I’m pleased to present this first guest post on Traveling Savage by the Grantourismo duo of Lara Dunston and Terence Carter. Believe me, they love Edinburgh as much as I do. It was the final stop on their year-long grand tour, a travel experiment in living like locals and traveling more slowly, more sustainably, and more experientially. Lara and Terence believe the key to doing this is to stay in holiday rentals rather than hotels – they stayed in a whopping 36 rentals over 12 months and admit that they’re now finding it hard to stay in hotels.
When the couple found out I was heading to Edinburgh, they offered some tips for “going local” that they learned from their stay there in late January. Read more...
“I’m going to Tucumán,” says Martín, the man sitting next to me in the double-decker bus’ top row. He is slight of frame with inky black hair, a touch of the Andean blood, so prevalent in Argentina’s northwest provinces, graces his features. We slouch in our comfy cama suite chairs and watch the throng of passengers swirling among the row of buses at Buenos Aires’ Retiro bus terminal. All the seats behind us are empty, but rather than being annoyed that we are forced to sit next to each other I am grateful for his company.
I’d just parted ways with a good friend and been swindled for 30 pesos by a taxi driver who tried to strip me of 45. To say I was not looking forward to an 18-hour bus ride would be perfectly accurate. I was truly on my own and heading to Salta, the destination I chose for my first trip. There comes a time for everyone when the world reveals its other, darker faces. It’s a darkness that can only be perceived by the eyes, not through books or documentaries. I don’t know what could have prepared me for what I saw along the way (and I’m not talking about the two hours of Bon Jovi videos). Read more...
…given the general cloudiness surrounding experiential travel, I started digging for the cornerstone themes – something, anything to help me organize my travel approach and to share with all of you… Read more...
…choosing a quest for your travels is akin to adopting a heroic mindset. This simple act can lend you strength in the difficult times and the satisfaction of accomplishing what you set out to do… Read more...
…over the last couple of months I’ve met loads of people looking for more from their travels than fancy hotels, tourist-bedecked beaches, and thronged monuments. That experience can be lackluster especially when you’re seeking something deeper or more challenging… Read more...
A hunter, oft-stubbled and bleary-eyed, driven by an insatiable hunger for exploration and experience - and perhaps a chance to thin the herd of caffeinated and alcoholic beverages. From the highlands and islands to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the Borders, I explore Scotland with a pen in hand and a fire in the belly (which could be partly from the whisky). 
