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I'm a 28-year old Spanish translator, having studied Spanish in Ireland and in Finland. I've always wanted to live in South America and have been working as a volunteer and travelling in Ecuador for about 6 months. Currently I'm looking for work and being a travel journalist would certainly be a dream come through as I love getting to know new places and people and have always seen myself as a communicator.

  • Hometown

    Finland

  • Location now

    Quito, Ecuador

  • Work published

    I have written some articles for a new English paper in Ecuador, the Ecuador Traveller though my work is yet to be published. Likewise, I am working on articles for a newspaper in Finland, to be published in the future. I have translated reports and magazine articles for NGO's in Finland (from English and Spanish into Finnish), as well as an artistic publication called Foucault's Dream, from English into Spanish.

  • Travel philosophy

    Travel with an open mind, immerse yourself in another culture, get to know the people, receive what you can and be willing to give something of yourself too.

  • Craziest place

    A half-collapsed jungle lodge in Tena, Ecuador with no running water, a drunken local guide and a suspicious neighbour who had a small zoo in his backyard and no qualms about firing his shotgun when tourists were passing by after dark.

  • Advice

    Be curious about the local culture and talk to people, make friends. This way, in addition to seeing attractions and doing exciting things, you will have gained experiences and relationships that may stay with you for the rest of your life.

  • Dream destination

    All of Latin America.

  • Traveled before

    Finland, Ireland, England, Spain, Ecuador, Peru

  • Going next

    Hopefully will be able to visit Mexico, Argentina and Brazil

Heidi Maki's Guide Book Entries

Hotels

  • Hostal Casa Olimpia

    Nov 26, 2007 - La Mariscal, Quito, Ecuador

    Casa Olimpia seems like a huge establishment with winding steel rail stairs leading from floor to floor. In reality, the ......

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  • Otavalo Huasi

    Nov 10, 2007 - La Mariscal, Quito, Ecuador

    This cozy hostel in the very center of the Mariscal district offers clean and comfortable rooms and a very friendly ......

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Restaurants

  • La Arepa Gourmet

    Nov 26, 2007 - La Mariscal, Quito, Ecuador

    A small and tidy cafetería that offers typical Andean corn-based snacks like arepas and tamales. Also serves beer, cocktails and ......

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  • Road Coffee

    Nov 26, 2007 - La Mariscal, Quito, Ecuador

    This inviting little cafetería specializes in its own brew of organic Ecuadorian coffee and varieties of green tea imported from ......

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  • Restaurant Mistral

    Nov 26, 2007 - La Mariscal, Quito, Ecuador

    Mistral is an elegant restaurant that functions as part of Hotel Sebastian, a four-star hotel. For hotel guests, there is ......

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