Leo Silva: "We become these local friends of our visitors"

When planning my trip to Chile, I got in touch with Leo, the owner and tour guide of Ruta Valparaíso. We were emailing, preparing my trip to the city, and finally on a sunny October morning we had the chance to meet in person and do a full-day city tour. Leo is not a usual tour guide. This guy in leather jacket is open for pop music, reads Carl Jung, speaks four languages, and is extremely passionate about Valparaíso, which makes his guided tours special, surprising and rich. I was asking Leo to tell about the Ruta Valparaíso concept, a new way of guided tours. 

For one day I became a local in Valparaíso

Let's take a port at the ocean, which is declared to be patrimony of the UNESCO World Heritage. Let's color this city so that it makes you smile wherever you look. Let's add to this a tour guide who grew up here and whom everyone knows. Let's stir a bit of a coolness and craziness into this, and you will get a guided tour which you will never forget.

Salzburg in one day - a time travel through the day

One of the highlights of our road trip was the visit to Salzburg. I have heard so much about this city, maybe because it is considered as the second capital of Austria? Still, if I need to name a few things which 'sell' Salzburg for tourism, these would be Mozart, who was born and lived here; the von Trapp Family - from the 'The Sound of Music'; and the Edelweiss, a flower (no, not the beer) which you only find in the mountains around. Salzburg does not let you forget about them, though it gives you much more than that. So what else is there for you in Salzburg?

Potosi – the closest town to the sky

Or should I call it as gem of the Andes? Not only I found Potosi a little jewelery box but also a sparkling little town up in the sky. Colourful colonial houses, smiling people and the red Cerro Rico mountain in the background.

Tiwanaku – the centre of the pre-inca culture

Before traveling to Bolivia I was looking for trips which would bring the Bolivian culture closer to me. This is when I found out about Tiwanaku, a little village just about 50 km from La Paz. It used to be the center of a pre-inca culture. Pre-inca? – was I asking. I had never heard about the times before the Incas. And seems like that the Tiwanakus already built totems and churches, and had complex beliefs about the reason of life.

The Renessaince Rome (Day 2)

The second day in Rome started with a sad, rainy weather. Looking out of our hostel window, we were hoping that it would stop. But no. So we took our small umbrella, squeezed under it and went out to see the Renaissance Rome for a half day. 

Rome, the eternal (Day 1)

I feel lazy during winter time. However when the first sunbeams come with the spring, I like to come out to the light and think of the next places to visit. This time we choose Rome with a friend. I already went to Rome when I was 9. So I had memories of collecting trash from the ground and touching every abandoned dog on the streets. This time I wished for more.

Jesuit journey around Córdoba

When I travel to a country I would like to learn about its culture. The surroundings of Córdoba is the perfect place to visit Jesuit churches and find out about the Spanish inquisition in the 17th century. I visited three very interesting sites.

Why is it good to be Capricorn in Quebrada de Humahuaca?

There was one trip in Argentina which I wanted to do for sure. It was Quebrada de Humahuaca. Seems like Humahuaca did not think the same about me. My bad luck started when I arrived in Salta...

I've visited heaven and hell at the same place

When thinking about where to go in Argentina, instead of the natural beauty of the southern Patagonia I choose the culturally rich north and the Iguazú falls, which is a UNESCO site. To tell the truth I haven't heard much about this fall before, shame on me, so the surprise and astonishment was even bigger when finally there.

Legends laying on the streets - Colonia de Sacramento

The best way to get deep into the history of a town is to walk on the streets slowly without destination. In Colonia de Sacramento one can find himself easily on Street of the Sigh (Calle de los Sospiros), a magical place full of with secrets and legends.