Category: Cultural

Peru from North to South

My first taste of Latin America was in 2007 when I went on a research trip to Peru. I quickly found that the country is bursting with variety, colour, wonderful sights, welcoming people, fascinating wildlife and handsome architecture – the perfect mix for never ending photo opportunities!

I started in Lima and explored Plaza de Armas (the main square) which is flanked by the historic centre, the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace and the magnificent City Hall. The old streets with colonial mansions and Moorish balconies are striking and incredibly beautiful. Another popular site which I didn’t get the chance to see on my last visit is Santo Domingo Convent, an icon of colonial architecture, which was completed in the late stages of the sixteenth century and has been restored recently.

Next I headed for Trujillo which is still relatively undiscovered. In Trujillo you don’t feel like you are on holiday, more as though you are on an adventure. The archaeological sites of Huaca Sol y Luna and Chan Chan are still being excavated and but are none-the-less impressive and fuelled my interest in archaeology.  Another interesting place is Chiclayo, which is situated close to some further impressive archaeological sites including Tucume and the Brunning museum, which houses gold artefacts. They date from Moche times and some archaeologists consider them to be one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the world as the main tomb was found intact and untouched by thieves.

Further south I visited the Chaucilla Cemetery. This is the only archaeological site in Peru where ancient mummies can be seen in their original graves. The bodies are buried along with ancient artefacts which date back to 1000 AD. This is an eerie but incredibly fascinating insight into Peru’s history.

Another place I would recommend to anyone planning a trip to Peru is the town of Yura, the National Reserve of Salinas/ Aguada Blanca and Pampa Cañahuas. Here you can see South American camels as well as many bird species in their natural habitats. Another highlight in the Arequipa District is spotting a Condor flying free in the immense Colca Canyon. This species is the largest flying land bird in the Western hemisphere. These massive birds are so heavy that they live in windy areas, such as the Andean mountain ranges, as the wind currents here allow them to glide with little effort.

Nobody visiting Peru for the first time would want to miss out on Machu Picchu.  From the Sacred Valley I went to Aguas Calientes on the Vistadrome train. The Vistadome has panoramic windows that give you a superb view of landscape and great photographic opportunities. I then took the bus up to the ruins of Machu Picchu for a guided tour with time to explore on my own. The site was much larger than I expected but just as awe-inspiring. I returned by bus to the town of Aguas Calientes a lively market town that has grown up around the railway. This is a great place to get to meet the locals and see their way of life firsthand.

If you have time, our Complete Peru – North to South takes in many of these highlights and is a fabulous trip if you want to see as much as possible on a Peru holiday.

What to eat on holiday in Madagascar

Trying out the local dishes is all part and parcel of any trip abroad and it’s no different when on holiday in Madagascar. Although there are strong French influences in Malagasy cooking (Madagascar was a French colony from 1896 to 1960), most dishes are rice based and on any drive through rural Madagascar, and even in the suburbs of the capital Anatananarivo, where there’s water you’ll see rice paddies. Rice or ‘vary’ is often eaten three times a day, so no surprise then that the national dish, Ramazava, is based on rice. This popular dish is cooked in one single pot, often on an open fire, with rice added to a sizzling mix of beef, greens, tomato, onions and ginger.

Rice paddies dominate the landscape in the central highlands of Madagascar

A quick poll at our London office however, shows that our Madagascar team unanimously vote ‘fish in coconut sauce’ as the most tasty, traditional dish. Anywhere on Madagascar’s coastline visitors will find that seafood dishes predominate. And Madagascar has a lot of coast – it’s the fourth biggest island in the world with a tropical coastline of 3000 miles, a mix of idyllic white sand beaches, rocky headlands and lush vegetation.

Local Malagasy Fishermen

Our second favourite dish is chicken with vanilla sauce. Over 80% of the world’s vanilla is produced in Madagascar, and whilst most is exported to the USA, many local dishes, both savoury and sweet use the spice. Vanilla is actually a Mexican orchid and it has to be hand pollinated as the insect that naturally pollinates it, a specific type of stingless bee, is only found in Mexico. After saffron, labour-intensive vanilla is the second most expensive spice word-wide. Madagascar together with its Indian Ocean neighbours, Reunion, Mauritius and the Seychelles, are collectively called the Vanilla Islands.

