GUIDEBOOK IN PICTURES SIX YEARS OF TRAVELS SOPHIE
MARITA
FUCHS
guidebook in pictures A different kind of guidebook. Explore the world through photos of paths less traveled, accompanied by facts and tips for visiting. I took the photos in this book during my travels from 2008-2013.
denMArk
united stAtes
doMinicAn repubLic
spAin VietnAM
pAnAMA bAHAMAs
tHAiLAnd
ecuAdor
peru
Map: http://social.rollins.edu/
tHe bAHAM tHe bAHAMAs Official Name: commonwealth of the bahamas government: constitutional monarchy Head of government: prime minister Capital: nassau Official language: english Official religion: none Total area: 5,382 sq mi Monetary unit: bahamian dollar (b$) Population: 319,031 (2013 estimate)
MAs
“Most Bahamians possess an intimate knowledge of their local plant life. he Bahamian people still use Bush Medicine, the tradition of using local plants for medicinal purposes, today. Bush Medicine is especially important in the out islands, where medical facilities are scarce.� - bahamatopia.com
“he Bahamas is located southeast of Florida and northeast of Cuba. Consisting of a chain of islands, there are more than 700 in total. he name Bahamas comes from the Spanish words of “baja mar”, meaning shallow water or sea.” - blog.odysen.com
“Hope Town is a small village on Elbow Cay, located in Abaco. Golf carts are the main source of transportation, and most of the supplies for the area are brought in by barge each week. In Hope Town, neither cars nor golf carts are permitted in the main part of town. Only bicycles and walking are permitted.� - en.wikipedia.org
“he national food of he Bahamas is conch (pronounced “konk”). his mollusk’s irm white meat is enjoyed throughout the islands. Locals eat it as a snack (usually served at happy hours in taverns and bars), as a main dish, as a salad, and as an hors d’oeuvre.” - frommers.com
denMAr denMArk Official Name: Kongeriget Danmark form of government: constitutional monarchy
Head of government: Prime minister Capital: copenhagen Official language: danish Official religion: evangelical lutheran Total area: 16,640 sq mi Monetary unit: Danish krone (dkk) Population: 5,627,235 (2014 estimate)
k
“According to myth, the national lag descended from the sky to the Danish army during a battle in Estonia in 1219 and was institutionalized as a national symbol in the seventeenth century. he lag—a horizontal white cross on a red ield— symbolizes a membership community and a sense of belonging.” - everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Denmark.html
“Architecture is marked by a division between the ideals of Denmark as a “fairy-tale country” and as a modern, industrialized one. he irst image is characterized by traditional small houses. Even the castles are small. he modern ideal is marked by houses with slender lines. here are very few tall buildings.” - everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Denmark.
“While breakfast and dinner are eaten at home, most Danes eat lunch elsewhere. Generally lunch is a cold meal consisting of slices of rye bread buttered and covered with for instance various kinds of sausage, sliced boiled egg or liver paste, a baked mixture of chopped pig’s liver and lard of a spreadable consistency.� - denmark.dk/en
“Smoked herring from the Danish island Bornholm is a national meal and has been smoked since the late 1800s. It is also called “gold from the sea” and is preserved for many weeks.. Rye bread and beer, potatoes and heavy gravy were the main supplement to ish and meat dishes.” - copenhagenet.dk/cph-eating.htm
doMinicAn rep
doMinicAn repubLic Official Name: RepĂşblica Dominicana Form of government: multiparty republic Head of wgovernment: President Capital: Santo Domingo Official language: Spanish Official religion: none Total area: 18,792 sq mi Monetary unit: Dominican Peso (RD$) Population: 9,884,000 (2010 estimate)
pubLic
“he Dominican Republic is part of the Caribbean Islands biodiversity hotspot. Important terrestrial ecoregions include the Hispaniolan Pine and Moist Forests. With Haiti now almost completely deforested, many formerly widely ranging Hispaniolan endemic species may already survive only in the Dominican Republic.� - lntreasures.com/dr.html
“he array of plant life is understandably impressive in a country with the highest and lowest points in the West Indies. he most common type of life zone is subtropical forest, lush, green, exotic. It is characterized by royal palms, coconut palms, Hispaniolan mahogany, West Indian cedar, American muskwood and others.� - hispaniola.com
“he people of the Dominican Republic are surely some of the friendliest people in the Caribbean, if not the world. his country hosts a multi-racial and multi-cultural society of over eight and a half million people, with three quarters of mixed origin and the other quarter of either European or African descent.� - hispaniola.com
“La bandera (the lag) is a popular national dish; the white rice and red beans remind people of the lag colors. he third ingredient is stewed meat, and it is usually served with fried plantain and a salad. Another favorite dish is sancocho, a meat, plantain, and vegetable stew. Coconut is used to sweeten many dishes.� - everyculture.com
