ShuttlesA2B - Articles
ShuttlesA2B - Articles
The Americas
Teaching English in Ecuador
Peru Is Not One Country in the Way You Think
Bohemian Valparaíso (Chile)
The Venezuelan Migration Crisis (Colombia)
Evita (Buenos Aires)
Why Backpackers Are Drawn to Caye Caulker (Belize)
Travelling Through Mexico and Central America (Guatemala)
Coffee in Costa Rica: History, Regions, Terroir & Specialty Coffee Culture
Frida - A Global Emotional Symbol (Mexico)
Atlantic Islands
Why the Azores is Perfect for Remote Work and Digital Nomads
Europe
The Pillars of Hercules (Gibraltar)
The Mythology Behind the Name Sardinia (Sardegna)
Slow Travel (Italy)
Sicily in Ancient Times
Swiss Time (Switzerland)
Greenland, Global Attention, and Self-Determination
Oceania
Paul Gauguin and the Invention of a South Pacific Dream (French Polynesia)
Hawaii by James A. Michener: The Novel (Hawaii)
Teaching English in Ecuador, Retiring, and Life in the Expat Community
Ecuador attracts long‑term visitors ranging from English teachers to retirees and expats seeking an affordable, culturally rich lifestyle. Teaching English is a common entry point for younger travellers, with most jobs in major cities and modest salaries that cover basic living costs. Retirees are drawn by mild climates, lower expenses, and accessible healthcare, especially in cities like Cuenca and Quito. Expat communities are diverse and spread across the country, offering social networks, language exchanges, and a relaxed pace of life. While bureaucracy and infrastructure can pose challenges, those who adapt easily find Ecuador a rewarding and grounded place to live
Peru Is Not One Country in the Way You Think
The article argues that Peru cannot be understood as a single, unified cultural or social reality. Instead, the country functions as three distinct worlds — the coast, the Andes, and the Amazon — each with its own languages, identities, power structures, and ways of life. The coast, dominated by Lima, concentrates political and media influence; the Andes follow community‑based rhythms rooted in Indigenous traditions; and the Amazon operates with its own systems shaped by geography and limited state presence. Language plays a central role in power and representation, with Spanish dominating national discourse while Quechua, Aymara, and Amazonian languages remain underrepresented. Peru’s national identity is layered and complex, and understanding the country requires recognising these overlapping, often contrasting regional realities rather than treating Peru as a single homogeneous entity.
Bohemian Valparaíso: Chile’s City of Poets, Painters, and Beautiful Chaos
Valparaíso is Chile’s bohemian heart — a chaotic, colourful port city where artists, poets, musicians, and wanderers have shaped its identity for generations. Built across steep hills covered in murals, stairways, and improvised creativity, the city thrives on expression rather than order. Its cafés, bars, and neighbourhoods double as informal cultural spaces, while poetry and street art spill into everyday life. Though rough around the edges, Valparaíso’s beauty comes from its resilience and authenticity. It remains a place for outsiders, dreamers, and anyone drawn to cities with soul rather than polish.
The Venezuelan Migration Crisis: A Global Human Story
Venezuela has undergone one of the world’s largest modern migration crises, with around eight million people leaving the country due to economic collapse, political instability, and shortages of essential services. Most migrants have resettled within Latin America — especially Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, and Brazil — while others have moved to the United States, Spain, and beyond. Life abroad often means starting over with limited resources, navigating legal barriers, and working in jobs below one’s qualifications, though many Venezuelans gradually integrate and contribute to local economies and culture. Support varies widely by country, shaping migrants’ access to work, healthcare, and stability. While some hope to return home someday, most say they would only do so if Venezuela achieves lasting political and economic recovery. The crisis has become a defining regional transformation, reshaping societies and highlighting both the vulnerability and resilience of millions of Venezuelans.
Evita
Eva Perón rose from rural poverty to become Argentina’s most emotionally powerful public figure, transforming from actress to First Lady and the symbolic heart of Peronism in just a few years. Her influence came from empathy and direct connection with the working poor, making her adored by supporters and fiercely criticised by opponents. Her early death at 33 froze her image in myth, and today she remains a deeply felt presence in Buenos Aires — visible in museums, murals, and public memory. Evita endures not just as a political icon, but as a figure who touched Argentina’s identity, passions, and contradictions in a way that still resonates.
Why Backpackers Are Drawn to Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is one of the Caribbean’s most backpacker‑friendly islands, known for its “Go Slow” lifestyle, budget‑friendly stays, and easy access to the Belize Barrier Reef. Travellers are drawn to its relaxed pace, social atmosphere, affordable snorkelling and diving, and simple island infrastructure that feels safe and manageable for solo visitors. With no cars, plenty of hostels, casual food spots, and a naturally social vibe centred around The Split, it fits seamlessly into Central America backpacking routes. Its mix of turquoise water, reef adventures, and unpretentious charm makes it a favourite stop where short stays often turn into longer ones.
Travelling Through Mexico and Central America: How Modern Explorers Move, Connect, and Discover
Modern travel through Mexico and Central America is defined by flexibility, overland movement, and strong digital connectivity. Travellers — mostly independent, budget‑minded, and often on long multi‑country routes — move by buses, shuttles, rideshares, and occasional budget flights, adjusting plans as they go. Social media, hostel networks, and messaging apps shape how they research, connect, and organise transport. Popular stops include Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, and Nicaragua, each offering distinct landscapes and cultures. While the Darién Gap prevents continuous overland travel into South America, the region remains one of the world’s great travel corridors, blending history, diversity, and the communal spirit of independent exploration.
Why the Azores is Perfect for Remote Work and Digital Nomads
The Azores are emerging as an ideal base for digital nomads thanks to reliable internet, co‑working spaces, and a lower cost of living than mainland Portugal. Remote workers benefit from a high quality of life shaped by volcanic landscapes, crater lakes, and a relaxed island pace that supports focus and creativity. With easy European flight connections, welcoming communities, and Portugal’s D7 visa enabling long‑term stays, the Azores offer a rare blend of productivity, nature, and affordability — a balanced, inspiring environment for remote work.
The Pillars of Hercules: Where the Ancient World Ended
The Pillars of Hercules — the Rock of Gibraltar and Jebel Musa — marked the mythical edge of the ancient world, where the Mediterranean ended and the unknown Atlantic began. Rooted in the legend of Heracles’ tenth labour, the pillars symbolised both a physical gateway and a warning not to venture further. Classical writers treated them as the limits of human reach, a boundary captured in the phrase Non plus ultra. Over time, the symbolism evolved, especially during Spain’s Age of Exploration, when “Plus Ultra” came to represent pushing beyond old horizons. Today, visitors to Gibraltar can see the strait where myth and geography meet, a reminder of how each era defines — and challenges — its own boundaries.
