por Elbio Rodríguez Barilari (Revista Relaciones) Tenemos mucha suerte. Como letristas, Fernando Cabrera, Darnauchans, Caetano Veloso y Chico Buarque son mejores que Bob Dylan y están en un pie de igualdad con Leonard Cohen. O sea que, en el caso de Cabrera estamos hablando de uno de los “songwriters” más importantes a caballo de los […]
Top 10 Attractions in the Mystical Patagonia, Argentina
Disclaimer: I originally wrote this post for Globalgrasshopper Often described as “the end of the world,” this Southern region of Argentina is full of natural wonders. It spans several Argentinean provinces, a portion of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, and part of Chile and is a truly magical place. Jagged mountain peaks, primeval glaciers, quaint seaside […]
This year, I was planning to host a special dinner on one of the two days of Llamadas parade during the Uruguayan carnival. Unfortunately, a rain forecast caused the dates to be switched, and my dinner plans went bust, because I had to leave town on the newly scheduled date. But on the first night of Llamadas I […]
Famous for being the birthplace of Jazz, New Orleans, Louisiana is wonderful, one-of-a-kind destination. “In the late 19th century, while the rest of America was stomping their feet to military marches, and New Orleans was dancing to VooDoo rhythms. New Orleans was the only place in the New World where slaves were allowed to own […]
I had this idyllic vision of Niagara Falls. Something spectacular, massive, breathtaking. Beyond that, I had no idea what to expect. One night, at my friend Melissa´s sister in Waterdown, Ontario, she suggested we get a package deal at one of the hotels, which would surely include wine tasting around Niagara on the lake. And […]
When I was growing up in Uruguay, my grandma always made dishes that we considered to be Armenian food. But when I visited Armenia, the food was very different. My family, coming from parts of an ancient Armenian kingdom that had been conquered by the Ottoman empire, in this case, Marash, had preserved traditions that […]
ALEPPO was ALEP – Remembering the Armenian Genocide
Yesterday, I learnt about Turkey’s tactics to turn the Armenian genocide-themed film “The Promise” into a box office failure. Apparently, they have been entering about 100,000 poor reviews on Imdb, buying seats in theaters and then asking for refunds, so the seats will be empty, harassing actors and producers, etc. Now that Turkey is even more […]
This is a strange post for this site, but since films are a great way of “traveling” sometimes, I thought I´d share a list of some of the fabulous French films I have watched over the last months. After making a conscious decision to avoid anything produced in Hollywood, I was able to discover many fabulous […]
Athens for Digital Nomads – Where to write your masterpiece or edit your film, best wifi cafes, poolside cafes & more
On many days during my stay in Athens last summer, I went out on a quest to find the perfect coffee shop to do some work on my laptop. Because August was so unbearably hot in the city, at some point the search mutated into a quest for the perfect hotel pool, one that allowed day passes. […]
Viaje hacia la luz – Nicolás Ibarburu prepara su próximo disco
Nico Ibarburu es una persona que me ha enseñado muchas cosas a lo largo de mi vida. Sobre todo, a escuchar, a dejar ser. Y no es porque sea o pretenda ser un ejemplo de nada. Nico es alguien que igual se queda hablando quince minutos con un tipo de la calle que le quiere contar […]
Bilingual poems about candombe, the true essence of Uruguayan music Candombe blues (Montevideo, 24 de Agosto, 2012) Hay una melancolía salvaje en el candombe un trance que deshace lo que pasó todo es ahora todo es tambor Lo sagrado (Montevideo, 24 de Agosto, 2012)Las manos del Lobo en el tambor La mort de […]
Best Montevideo Restaurants – LUCCA Affordable Gourmet
After having lunch there one lovely Saturday afternoon, I can say that it was probably the best culinary experience I have had at a restaurant in Montevideo.
Europe à la carte – Which Type of Europe Trip is Right for You?
