Words and Photos by Matt Dursum If you had 24 hours in the 15th largest city in the world, what would you do? Today I’m setting off to discover if an ultimate day is even possible in Buenos Aires. For a city so massive, with hundreds of world-famous museums, restaurants, bookstores, and cafes, not to mention the worlds of Tango, Milonga, and Rock Nacional—all contained within 48 distinct neighborhoods or barrios; it’s a task for…
Photography by Samantha Demangate Come escape with me into one of the world’s best comfort foods: the empanada. Portable pockets of goodness, either baked or fried, empanadas are ubiquitous in the South American diet. Imagine Crispy folds of roasted dough encasing savory fillings of minced meats, seafood, olives, and spices. These beautiful little envelopes of flavor fuel people of all classes and backgrounds and can cause heated contention; almost to the level of football. The…
Words and Photos by Matt Dursum There’s a rain soaked glare on the streets of Montevideo as a Candombe troupe dances past us. We join in, mirroring the steps of a casual batucada salsa. We are happy to be a part of this. Normally I don’t join in parades with dancing people but, tonight, I felt extra jovial from drinking two pints of local craft beer and scarfing down patacón sandwiches—Venezuelan beef sandwiches with fried…
Photography by Samantha Demangate When you think of lavishness and wealth, Uruguay hardly comes to mind. It’s a small, unpretentious, and nature oriented country where being flashy is far from respected by society. Yet, even though it’s one of the most humble places on the continent, the city of Punta del Este has become South America’s riviera. Every year, millions of people pour onto its sandy beaches and into its hotels and casinos, hoping to…
Photography by Samantha Demangate A still haze lingers over the Andes Mountains. It’s 90° F and there’s little humidity. Blaring reggaetón hooks fade away as cars race by the crowded avenues. The comforting squeaks of Burrowing Parrots harmonize with the hammering of furniture makers. Staggering out of ice cream shops on their way to the bar, young couples pass by busking musicians and street artists while busy garzónes balance their trays through hungry patrons. This…