ecuAdo ecuAdor Official Name: RepĂşblica del Ecuador Form of government: unitary multiparty republic Head of government: President Capital: quito Official language: Spanish (quechua, shuar) Official religion: none Total area: 98,985 sq mi Monetary unit: Dollar (U.S.$) Population: 15,223,680 (2011 estimate)
or
“he sight of the Inca empire’s only remaining sun temple standing proudly on a hill at 3,200 meters elevation with panoramic views over the surrounding countryside is highly impressive. Ingapirca, which means “Inca stone wall,” is easily Ecuador’s best set of pre-Columbian ruins and well worth a day trip from Cuenca.” - moon.com
“he highland valleys, at an altitude between 2,400 and 3,000 m, support most of the temperate-zone plants; potatoes and corn, for example, have been raised there for thousands of years.. he major crops of the highlands are corn, barley, wheat, kidney beans, potatoes, horsebeans, peas, and soybeans, all for domestic consumption.� - encyclopedia.com
“Bumping along the spectacular dirt roads of the Quilotoa loop and hiking between the area’s Andean villages is one of Ecuador’s most exhilarating adventures. Transportation is tricky but the rewards are abundant: highland markets, the breathtaking crater lake of Laguna Quilotoa, splendid hikes and traditional highland villages.” - lonelyplanet.com
“he Sierra Quichua population includes people and cultures as the Otavalos, Salasacas, the Cañaris and Saraguros. Contrasting with the costeño, people of the sierra is characterized for being introverted, reserved and conservative, personality interrelated with clothing, food, and the geographic location of the serrano.” - quitoadventure.com
pAnA pAnAMA Official Name: RepĂşblica de Panama Form of government: Constitutional democracy Head of government: President Capital: Panama city Official language: Spanish Official religion: None (Roman catholic majority) Total area: 29,157 sq mi Monetary unit: US dollar, Balboa (USD, PAB) Population: 3,661,868 (2013 estimate)
MA
“Polleras are the national costume of Panama. True polleras can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars and usually take around a year to hand make. he ladies are adorned with gold jewelry and handmade pearl and bead hair pieces called “tembleques” that are passed down through generations.” - pedasispanishschool.com
“In the interior of Panama, a common practice for the small town folks is to get together and all pitch-in to help one another harvest the annual rice crop. hey call this cultural tradition a “junta”, to join together. All the available men start cutting rice while the women prepare fresh soup and rice for lunch aterwards.” - ojodeaguapanama.com
“From laid-back Caribbean Islands to world-class beach resorts, Panama is a beach and island lover’s paradise with more than a thousand islands and two coasts - you can surf in the Paciic Ocean in the morning and bathe in the Atlantic on the same day.” - panamainfo.com
“Did you know that Panama’s carnival celebration is the second largest in the world? Las Tablas is considered by many the best place to celebrate Carnival. he atmosphere is folkloric and enlivened by an intense, traditional rivalry between “high street” and “low street” for the fanciest costumes and most creative loats.” - explorepanama.com
per peru Official Name: RepĂşblica del PerĂş Form of government: Constitutional Republic Head of government: President Capital: Lima Official language: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara Official religion: None (Roman Catholic majority) Total area: 496,225 sq mi Monetary unit: Nuevo Sol (PEN) Population: 30,475,144 (2013 estimate)
u
“Under the rule of Inca Pachacuteq (Tito Cusi Inca Yupanqui), in the 15th century, Cuzco was redesigned and remodelled ater a pre-Inca occupation process of over 3,000 years, and became the capital of the Tawantinsuyu Inca Empire, which covered much of the South American Andes between the 15th and 16th centuries AD.� - whc.unesco.org
“Native peoples have used llamas as pack animals for centuries. Typically, they are saddled with loads of 50 to 75 pounds. Leather is made from their hides, and their wool is crated into ropes, rugs, and fabrics. Llama excrement is dried and burned for fuel. Some people slaughter them and eat their meat.� - animals.nationalgeographic.com
“he statue of Cristo Blanco is located on top of a hill high above Cusco, near Sacsayhuaman. Cristo Blanco was built by a group of Christian Palestinians that were seeking refuge in Cusco in 1945. It was a symbol of their gratitude toward the city, and was their parting git when they returned to their home country.� - explorebyyourself.com
“In 1983, UNESCO named Machu Picchu a World Heritage Site for its cultural signiicance. Tourism at Machu Picchu now boosts Peru’s economy to more than $40 million a year. he thousands of people hiking through the ancient Inca city have worn down its fragile pathways.” - smithsonianmag.com