One of the many reasons to travel to Europe is the variety of experiences you can plan. With different countries all close together, Europe is a haven for backpacking and touring. But how do you decide what type of trip to take? These pointers can help you decide which area of Europe might be best […]
Love must be pure. It has to respect us above all. Take care of us above all. Love wants our happiness. Love´s greatest satisfaction is the loved one´s joy and eternal bliss. But sometimes we give all these things, we feel we are receiving the same. We feel it in our soul, in our hearts, […]
Tropic Thunder – A Fabulous Ethnic Popup Restaurant Experience in Montevideo
I have heard many visitors to Montevideo complain about the scarcity of ethnic food in our lovely city. Once in a while, however, we are pleasantly surprised by exotic food of the highest level. More often than not, Tropic Thunder´s popup restaurant experience is involved. I first met chef Pablo Cordoba as an exquisite cinematographer. […]
A Taste of the Exotic – Top 3 Places for Portuguese Food in Macau
Macau has always captured my imagination for its rich traditions and unique qualities. Once a Portuguese colony, it is today a special administrative region of China, just like Hong Kong. Thanks to its colonial past, it offers some fabulous Portuguese cuisine, which has earned several well-deserved Michelin stars. Macau is, however, more famous for its […]
A rendez-vous with producer Elias Ribeiro of Urucu Media in Rio de Janeiro Elias Ribeiro was born in Brazil. With awards and selections from several of the world´s top film markets and funds, he is arguably the absolute star of Africa´s independent cinema today. His South Africa-based company Urucu Media is committed to finding […]
Casapueblo – A perfect blend of Art, Nature, and Architecture
Few artists have had the chance to create their own living museums, their perfect havens. Carlos Páez Vilaró is one of them. A disciple of the likes of Picasso and Torres García, Páez Vilaró created Casapueblo, a dreamlike affair that combines a hotel, an artist´s workshop, and an art gallery. I once had a romantic […]
Uruguay blooms in the summer. It is the time of pleasure, nature, love, sunshine, and beauty. This summer in particular has been especially beautiful, with scarce clouds and generally agreeable temperatures.
Before I returned to Rio de Janeiro after last Christmas, the idea of the city I had in my mind was a mix of images of Corcovado, Jobim and Vinicius melodies, and a story about my friend Ana and one of her girlfriends ending up in the wrong side of town, in their car, in […]
In Hillbilly heaven; a taste of the thriving Louisville Cuisine
Thanks its vibrant community of entrepreneurial immigrants, Louisville is becoming a foodie´s paradise with surprisingly convenient prices.
Photo gallery of top restaurants and dishes
Two nights ago, I had a dream about Siegessäule, the magnificent monument made famous by Wim Wenders` Himmel über Berlin (Wings of desire) and Bono´s music clip for one of the song´s in the sequel´s soundtrack. The only difference between this and the previous times this icon has captured my imagination is that this time […]
Traveling with my own portable wireless – TEP device Review
I´m sitting at a Starbucks in San Francisco before a reading on Mission street. I came in because I needed to check the exact address of the place of the reading online. For the third time during my trip (Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco), I got my drink/food, sat down, opened my […]
Amazing Budget London B&Bs and Private Rooms for Under $200
Some of my LA friends are in London right now. They are there for only a short period, and thus, decided to go for some posh hotel. As I am planning my next trip to Europe, I started thinking about all the opportunities I had to go to London when I lived in Spain or […]
Planning a Visit to Serengeti National Park – The Ultimate Safari Adventure
Serengeti National Park is a kind of holy grail for all African safari enthusiasts. The park´s open plains are home to a fantastical array of wild species, from friendly zebra to imposing predators like leopards and lions. This is probably the greatest place in the world to witness wildlife in all its majesty and intensity. […]
Being in LA, it is impossible not to think about Vegas. Everyone you meet either just came from Vegas, is reminiscing about their last trip or planning a new gambling, dining, and partying escapade. Of course, the hype is more than justified. The neon town rising out of the Nevada desert is rich in opportunities for travel […]
Don´t show me the coffins of children with that deafening orchestral scoring My sadness doesn´t need a soundtrack What do you want from me masters of montage and emotional chord strikes Don´t let me hear the Armenian tongue of my school days from the mouths of children displaced bombed their lives forever raped the familiar […]
Finding a Car for that Perfect, Unforgettable Road Trip
I don´t like cars. One of my least favorite things about Seattle is having to get in a car to go almost anywhere. I don´t like traffic, I don´t like being inside a metallic box instead of being out in the open field. However, I love road trips. I love that feeling of being on […]
If you wanted to see the best sunrise in Britain, where would you go?