One last ‘must try’ is Ravitoto, a dish made from a spinach-like green leafy green vegetable, often cassava leaves, which are ground up and boiled with small pieces of fatty pork and ginger root. Cassava leaves can taste a little bitter, so this dish needs to be boiled for quite some time, and either a little sugar or coconut milk can be added. Eat it with hot rice of course!

The quality of fresh fruit and vegetables in Madagascar is remarkable, even though there is little use of pesticides as yet, and whilst the individual fruit may look smaller than we are accustomed to, in many cases the taste is considerably richer. On the west coast the mango season is October to November, and the same time of the year on the more humid east coast it’s lychee season. There can be a massive surplus of both in season, with stalls lining the roadside villages. So expect delicious fresh fruit at every meal and follow the locals who use a handy twig to floss their teeth after dinner.

Freshly grown mango

Don’t miss the opportunity to try the mangosteen, our favourite of all Madagascar’s exotic fruits. The outside is purple with a bright white edible inside, shaped rather like a tangerine. It only grows close to the equator and is our contender for the accolade of ‘tastiest fruit in the world’. We aren’t the only ones who have taken a shine to this delicious fruit; legend has it that Queen Victoria offered £100 to anyone who could bring her fresh mangosteen.

Mangosteen

Our Madagascar holiday team here at Rainbow Tours are passionate about all things Malagasy and believe that travel should involved the local community, so that visitors receive the very best welcome and genuinely experience the real Madagascar. Food can serve as a window into understanding other cultures better and sharing a meal is a great way to promote conversation and forge real relationships.

Highlights of Colombia: From Capital to Coast

Colombia has finally begun to secure a reputation as a safe, if somewhat off-the-beaten track destination.  Two decades have past since the dark days of Pablo Escobar and the associated drug-related violence of the early 90’s.  Modern Colombia is thriving with its strong economic and political ties to North America.  The tourist cities feel safer than ever before and the country is populated by some of the most laid back, friendly people in the South American continent. Quite amazing considering their recent, turbulent past.

Aside from the modern and vibrant capital city of Bogota, Colombia has a host of intriguing places for the more adventurous tourist. Visit the coffee triangle around the cities of Manizales, Armenia and Pereira. Take a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride through the dimly lit, cobblestone streets of colonial Cartagena. Relax on some of the remote beaches of the Tayrona National Park, located close to the Venezuelan border. Colombia is also home to hidden gems such as the small town of Villa de Leyva. As the witty tourism ministry slogan explains ‘El riesgo es que te quieres quedar’ – ‘The only risk is wanting to stay’.

Here are some highlights from my recent trip to Colombia…

Bogota

I arrived in Bogota with pre-conceptions about the security situation and conjuring images of gun-toting drug lords. With hindsight, I couldn’t have been more misinformed. Having checked into my hotel in the upmarket Zona Rosa district of the city, I took the funicular to the summit of Monserrate where you can have lunch whilst enjoying unrivaled views of the Colombian capital. After returning back to the city centre, I visited La Candelaria district where there is a high concentration of government buildings and interesting streets.  One of my favourite stops was the museum of famous Colombian figurative artist, Fernando Botero.  Botero is famous for accentuating the fullness of his subjects.

City of Bogota

Cartagena

Having spent a couple of days in the capital, I took an early morning Avianca flight to the northern coastal city of Cartagena. Cartagena is a former hub of the Spanish empire in the 16th Century, and was an important shipping port of the wealth from the New World to Spain. Cartagena is now arguably the number one place to visit in Colombia as it oozes history, colonial charm and is the perfect setting for a romantic getaway. I spent most of my time in the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town which is surrounded by stone walls enclosing several blocks and hundreds of charming colonial homes – many of which have colorful flowers hanging from their balconies. I like my architecture so I felt like a kid in a candy store. The famous Colombian author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez has a house in the city. His home is right next to the Sofitel Santa Clara hotel which is worth a visit even if you are not a paying guest! The hotel was used to film part of ‘Love In The Time of Cholera’ – associated with a Marquez book by the same name.

