wayfarersoliloquy

Inside the Flavors of Feijoada, Brazil’s National Dish

By wayfarersoliloquy | April 28, 2023April 29, 2023 by wayfarersoliloquy

Words by Matt Dursum Like many national dishes, Brazil’s Feijoada comes from humble roots. In this hearty stew, beans, spices, and various cuts of pork, sometimes including the scraps like pork knuckle and pork ear, are cooked down to perfection. Feijoada is divinely flavorful and reflects the complex and sometimes painful history and cultural diversity of Brazil. Almost immediately after arriving in Brazil, I treated myself to an endless helping of the rich bean stew.…

A Midwesterner’s First Impressions of Rio

By wayfarersoliloquy | April 20, 2023April 20, 2023 by wayfarersoliloquy

Words and Photos by Matt Dursum Rio, a city as alluring as it is intimidating, has always been on my bucket list. From listening to the melodies of Gal Costa to watching scenes of musician Seu Jorge play a bus driver in 2002’s cinematic masterpiece, The City of God, it has enticed me throughout my upbringing. Now, in April 2023, I finally get to experience Rio. Rio de Janeiro, known globally as Rio, is a…

Food South America

The World of Yerba Mate

By wayfarersoliloquy | April 6, 2023April 6, 2023 by wayfarersoliloquy

Get out your gourd. Yerba Mate is the South American tea that deserves all its praise Words by Matt Dursum If you’ve traveled to South America, you’ve likely seen people of all ages walking around with gourds or egg-shaped ceramic cups with a straw and a large thermos of water. This is the omnipresent mate culture of South America, a tea drinking practice that puts other tea-obsessed places like England and Japan to shame. Yerba…

Asia Music

A Millennial’s Soundtrack to Rural Japan

By wayfarersoliloquy | March 28, 2023March 28, 2023 by wayfarersoliloquy

Words by Matt Dursum Photography by Yaron Ptashnik Music goes hand in hand with many life events: romantic courtships, solitary moments, and, of course, adventurous road trips through exciting new landscapes. Music is the catalyst for memories. At least it is for me. I lived in Japan from 2009 to 2013. Not big-city Hello Kitty, sprawling neon signs Japan, no. I was in the boonies. In the small and charming coastal community known as Minami…

beer Travel

A Summer Beer Run in Buenos Aires

By wayfarersoliloquy | March 7, 2023January 28, 2024 by wayfarersoliloquy

Words by Matt Dursum Photos by Samantha Demangate It’s a drizzly Friday afternoon in Buenos Aires. The rain and breeze offer a brief relief from the searing summer heat. This abnormally cool day is perfect for a craft beer tour. Joining me are my friends from the U.K. and my girlfriend. My Argentine friends wanted nothing to do with this, claiming unanimously that drinking anything but ice cold Vermouth or Fernet and Cola during this…

Author: wayfarersoliloquy