Britain´s scenic coastline can be a marvelous place to contemplate the beauty of the rising sun. Though the British Islands are better known for mysterious fogs and ubiquitous rains, when the sun does rise in all it´s splendour, I hope you will find yourself at one of these locations. A perfect sunrise is an elusive […]
Leaving Summerland – Montevideo-Seattle and beyond
When people heard I was coming to Seattle, some of my Uruguayan friends mentioned the music scene, but everyone mentioned the rain. I am going to disappoint all of them by saying that the music scene here is nothing to write home about, and neither is the rain
Ever since the Beatles first landed in America, British musicians have been trying to make it in the US with varying degrees of success. Born into a family of British musicians, Hayley Jane had many options before her when she decided to study at Boston’s Berklee College of Music , arguably one of the world’s […]
Everybody wants to move to Uruguay, but not everyone should…
One thing I know for sure is this: wherever LIFE is happening, it´s never happening at a 4-star hotel. You can add as many stars as you like; it ain´t gonna happen.
Top Ten Free and Affordable Attractions for Students in London
Although the capital is known for being an expensive place to live, there is always a variety of activities going on so you will never get bored, even if you are on a student´s budget.
The state of water in America and the true price of a glass of Fiji
Earlier this year, I saw a documentary about Chevron´s fracking exploits in the US and Poland. The film was presented by its director, who was hiding in a cave at the moment. Chevron was not very happy with the documentary, and his life was in danger. What I saw in the film included people getting […]
I started making a living by writing about travel quite by chance. Having discovered a new career that combined two of my greatest passions, namely, traveling and writing, I embraced it and don’t think I’ll ever stop. Over the years, I have used many different tools encountered online or recommended by other bloggers. These are […]
5 Unforgettable sights from South Island, New Zealand
Sunny beaches and snowy peaks Anyone with a passion for the great outdoors will enjoy New Zealand´s South Island. Whether skiing at the top of the Southern Alps or exploring the fiords, relaxing on golden sand beaches or hiking through the forests, any visitor can get a feel of this quintessential Maori territory by experiencing […]
Hiking to the top of Mount Rainier, Washington state
I was never much of a mountain climber, but Mount Rainier is worth every second you might be lucky enough to spend in the vicinity of its otherworldly perfection
The Ultimate Bucket List – From frozen waterfalls to Mars-walking
Seven exotic destinations that will captivate anyone with a desire to visit the road less traveled: Petra, the Amazon, Macchu Picchu, Antelope Canyon, the Norwegian fjords, Iceland, and Bora Bora.
Film festivals are magical sometimes, and this is the case with FAM in the island of Florianopolis, in the South of Brazil. Island people are usually special, they love to enjoy life, they like to be outdoors and live life to the fullest, and Florianopolians are no exception to the rule.
South African Casinos – Vintage Glamour with a Taste of the Exotic
Once a symbol of the ruling ethnicity´s affluence, South African Casinos have become popular with travelers all over the world. Their luxury can tell many a tale about the country´s complicated past.
Ultimately, that is what life is all about, creating as many unforgettable moments as we can, for as long as we can, every single day of our lives, and cherishing them for as long as we are in this world.
When I spend too long without getting on a plane, I can get rather restless. This Fall, I found the cure, I am traveling towards the Northern Spring. Although the place I´m going is not precisely tropical, more like a mild winter except for the summertime, year-round, I am so excited to see some of […]
Exotic weddings are very fashionable these days. Sometimes, during my travels, I randomly stumble upon open-air weddings that look like straight out of a fairy tale: everyone dressed in white, the ocean and blue skies in the background, perfect weather; an ideal setting for sheer joy and happy endings. Of course, remote venues can greatly […]
While It may sometimes seem like traveling with your eco-friendly values is impossible, there are actually many easy ways to take your green lifestyle with you.