UNESCO World Heritage Old Town of Cartagena

UNESCO World Heritage Old Town of Cartagena

Santa Marta & Tayrona National Park

From Cartagena I made the road trip along the coast to the city of Santa Marta. My favorite excursion was to the 17th Century Hacienda ‘La Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino’ which is famous for being the place where South American liberator Simon Bolivar died. A little further along the coast towards the border with Venezuela, I found what can only be described as a hidden gem, an off-the-beaten track paradise. The Tayrona National Park is set in a mountainous region flanked by rugged beaches. I camped in the park for a number of nights although the Ecohabs offer a more comfortable way to stay. There are not many tourists or locals around so it really is a great place to forget about your woes!

Caribean Beach close to Cartagena Colombia

Authentic travel…authentic food

Food is such an important part of any holiday and something that Rainbow’s clients have always valued and commented on – unforgettable dining experiences in unspoilt locations is one of our favourite mantras. It’s the local knowledge that makes all the difference, whether you’re looking for award-winning haute cuisine and world class wines, or a freshly caught and grilled lobster washed down by a local beer.

We were therefore thrilled to win the Food and Travel Magazine’s Best Tour Operator 2012 award back in September, voted for by their readers, and flushed by our success, we hosted our very first food bloggers event last week. Fourteen top food bloggers came along to our Taste of Africa evening, held at the innovative Open Kitchens in Hoxton. We cooked beef and greens from Madagascar and Tanzania fish with fried onions, chilli and garlic. See the recipes and more photos from the event on our Taste of Africa page.

The wine flowed and we exchanged views on food, responsible travel to Africa that benefits the communities you visit, and the role of the bloggers as the new journalists. There was much debate, but in the final analysis we all agreed that good food is an essential part of any holiday and that authentic travel experiences, where you can genuinely engage with local cultures and people, lead to more authentic food experiences.

Read what our bloggers had to say about their Taste of Africa experiences:

- London Unattached
- Future Foodie
- Snigs Kitchen
- Brunch Etc
- Hot & Chilli

Chef Attoma Mandji demonstrates how to cook Tanzanian fish with fried onions

Rio – Brazil’s Party City

A true cinematic cityscape, Rio de Janeiro occupies one of the most spectacular settings of any metropolis in the world. Flanked by gorgeous mountains, white-sand beaches and verdant rain-forests, Rio is famous for Samba, football and best known for its iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer. With the upcoming World Cup in 2014 and the next Olympics being hosted in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, its a destination that will grow in popularity, intoxicating it’s visitors with its tropical cocktails and beautiful vistas.

Take a visit to Corcovado Mountain to see the iconic Christ the Redeemer Statue

Walk along the infamous Copacabana Beach

Take the cable car up Sugar Loaf Mountain

Try Brazil's National Cocktail - A Caipirinha. A must on your Brazil holiday

Running for Street Child of Sierra Leone

Street Child of Sierra Leone is an inspirational charity whose aim is to get children off the streets and back into school. I came across Street Child through organising the travel arrangements for one of the runners and have been bowled over by the commitment and enthusiasm of every person I’ve come into contact with. Rainbow Tours was one of the Post Race Event sponsors and this is just the beginning of our involvement. The marathon raised over £400,000 and we’re already thinking about how we can be involved next year. Lewis Aldridge is a volunteer for Street Child and sent in this report and photos of this year’s Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon.

Rob Morley

Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon, image by Mark Gillett

“I’ve just come back from a wonderful and inspiring trip to Sierra Leone and wanted to tell everyone at Rainbow Tours about it. I’m in love with Africa and spend as many of my holidays there as possible, but up until now I hadn’t been anywhere over in the West. I also love running. So when I heard there was a charity organising the first ever marathon to be run in Sierra Leone, it was something that I just had to get involved with.

