Tag - NM and Beyond

Sunset photo from City of Rocks

Faywood, New Mexico: Outstanding camping at the City of Rocks and letting it all hang out at Faywood Hot Springs

Faywood is one of the many towns in New Mexico that most people have never heard of. After all, this town of 20 – 40 people isn’t exactly a booming metropolis. But if you mention “City of Rocks State Park”, you may get a few affirmative head nods, particularly from people who like camping. Many people consider City of Rocks to be one of the...

An amazing setting where we were surrounded by a nighttime wildlife chorus

Searching for Snakes in the Peruvian Amazon Jungle: A Trip to the Otorongo Amazon River Lodge 🐍

After a full-day of adventures in Iquitos (Peru), my son and I woke up the next morning with the realization that the most adventurous part of our trip was just beginning. We were about to face four days and three nights in the Peruvian Amazon jungle, with the goal of seeing lots of birds (my goal) and snakes (my son’s goal … unfortunately). We’d...

Medicinal bark, roots, and concoctions

Iquitos, Peru: Tuk-Tuks, The Jungle Market of Belén, and Amazing Animal Encounters

Iquitos, Peru was definitely a major change of scene compared to the relatively clean, laid-back streets of Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz in the Galapagos. What follows are some of the memorable experiences that my son and I had in Iquitos, in case you’re planning to visit this gateway to the Amazon. Table of ContentsThe long journey from Galapagos to Iquitos...

More photos of Los Tuneles

Isabela Island, Galapagos: Giant Sea Turtles, Blue-Footed Boobies, and the Laid-Back Town of Puerto Villamil

To follow up on my earlier post about Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos, this article will feature another one of the 13 major islands of the Galapagos: Isabela Island. I picked Isabela Island as my second Galapagos destination as I’d heard there was a good chance of seeing blue-footed boobies there. What can I say, I’m a nerd. Table of ContentsThe ferry...

71st birthday celebration in 2012

In Memory of My Inspiring Dad, Erkki Bjorn Wilhelm Aspelin (June 27, 1941 – April 10, 2023)

This week, I focused on writing an obituary for my father, Erkki Bjorn Wilhelm Aspelin, who passed away on April 10, 2023 at the age of 81. It’s hard to summarize your dad’s life in an obituary, but here’s what I came up with. Erkki Bjorn Wilhelm Aspelin Obituary When Erkki Aspelin was born in Oulu, Finland on June 27, 1941, it’s a safe bet that he...