Lament for St. Cecilia – Music by Paul Stanhope, Lyrics by Veronica Pamoukaghlian
How Lament for St. Cecilia, music by Paul Stanhope, lyrics by Veronica Pamoukaghlian.came about,
thanks to the magic of The Wander Life.
Includes a video with audio from a performance at St. John´s College, Cambridge, Jan 2013
Nine fabulous things to do on a Spring Break cruise
I have been lucky to be able to do my fair share of traveling and cruising. Although I have never been much of a “tourist,” I have had many near-paradise experiences over the years. Much of my cruising was actually done during Spring Break, so, I came up with the idea of suggesting some fabulous […]
A esas playas sin nombre
donde nunca hay nadie
más que la Belleza
adonde nos llevan
carteles que anuncian peligro
Propiedad Privada y cosas por el estilo
the silent drums will never play the same our heart is changed Acá va la segunda parte. Hay mucho dolor, pero también mucha belleza y mucho amor. Espero que disfruten y saboreen recordarlo una vez más y muchas, muchas más. Conocí a Osvaldo por los Shakers, cuando me contaron que el tocaba la bata y […]
New York state in the Fall – Halloween ghosts and the blissful outdoors
Fall is the perfect time to head down to New York in order to enjoy its kaleidoscopic beauty and ever vibrant lifestyle. The million-colored leaves around Central Park create a unique spectacle, and there are dozens of fun outdoors activities and festivals all over the city and the whole of New York state. Photography enthusiasts will appreciate […]
South Africa´s Spring delights – Blossoms, sights & trails
For those of us in the Southern hemisphere, September is the month of blooming, and South Africa is not the exception. Greenness, flower blossoms and people filled with a new energy that seemed dormant during the winter months all come together to make this one of the best seasons for a visit to this magical land. […]
Museum of Natural Sciences, La Plata, Argentina – An emotional journey
Quite honestly, I have seen my share of Museums around the world and, unless they are the home of a painting by Max Ernst or another favorite of mine that I am really dying to see, I’m sort of done with them, with the general idea of a Museum, especially while traveling, when I’d much […]
Top-rated cruise ships in the world – A photo blog
Cruising can be a fun, comfortable and trouble-free option for seeing many different places over a short period of time. While I favor longer cruises with overnights and long port times, I also LOVE Hawaii, which requires spending about 4 days in a row at sea, and often dealing with sea-sickness, depending on what Neptune […]
I have only been to Istanbul and Kusadasi, two coastal, tourist spots that are hardly representative of the complexity and diversity that is Turkey. My Armenian family comes in fact from a region called Marash, which is part of Turkey today, but was in fact once Armenian territory. My knowledge about the “real Turkey” comes […]
10 Cruising myths exposed – It’s not always like on The Love Boat! (by a former cruise staff)
Someone asked me to try to share some of my expertise on cruising here, So, I came up with a list of things most people commonly expect from cruising, which they do not always get.