We flew direct from London to Freetown and transferred straight to Makeni where the run was to be held and where the charity, Street Child of Sierra Leone, works tirelessly to get children off the streets and back into school. The marathon day itself was phenomenal. I’ve run about a dozen marathons and it was the best one by far. The scenery was sublime and the atmosphere was electric, but perhaps above all I think it was the 170 or so international runners all running for the same cause which made it really special.

Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon, image by Mark Gillett

After leaving Makeni I decided to rest my tired legs by spending a few days down by the sea. The beaches in Sierra Leone are some of the best in the world. I spent one night on the delightful Banana Island followed by two nights on the wonderful Tokey Beach. And on the last day I went to see the Sierra Leone national football team play in the national stadium in Freetown. I recommend it all. I love Sierra Leone. It’s safe, friendly and practically devoid of tourists. I can’t wait to go back for next years race!”

Lewis Aldridge

Kiln Sierra Leone Marathon for Street Child. Image by Mark Gillett

If you’d like to donate to Street Child, get in touch with Rainbow Tours or go to the Sierra Leone Street Child’s web page on Virgin Giving here. Regular giving really helps the charity to plan ahead and they say monthly donations are key to Street Child’s stability and growth – here’s a reminder of what just £10, £20, £40 or £100 a month can do.

£10 a month – Pays school fees, uniform, materials for 3 children.
£20 a month – Funds a child’s journey from the streets to family and school.
£40 a month – Trains a community primary school teacher and pay them a basic wage.
£100 a month – Pays a social worker’s salary: who supports 50-100 street children.

Buenos Aires Tango Festival & World Championships, 14 – 28 Aug 2012

For anyone who is on holiday in Buenos Aires in August, the Buenos Aires Tango Festival is a must. The festival brings together the top tango dancers in the world and showcases their talent. At the festival visitors are able to watch the best dancers for free.

The festival is in fact two events in one – it starts with a nine-day celebration of tango and then ends with the world championships. During the two week festival over 150 concerts, dance shows, ‘milongas’ and parties take place and they are all free! An estimated 400,000 visitors are expected this year. The global growth and influence of tango has been so great that in December 2009 UNESCO declared Tango to be a part of the World’s Cultural Heritage.

You may recall viewers of BBC’S Strictly Come Dancing being dazzled by Simon Vincent and Flavia Cacace, and if so, it will come as no surprise to learn that they have won the Buenos Aires World Championships several times. If you want to get in the mood for a holiday in Argentina, I recommend that you go and see their sell out show, Midnight Tango, which is currently touring the UK. For dates see www.midnighttango.co.uk

Our Latin American experts can advise you on a Tango Festival Package which includes VIP tickets to the finals.

If you’re not lucky enough to be traveling to Latin America this year, and can’t make the show, all is not lost as you can get a taste of this sensual dance right here – have a look at this video of the 2008 champions José Fernandez and Melody Gisele Celatti.

Golden Spider Silk

I highly recommend the Golden Spider Silk exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, where the world’s largest piece of cloth, made entirely from spider silk is being exhibited. The exhibition will run from the 25th January to the 5th June. Spider silk is an extremely strong material and on a weight basis is stronger than steel. These spiders are found throughout the tropics, in countries such as Madagascar, and are known as Gold orb weavers because of their gold coloured web. These spiders, large enough to fill the palm of your hand, are in fact blind. Their eyes are only able to vaguely detect changes in light. Instead they rely on a keen sense of touch to feel vibrations on their web and track down the entangled prey. The work of producing golden silk is completely a female endeavour! – the male spider does not produce silk – and it is a completely environmentally friendly process. However, as they are cannibals the spiders cannot be in close proximity to one another.

Golden Spider Silk cloth

It took eight years to make the cloth using silk from 1.2 million Madagascar Golden orb spiders (nephila madagascariensis). The exhibition is the result of the work of two men, Briton Simon Peers who has lived in Madagascar since 1989, and his partner Nicholas Godley whose grandmother was born in Madagascar.

For more information visit the Victoria and Albert Museum website.

About our guest blogger: Anita has travelled extensively around the world, she is interested in art and history, and loves discovering new places!