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  • V!VA Travel Guides

I am an artist, a computer scientist, a reader, a writer, and a traveller.

  • Hometown

    Canada

  • Location now

    No fixed address

  • Work published

    Mostly in university newspapers.

  • Travel philosophy

    Live where there's space, listen to other travellers, and to locals, and broaden horizons.

  • Craziest place

    Abandoned, graffiti-covered World War II bunkers, the amazing Osa Peninsula, and a half meter by half meter tunnel that took a half-hour to crawl through, it turned out.

  • Bizarre experience

    A language lesson from a grandfather in a small grocery store in Costa Rica. I was soaked to the bone - I'd forgotten my raincoat, and it had poured - and the puddle turned into a lake as he tought me a huge amount of Spanish, including the words for wet, dry, and of course "Pura Vida"!

  • Advice

    Look for hostels that have posterboards covered in notes from other travellers, and pay attention to those. Ask other travellers where they've gone that they've loved, and why, and write it all down. Hang out with locals. Don't be afraid to read a book, but don't be afraid to go out and explore the culture you're surrounded by.

  • Dream destination

    The Galapagos. The moon, and Mars. Nova Scotia. Paris. Kenya. Black Rock City. Then Moscow, to round the week out.

  • Traveled before

    So far, just North and South America.

  • Going next

    More of South America, then hopefully Europe, then Asia.

Dan Anderson's Guide Book Entries

Destinations

  • Salento

    Jan 28, 2008 - Salento, Colombia

    What we now regard as the town of Salento used to be in another location and have a different name. ......

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Hotels

  • Plantation House

    Jan 28, 2008 - Salento, Colombia

    It's easy to see why since travelers often stay at Plantation House longer than planned because of the beautiful views, ......

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  • Casa de Señora Marta

    Dec 17, 2007 - San Andrés Pisimbalá, Tierradentro, Colombia

    Perfect for travelers looking for an authentic experience while meeting interesting fellow travelers, Señora Marta's place could belong to any ......

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  • Hostal-Posada Munaylla

    Nov 30, 2007 - Cotacachi, Ecuador

    Munaylla is a neat, quiet hostel that's stuffed with antiques and is close to the center of town. The rooms ......

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See all Hotels (5)

Restaurants

  • El Café Internet Bar

    Jan 28, 2008 - Bogotá, Colombia

    El Cafè Internet Bar is a popular, queer-friendly hangout with loud music, stiff drinks, fast computers, cute boys (and a ......

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  • Jugos Ricos Tienda

    Dec 17, 2007 - Tierradentro, Colombia

    Their name doesn't lie: Jugos Ricos Tienda serves some of the tastiest juice in South America, and not much else. ......

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  • Mi Heladito de Paila

    Nov 30, 2007 - Cotacachi, Ecuador

    The small Mi Helado serves banana splits, strawberries and cream, as well as $0.50 double-scoop ice cream cones. The ice ......

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See all Restaurants (5)

Activities

  • Calipso Dive Center

    Jan 30, 2008 - Taganga, Colombia

    Tempted by days of underwater exploring of Caribbean reefs and romantic nights in a seaside hammock, travelers are flocking to ......

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  • Hiking to the Aguacate Tombs

    Dec 17, 2007 - San Andrés Pisimbalá, Tierradentro, Colombia

    Historians and Indiana Jones types will enjoy hiking to the ruined tombs of Aguacate, near the towns of Tierradentro and ......

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Schools

Services

  • Mojito Net Internet

    Jan 24, 2008 - Taganga, Colombia

    Mojito Net Internet Cocktail Bar is a veritable Swiss army knife for travelers in Taganga. It sits a few meters ......

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  • Libreria y Papeleria la Unica

    Nov 30, 2007 - Cotacachi, Ecuador

    Libreria y Papeleria la Unica has eight computers and a connection that's about average for Ecuador. ......

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  • ChikiNET

    Nov 30, 2007 - Cotacachi, Ecuador

    Manufacturas Flores, one of several leather shops on Ca. 10 de Agosto, can be easily recognized by the hand-crafted saddle ......

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