As I might head to NY City soon, after acquiring an addictive taste for it last Summer, I decided to find out what cool concerts were happening there during the rest of the Summer and early Fall. I was amazed at the quality and variety of the shows (and even surprised that some bands were […]
My favorite London band is actually the curently LA-based Purple Melon, so, I decided to commission this article from Rebecca Felgate, who is much better informed about the London music scene of today. Happy listening! London has always been celebrated for its enormous ability to house upcoming and diverse music. With notorious bands such as The […]
Men’s vs Women’s Holiday Habits Exposed – Johnny Depp’s wife will not be thrilled…
I’ve heard it’s been raining heavily in Britain during late Spring and early Summer. Apparently, it has been the wettest June on record, and forecasts for July are not very promising either. This made me curious about what Brits were doing to escape their disagreeable summer. I was actually planning to write about favorite destinations […]
A perfect Hong Kong visit – Futuristic skylines and meditation gardens
The East will always remain a mystery to those who have never experienced it. In this respect, Hong Kong presents a unique blend of East and West, that may provide a good starting point for exploring some of the most intriguing regions in the world. THE PAST It is hard to understand Hong Kong without […]
Human happiness and the environment – Address by Uruguayan president Jose Mujica at Rio +20 Summit
This is a rare entry for my blog. I was deeply moved by this speech by Mujica, and it expressed many views I share with the man I am proud to have voted to be president of my country. Much as I was in awe of his eloquence and heart-warming simplicity, I was also appalled […]
I’m sad to say that I haven’t seen Egypt as yet. I was in fact scheduled to visit Alexandria for work, when I had to change plans to be able to shoot a film in Finland. I will never regret the choice, but I really hope I can find a way to get around to […]
MONSTRUO, Film shoot in Montevideo – A photo gallery
So, we´re about to show MONSTRUO to an audience for the first time. It´s only a private premiere, but we are superexcited after over a year of work on the film. Monstruo is a relentless thriller, directed by Berlin-based Carlos Morelli, starring two of Uruguay´s most renowned character actors: Roberto Jones and Roberto Suárez. If […]
Liverpool has really put itself on the map in recent years. When it was hailed as the European Capital of Culture in 2008, a lot of investment went into the city, with new hotels and venues popping up all over town. I moved to Liverpool from Scotland at the beginning of 2008 and left in […]
GUEST POST BY BEN GALLIVAN, OUR MAN IN BERLIN There is a big misunderstanding of music that comes out of Germany – it isn’t all techno, opera and Rammstein (although there is a lot of that about too!); there are plenty of different styles of live music being played out nightly, especially in Berlin. The […]
Colonia del Sacramento – Charm from a different era
This photo of Colonia del Sacramento is courtesy of TripAdvisor My most vivid memory from my first visit to Colonia is of the impressive Bullfighting ring. It was in ruins 20 years ago just like now, but, surprisingly, it has retained its charm, although it is no longer possible to go into the actual arena, […]
Antes de poner un pie en las Malvinas, lo único que realmente sabía acerca de ellas era que había habido una guerra entre Argentina e Inglaterra por la posesión de su territorio en los ochentas.Los uruguayos, con una cercanía cultural muy profunda con la Argentina, nos habíamos visto naturalmente inclinados a apoyar el lema de […]
Melancholia by Lars von Trier and the creation of myth
By Verónica Pamoukaghlián About a year ago, an editor asked me to write an analysis of the creation of myth in an audiovisual product. I decided to write about a film trailer I had just seen, which I found fascinating. This article is the result of that commission. Hope you enjoy it. A film trailer […]
When you think of those spur of the moment Las Vegas flights, sustainability and environmental awareness are probably the last things on your mind. For over two and a half years now, the groundbreaking Citycenter complex has come to challenge everyone’s views of what Sin city represents. A creation by Art Gensler´s GENSLER DESIGN, partnering with MGM MIRAGE, Citycenter […]
The math is pretty simple, when there is an economic crisis, people do anything, in order to close sales. Spain is not the exception to the rule, and, on top of all the beauty and relaxation this beautiful land has always offered, prices today are really convenient, when compared to other summer holiday destinations in […]
Romantic escapades – Fabulous places to fall in love
Lake Como “This shore of the lake is one continued village, and the Milanese nobility have their villas here. The union of culture and the untameable profusion and loveliness of nature is here so close that the line where they are divided can hardly be discovered.” Percy B. Shelley A favorite spot for the most celebrated Romantic […]
