Roaming South America

My South America Journey - A Brief Summary - Part 3

November 26, 2025

I’ve finally settled into Roldanillo, Colombia, where I’ll be for at least five months. Maybe longer, maybe not, residency is technically an option, but I doubt I’ll spend my days wrestling with immigration offices when I could be drinking coffee in the plaza. Besides, residency in Perú and Ecuador is easier than in Colombia. Before I get too comfortable, I want to rewind and share the trip that brought me here: a winding route through Peru, Ecuador, and into Colombia.

When “Adiós” Doesn’t Mean Goodbye

October 29, 2025

Today, as I walked down the street (here in Roldanillo, Valle del Cauca, Colombia), an older woman stood in her doorway as she does every day. I walk this block almost every day as it is between where I live and downtown. She smiled, raised a hand, and said, ‘¡Adiós!’, same as she does every day. I waved, said, "buenas tardes," and then kept walking. This has happened in all seven countries I have visited in South America, not just once or twice, but consistently.

From Mazamari to Roldanillo: A Journey Across Three Countries

October 24, 2025

I’ve finally settled into Roldanillo, Colombia, where I’ll be for at least five months. Maybe longer, maybe not, residency is technically an option, but I doubt I’ll spend my days wrestling with immigration offices when I could be drinking coffee in the plaza. Besides, residency in Perú and Ecuador is easier than in Colombia. Before I get too comfortable, I want to rewind and share the trip that brought me here: a winding route through Peru, Ecuador, and into Colombia.

On the road, again

March 10, 2025

Yes, I'm on the road, again. If you have been following my journey across and up and down South America, you might remember I wrote that I was in Paraguay and planned on staying there. Well, I've changed my mind.

This time my visit to Encarnación was during the summer months - mid-December to early February. And my word, it's hot! After seven years in Tucson, Arizona, and 9 years on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, I thought I was well acclimated to hot weather. But I certainly wasn't acclimated enough for the hot summer in Encarnación!

Comparing Tucson, AZ, Encarnación, Paraguay, and Barranquilla, Colombia

February 25, 2025

A chat with ChatGPT

You said:

When looking at the globe on Google Earth and comparing the locations of Tucson, AZ (approx. 32 degnorth) and Encarnaction, Paraguay (approx. 27 deg south) - It's interesting comparing the climates. I've lived in bothcities and it seems Tucson is actually a more mild year-round on average climate than Encarnacion.

ChatGPT said:

That is an interesting observation! Looking purely at latitude, Tucson and Encarnación are insomewhat similar positions relative to their respective hemispheres. However, their climates are shaped by vastlydifferent factors. Comparing Climates: Tucson vs. Encarnación