Photography by Samantha Demangate Words by Matt Dursum Spending a day in the markets of Cusco, Perú is what I’ve always wanted. I’m at my happiest in a market. The warm conversations with strangers and merchants, the colors, smells, sounds, they swoon me. In Cusco Peru, getting lost in the markets is a rite of passage for anyone interested in the region’s food and culture. Cusco is a city steeped in history. It was home…
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…
Photography by Samantha Demangate Disembarking from the modern Belgrano C train station, you enter another world. Sights and sensations rarely associated with Buenos Aires surround you. As you step out of the station, a towering gate emblazoned with Chinese characters stretches above. The smell of grilled meat with sizzling soy-sauce and five-spice marinades caramelizing over open flames hits you like a ton of bricks. Loud street vendors shout various dialects of Chinese mixed with Porteño…
Photography by Samantha Demangate Temperate rainforests, endless coasts, and bottomless seafood? Sounds intriguing. Witchy tales and maritime superstitions? Ok, getting better. Penguins frolicking in untouched, perfect surf? Count me in! The enchanting Chiloe Islands lies in the Patagonian Lake District, at about 41°S to 43°S in latitude, on Southern Chile’s rain soaked coastline. Chiloé is famous for its nature, rich traditions, and ancient folklore. On top of that, its Palafitos—colorful wooden buildings built on stilts…