Machu Picchu - Only 7,900 feet above sea level

The discovery of Machu Picchu by the international world will mark it’s 100th anniversary in July. That’s pretty impressive, considering the place has been around since the 15th century. Building codes were apparently a lot more strict than they are today.

Built by the Incas around 1450, Machu Picchu was abandoned 100 years later after the Spanish Conquest. Though the Spanish never found Machu Picchu, their invasion brought small pox which is believed to have caused the death of the inhabitants of Machu Picchu.

In celebration of the discovery’s 100th anniversary, Austin-Lehman Adventures is offering three tour packages to Machu Picchu. Packages range from seven to nine days and fall in various price ranges. Expect the tours to sell out fast ad the tour group sizes are kept small and the activites surrounding the 100th anniversary are sure to increase bookings.

The day you shoot the rapids, you don't need to take a shower

Package 1: Machu Picchu Multi Sports Adventure. This is a nine day tour is the most popular tour and stays within the Sacred Valley. Splash through Class II and III rapids, hike along the Inca trails, plant a tree for the UN and shop in Indian markets. Pricing is $3,998 per couple.

Package 2: Amazon to Machu Picchu Adventure. Another nine day tour that takes you down the Amzaon over three of the days with safaris on land and water along the way. Spend a sunrise in Machu Picchu and get some learning with an historical immersion into the Incas to learn what they did and why. Pricing for this package is $4,198 per couple.

Once in a lifetime views on the Amazon

Package 3: Salkantay Lodge to Lodge. This is a seven day adventure for intermediate to advanced hikers. Travelers will hike along the Salkantay Valley to Machu Picchu to the Llactapata pass for little seen views of Machu Picchu from the Southwest. On this tour, you’ll be happy to take a dip in a natural hot spring along the trek. Pricing for this package is $2,850 per couple.

All of the packages are offered as semi-inclusive and include in country air fare where needed. Pricing shown above is per couple and there are single traveler pricing available. Tour groups are limited to no more than 12 people traveling in a group. Austin-Lehman picks both accommodations and dining experiences to immerse the traveler in the local culture. They also offer a money back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with your experience.

Photos from Austin-Lehman Adventures website.

Angry Birds went to Rio and made a movie

Want a chance to win a trip to attend a movie premiere in Rio? Yeah, like in Brazil.

Then, take the time to watch the Superbowl and down load that damned Angry Birds App. Actually, you were probably already going to watch the Packers vs. Steelers and, like most smart phone users, already have the most popular App available today.

During Sunday’s game, there’s going to be a commercial for the movie Rio. Which looks, like some animated thing in 3D. That picture above has those flipping Angry Birds but the movie’s website seems to have Toucan Sam and his buddies, so I’m not sure what the point of the movie would be except to save the Brazilian rain forests or get you to buy some Fruit Loops.

Rovio's Angry Birds from rovio.com

Anyway, the advertisement for Rio is going to have some embedded code in it which, once you input it to your Angry Birds game, the code will lead you to a new level in the game and then something will happen. How you upload it or what you do with the code is beyond me. And you miss the code, the commercial will be uploaded to YouTube, available for viewing so you can actually pay attention to the code and write it down.

I can’t get past the first freaking level of Angry Bird’s free version, so I’m thinking my ability to play at a heightened, special level is not going to garner me any extra points to be able to win anything. But you can. So you can play a video game, go for it!

The partnerships means American airlines can start preparing more routes to the little South American nation that has a reputation for tough justice and jungles. Oh, their coffee is fantastic too. Many of the heavy handed cargo restrictions will also be lifted.

“Reaching 100 Open-Skies agreements is a major milestone in U.S. aviation history,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  “Since the first Open-Skies agreement was reached with the Netherlands in 1992, nations all over the world have come to recognize the benefits of a free market in international aviation services.  Travelers, shippers, airlines and economies all over the world have benefited from the competitive pricing and more convenient service that Open Skies have made possible.”

The program won’t take full effect until 2012, but it will mean many more flights will become available over the next year.

