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I am many different things, but three of the most prominent of those are an avid researcher, borderline obsessive foodie, and Mexico fangirl. This cocktail means that I arrived back in Mexico armed with an enormous amount of lists, mostly centered around where (and what) to eat in Puerto Vallarta. Having spent most of my…
By Joan Torres 45 Comments Last updated on January 20, 2025 Wanna travel to Russia with Against the Compass? Join a group of like-minded travelers in our next scheduled tour in Russia on: May 5th to 12th, 2025 (Russian Caucasus) – APPLY NOW Sept 18th to 24th, 2025 (Arctic Russia) – APPLY NOW It’s incredible…
At the beginning of 2021, I set myself a goal to read 50 books. I almost slid just in there, although I didn’t quite finish book number 50 before the end of the 31st! So whether I completed the challenge or not is up to intepretation, but I think it’s close enough to count. It…
By Joan Torres 81 Comments Last updated on March 3, 2025 Wanna travel to Iraq with Against the Compass? Join a group of like-minded travelers in our next scheduled tour in Iraq, where we’ll visit Baghdad, Babylon, Karbala, Mosul, and more April 4th to 15th, 2025 This country is truly an adventure, and this guide…
New Zealand’s South Island is one of the most beautiful and easy-going places in the world for a road trip. I may be a little bias, we are talking not just about my home country. here – but my home island, and even home town! But in any case, I’ve driven around these parts many times…
By Joan Torres 151 Comments Last updated on March 13, 2025 Located in the far north of Iraq, nestled between Iran and Turkey, Iraqi Kurdistan is today a safe but turbulent region, home to some of the most breathtaking landscape in the Middle East, composed of green mountains with snow-capped peaks that, definitely, will break…
Towards the end of 2021 I moved to Puerto Vallarta for four months. It was far from my first time in Mexico, but It was my first time in this city as well as the state of Jalisco. When I move someplace new, one of the first things I want to know is an overview…
By Joan Torres 88 Comments Last updated on March 5, 2025 Wanna travel to Mauritania with Against the Compass? Join a group of like-minded travelers in our next scheduled tour in Mauritania: November 18th to 25th, 2025 How to get a visa, budget & costs, cultural facts, moving around, how to find accommodation, top experiences…
Oaxaca city is full of wonderful markets bursting with amazing produce. Many of them are unassuming, tucked away through a doorway, down an alleyway, or around the corner. Access to fresh & delicious produce is one of my absolute favourite things about living in Mexico. Before you go: produce markets in Oaxaca I’m yet to…
By Joan Torres 4 Comments Last updated on March 4, 2025 Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, popularly known as ‘’the 3 Guianas’’, are three countries located on the eastern shoulder of South America – and probably the least visited countries in the all the Americas. Whether you are overlanding across Latin America or just traveling…