I heard a lot about Cyprus growing up. I went to an Armenian school, and I would often hear about Cyprus, mostly in history class. The population in Cyprus is mainly Greek, but there is also a small Armenian community, and the Armenian language is considered one of the minority languages of the island. Like […]
Fascinating Gibraltar: Mysteries of a Mediterranean beauty
As things are, I am probably the only person I know who has been to both Gibraltar and the Falkland islands. These two special places have one interesting thing in common: they are much contested UK territories outside of the UK, people are bilingual Spanish-English in both of them, and they seem to have a […]
La semana pasada, gracias al incansable, creativo y emprendedor Juan Pablo Chapital, se hizo un homenaje a Luis Alberto Spinetta en Montevideo. Por un lado, me dieron ganas de compartir algunos videos de cosas maravillosas que sucedieron esa noche, de la cual participaron algunos de los intérpretes más talentosos, personales e inspirados con que cuenta […]
When I went to Finland to shoot my film RAUL, as it was impossible to book a hotel during the Master´s Athletics´ Championship, I used couchsurfing to accomodate me and most of my crew. The experience lead to some deep most likely everlasting friendships with a fabulous Finnish family. However, couchsurfing is not for everyone. […]
Queremos tanto a Luis – Spinetta por Elbio Rodríguez Barilari
Desde ese día en que todos nos enteramos que el cuerpo de Luis Alberto Spinetta dio su último suspiro, personalmente pasé por varios estados. Desée poder esconderme en alguna parte mientras pasaba todo el desfile de tristeza publicitada y mercantilización de la muerte, recordé los pocos pero inolvidables momentos que compartí con él, y los […]
If you went to Punta del Diablo this March without a significant other, you probably felt like the last single person on Earth. What I found there last weekend was beauty without end and, almost exclusively, couples enjoying it. We stayed at a house with a view of one of the nicest beaches, which lies […]
If you enjoy traveling by car and discovering things on your own, without guided tours or carefully planned schedules, the Argentinean South is one of the coolest places I know to have a fabulous road trip adventure. Though I have never traveled there by land, the places I saw while cruising were quite unforgettable, especially my […]
New Zealand – A seafaring paradise with awe-inspiring traditions
As it usually happens to me with films and places, I fell in love with New Zealand for the first time after watching a movie. In this case, it was Lee Tamahori’s superb ONCE WERE WARRIORS. This is a 90’s movie, so, NZ and I actually go way back, but many years would pass until […]
The first time I was in Athens, I wanted to see and do everything. I was coming from Korfu, which I had reached via Bari. I have told many times before on this blog the story of how it was Henry Miller´s THE COLOSSUS OF MAROUSI, in a German edition, read under the delicious Ibiza […]
Into the land of dreams – great travel films of all times
This is the second guest post ever on The Wander life, by travel blogger extraordinaire Joe, who shows a flair for film criticism as well. I added my favorite travel movie of all times at the bottom! Enjoy! If you’re a traveller, what’s the next best thing to travelling? Daydreaming about it? Writing about? Talking […]
So, we are halfway through the summer, and I still haven´t been able to take a proper vacation, but I have just spent a couple of weeks with a few interruptions at my family´s summer house in Las Toscas Honestly, I used to spend only a few weekends there every summer, but this year I […]
I have already talked about my delicious experiences in Istanbul extensively on this blog. Yet I have only recently come across these photos of one of my best Istanbul nights ever. This was the night we had dinner at the top of Galatha Tower, from where our random new best friends came to pick us […]
I visited Hilo many times. Every single time, it rained at some point. Meanwhile, when I sailed into the other side of the Big Island, the sun was always shining. Apparently, there is a scientific explanation for this, but I won´t go into that now. I remember two special times fondly. Once, my Canadian friends […]
A few years back, I crossed the Panama canal a couple of times on a cruise ship. Oddly enough, my most vivid memory of the canal is of a gay Philipino boy named Joy who was withening my teeth at the spa in front of the window, during the crossing. I did actually write a […]
Firenze from the Duomo – A perfect day´s (fairy) tale & video blog
One of the greatest pleasures of traveling is being able to see friends from different parts of the world. Nothing compares to meeting a friend from Spain you haven´t seen in years at the top of the Eiffel tower or running into an old German friend you met in Uruguay while strolling the streets of […]