Photo by Oresti Tsonopoulos

His fresh and new web-based series titled Music World documents all of those scenes most people want to uncover but don’t know where to look. When HTG caught wind of Tsonopoulos films (he sent us an email), we started watching them. They are incredible — as he travels the world to document foreign hipsters bringing to life to the tango in Buenos Aires.

(His next planned trip is to head to his parents’ native Greece and document “Rebetiko, the music of the Greek underground dating back to the 1920s,” he told me via email.

The 22-year-old NYU graduate says he wants to create something along the lines of “Anthony Bourdain’s ‘No Reservations’ but rather than focusing on food, I’m dealing with local music traditions.” But Tsonopoulos is cutting himself short — where Bourdain is abrasive and, well, sometimes a douche, Tsonopoulos pieces are optimistic and full of life. He lets the musicians do the talking, only interjecting a few thoughts along the way.

He just may be onto something as his pieces from Buenos Aires feel real, gritty and, most of all, original. His debut piece on the streets of San Temlo brings to life the the Sunday street fair performances and unveils  the  hidden music scene out in front of everyone. His follow up second story on Julita Laso is insightful and simple with excellent camera work that shows how stark and artistic singing a tango can really be.

Tsonopoulos says he wants the video series to capture a certain NPR feel, and he does that quite well interspersing music and conversation in his short pieces. From a technical standpoint, the camera work and editing is excellent and Tsonopoulos uses the beauty of Spanish almost as another score of music.

Check out his website here and Music World on Vimeo. (His regular video channel on Vimeo is here.)

You can become a fan of Music World on Facebook as well — Tsonopoulos knows, you’re nobody if you don’t have a Facebook page.

We look forward to watching his show the Travel Channel someday soon.

Ecuador flag from Wickipedia

Were you stranded at the airport on Thursday wondering why your flight to Ecuador was canceled? You can blame your ruined trip on the Ecuadorian president or police force or, for that matter, both.

This week Ecuador, the small South American country situated on the equator (hence the name), was thrown into chaos as police forces fought back against the President who just made getting promoted a little tougher and less exciting.

It sounds crazy, when our benefits are cut, we roll with it; we kind of have to. But Ecuadorian police officials don’t like that promotions will take longer and that they won’t receive a bonus and a medal when they do get promoted.

Police were so mad about it that on Thursday, they pelted President Rafael Correa with tear gas. Just try doing that here. You just couldn’t even get close to thinking about that here. Once whisked away by security, President Correa was taken to the hospital due to the effects of the tear gas.

Police officers involved in starting the chaos then took over police barracks in cities throughout Ecuador, cut off transportation in and out of the capital city and stormed the airport resulting in flight cancellations (see, it was those guys who grounded your plane).

Once able to see and breath again, President Correa declared a state of emergency which immediately put the military in charge of public order, suspended civil liberties and gave them the power for warrentless searches. Just what they needed, the Patriot Act on steroids.

The fighting, if it continues, could lead Correa to dissolve the National Congress of Ecuador and rule with supreme authority until the next election. That will undoubtedly solve all the problems.

While the World Series of Poker (WSOP) heats up in Las Vegas, earlier this month at the Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT) in Lima Peru I encountered players who embraced a completely different flair for the game than their North American counterparts.

“The Latin American style is more experimental, more passive and 100% more emotional,” explained

Maria Mayrinck

Brazilian poker queen Maria Mayrinck. “Latin blood is hot and people–myself included–still have a hard time separating the ‘technical’ aspect from the ‘emotional’ aspect. In time this will change. It’s only because it’s still such a young sport in Latin countries.” Poker is traditionally not a part of Latin culture–it’s a new sport but growing fast. ”I’d say the main difference is the North American style of play is much more technical and cold,” Mayrinck reasoned.  ”North American players are more used to playing live poker being they’ve done so since they were little, since poker is a part of their culture.”

With blinds raised to $2,000-$4,000, players throw in chips with fiery passion. The LAPT is lively and emotional; full of eccentric characters and much gesturing at tables. After winning a big hand, players occasionally jump out of their chairs and yell things like “Whammo!” Actual cheering erupts from railbirds. Players run over to greet fans. Applause. Passionate screams in Spanish. A group of fans wave a Colombian flag. They chant: “Colombia! Colombia! Colombia!” Hugging. Kissing. High fives.

