Since I abide by the US Treasury Department regulations,and to avoid angering my fellow Miamians – I have never set foot on Cuban soil. However, during my many trips to South America, I have flown over Cuba many times. Cuba will be an adventure paradise for a LONG time – thousands of kilometers of untouched beaches,wild tropical mountains, unfished, unpolluted reefs and deep seas. Above is Matanzas Bay.

Unproductive Farmland.

Gitmo Bay in the distance.

Santiago.

Cayo Coco

Three days after crossing by bus in 8 hours, I fly over the same route in 45 minutes. There is a longer version coming from blip.tv as YouTube does not accept video over 10 MB.

For over 50 Argentine Adventure destinations on Arctic Tropic click here

Yesterday afternoon I flew from Buenos Aires to Santiago. I had hoped to take pictures from the plane, but the view was obscured by clouds. I do have some pictures of the Argentine pampas that I’ll put up later today. The photos were taken in August,2004 – the middle of winter – hence the thick snow cover. Now at the end of summer, there is only snow on the highest peaks.

FOR ADVENTURES IN CHILE, CLICK HERE

Tonight I board LAN Argentina Flight 4521 from Miami to Buenos Aires. It’s the start of a twelve day trip to both Argentina and Chile. The main focus of the journey is to meet adventure travel operators throughout the region. I will be posting several times daily , with many beautiful pictures.

The Crown of the Mid Atlantic Ridge.Only four hours from New York and three from London – the newest Country on Earth.

FOR ADVENTURES IN ICELAND, CLICK HERE

Only 2 hours from Miami – Honduras is an untouched eco-paradise. Few travelers visit – other than the Bay Islands.

Yesterday morning I boarded Alaska Airlines Flight 17 from Miami to Seattle. At 6 hours and 20 minutes, it’s the longest flight in the Continental United States. From Miami the plane sets out on a Northwest trajectory across Southern Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The plane then flies over Louisiana,Arkansas, Texas,Oklahoma,Kansas,Colorado,Utah,Wyoming,Idaho ,Oregon and then Washington State.
At Seattle I boarded a Horizon Air prop plane for the short 45 minute hop up to Vancouver. Pictures are below :

Miami

Crossing the Mississippi.

Western Kansas Farms.

Praries meet the Rockies at Colorado Springs.

First Snow in the Rockies.

Red Desert in Wyoming.

Wyoming or Utah.

San Juan Islands,Washington State.

Coming in for a landing at Vancouver.

Austrian Airways now has four flights a week from Vienna to Erbil,Kurdish Iraq. In the late Saddam era this area was known as the Northern No-Fly Zone and hence developed peacefully and independently from the rest of Iraq. There are many archeological wonders in this Alpine setting where Alexander the Great defeated King Darius of Persia.

“Wheels Up ” for the three hour commuter flight from Medellín to Miami. It’s a quick hop across the Caribbean, passing Jamaica and Cuba along the way.

I’m here in Colombia on a Trade Mission to promote ArcticTropic as a vehicle for promoting ecotourism and adventure travel here.

Colombia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with almost every terrain and climate imaginable. Already, Europeans are visiting, and now its’ time for upscale,educated Americans to travel here – anywhere between three and five hours from most parts of the United States. I was in Bogotá earlier this week , and now in Medellin till next Monday. More pictures to come.

FOR ADVENTURES IN COLOMBIA, CLICK HERE