“Latin American poker is like a soccer match. You celebrate every pot you win, like every goal you score. It’s still new and exciting,” Mayrinck informed. “Latins are very emotional and loud when they are cheering for the fellow countrymen. When there is a Brazilian at a final table, even if it’s someone you’ve never met, you instantly consider him a part of your family and root for him accordingly.”

Logic be damned. Go all in in Peru.

One disadvantage Spanish speaking players have is that the poker language is primarily in English: online tutorials, research sites, Internet tournaments, etc.

“All the math background that North Americans have, the Latin Americans don’t have really,” said Angel Guillen–the second Mexican in history to ever win a WSOP bracelet. “We’re still in the process to understand that technique of the game. Only the good players have it and not the general players.” Guillen feels the more successful Latin players are those who get a chance to gain experience by playing in the international tournament circuit. “In Latin America you develop a feeling for players–reading body language, knowing when someone is bluffing, knowing when they are holding a good hand,” he said.  Explaining about his compatriots’ strengths: “Latin Americans are all warm, kind people. When playing poker at tables you feel how they are changing their temperament–you know when a guy is angry or emotional. You perceive emotion around the table.”

As the blinds increase to $1500-$3,000, the top LAPT players make their way towards the final table. When all in, players stand up in front of their large, colorful fortresses of chips–as if in a sign of respect to the god of chips. “Vamos! Vamos! Yah! Yah!” Players  jump up and punch their fists in the air when they win.  Much joy. Much emotion. A celebration of life.

So what’s the most emotional thing Angel Guillen has ever done during a tournament? With a sly smile, he said, “I’ve thrown a chair in the air when I won a $10k pot.”

Now that truly isn’t being shy about your emotions when it comes to a major poker victory, taking home one sweet pot, and celebrating life.

Harmon is a real life hipster and world wide traveler. Fortunately, he gave us permission to use this story, which originally ran on the Huffington Post.

Follow Harmon Leon on Twitter: www.twitter.com/harmonleon

After Brazil paid for one of the most famous statues of Jesus — known as Christ the Redeemer — the Holy statue (well, there are holes in His hands, feet and sides) made the list of new Seven Wonders of the Worlds.

You can vote for your pick of New7Wonders.com — a site dedicated to showcasing the world’s beauty, both man-made and natural.

As for Jesus, he was due for a shower/sand blasting. And looks much better.

Photo by Boss67 @ Flickr under Creative Commons License.

The ancient Inca city resting at 8,500 feet in the Andes continues to survive, but at least now tourists can make their way up to it.

According to the AFP, about 1,000 tourists joined the celebration (and Susan Sarandon, who was in Peru protesting for the rights of left handed orphans) of Machu Picchu opening its gates again.

In January, record rainfall had washed away parts of the rail road tracks that helped bring tourists to the mysterious city that evaded the Spanish conquistadors but not their small pox.

Through the years, Machu Picchu remains an enigma. No one has fully explained how the city was built or exactly why it was located where it was. The Incas — a civilization ahead of its time — is often criticized for not having ever developed the wheel, but if they were around today, they might say the wheel is overrated in the mountains and they never had to close the city for inferior train track building.

Pictures from Wikipedia

The San Alfonso Del Mar in Chile holds the record for the world’s largest pool (which so happens to border the Pacific Ocean).

The pool is massive — so much so that the resort uses small boats to navigate around. Builders created it in 2006 as a way to lure tourists who desired more deck space — which this pool also has about the most — at least we’re guessing.

All told, the pool is:

3,323 feet long (more than half a mile)

115 feet deep (about 11 stories)

It spans 20 acres of space and uses 66 million gallons of water (taken right from the Pacific) and is typically 16 degrees warmer.

While the pool does not have its own tide, it does require about $4 million a year to keep clean. And if you think its big, you haven’t seen the skimmer the giant pool boy uses.

Hero? Or just another guy who doesn’t want a truck/train accident keeping him from another Empanada.