spA spAin Official Name: Reino de EspaĂąa Form of government: Constitutional Monarchy Head of government: Prime Minister Capital: Madrid Official language: Castilian Spanish Official religion: none Total area: 195,364 sq mi Monetary unit: Euro (â‚Ź) Population: 46,704,314 (2013 estimate)
in
“he Catalan Modernism so important to the cultural identity of Barcelona inds perhaps its greatest expression in the works of architect Antoni Gaudí. Gaudí’s creative genius—and the curves, shapes, and ornamentations it produced— literally changed the face of architecture during the late 19th and 20th centuries.” - travel.nationalgeographic.com/
“he Mediterranean Sea spreads its calm waters over 1660km of Spanish coast, from Tarifa, the southernmost European point in the province of Cádiz, to the rocky clifs of Cabo de Creus, on the border between France and Spain in northern Catalunya.” - lonelyplanet.com
“Spanish ham is greatly prized as a gourmet food both in Spain and around the world. here are two types of cured hams in Spain, jamón serrano or “mountain ham,” and jamón ibérico or “Iberian ham.”” It is eaten regularly in most Spanish households. Every Spaniard eats about 5 kilograms of cured ham per year.” - spanishfood.about.com
“Spain was among the irst nations in Europe to discover the treasures of the New World. Explorers returned from voyages carrying such exotic new foods as tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, corn, peppers, chocolate, and vanilla—all native to the Americas. hese foods were slowly joined with the Spanish diet.” - foodbycountry.com
tHAiLAn tHAiLAnd Official Name: Ratcha Anachak Thai Form of government: Constitutional Monarchy Head of government: Prime Minister Capital: Bangkok Official language: Thai Official religion: none Total area: 198,117 sq mi Monetary unit: Baht (THB) Population: 66,720,153 (2011 estimate)
d
“here are few performances more elegant than traditional hai Dance with its graceful movements, its brilliant color, its sot rhythm and its radiating presence. hai Dance, known as “Fawn hai”, was originally an art performed for the royal courts of old Siam.” - chiangmai-chiangrai.com/art_of_thai_dance.html
“Visiting a hailand temple for the irst time is an unforgettable experience. hai temples -- known as wats -- are literally everywhere. A few rules of etiquette should be followed: Remove your shoes before entering if you haven’t already; Back away from the Buddha statue rather than turning your back.” - goasia.about.com
“Buddhism is the primary religion in hailand with more than 90% of the population being Buddhist.� he majority of the population follows heravada Buddhism, the oldest form of Buddhism that was originally developed in India and based on the four noble truths that Lord Buddha had realised in order to become enlightened.� - destination-asia.com
“When their son is twenty years old, parents organize a Buddhist ordination ceremony. A Buddhist ordination takes place traditionally during three days. he irst two days happen into the family circle and are related to the ordination preparation. he last day related to the ordination takes place in the pagoda.� - thaiworldview.com
united st united stAtes Official Name: United States of America Form of government: Federal Republic Head of government: President Capital: Washington D.C. Official language: English Official religion: none Total area: 3,678,190 sq mi Monetary unit: Dollar (US$) Population: 318,326,000 (2014 estimate)
Ates
“he National Cherry Blossom Festival is a spring celebration in Washington, D.C., commemorating the March 27, 1912, git of Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Ozaki of Tokyo City to the city of Washington. Mayor Ozaki donated the trees in an efort to enhance the growing friendship between the United States and Japan.� - en.wikipedia.org
“Big Bend National Park’s topographic variety supports a remarkable diversity of life, including 1,200 plant species— some found nowhere else in the world. Chihuahuan Desert vegetation—bunchgrasses, creosote bushes, cactuses, lechuguillas, yuccas, sotols, and more—covers most of the terrain.” - travel.nationalgeographic.com
“All aboard for a trip into New Orleans’ past on the oldest continuously operating streetcar in the world! Rumbling around the ‘’neutral ground’’ of St. Charles Avenue and Carrollton Avenue for more than 150 years, the streetcar symbolizes the charm and romance of the City of New Orleans.” - neworleansonline.com
“Tucked away in downtown Austin, Texas, this abandoned construction project was once destined to become a condominium. A group known as the HOPE Campaign took eforts to rechristen the land as the Outdoor Gallery Project, in an efort to protect the ephemeral and evolving art on display at the site.� - atlasobscura.com
Vietn VietnAM Official Name: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam Form of government: Socialist Republic Head of government: Prime Minister Capital: Hanoi Official language: Vietnamese Official religion: None Total area: 127,882 sq mi Monetary unit: Dong (VND) Population: 89,693,000 (2013 estimate)
AM
“Just as essential to Vietnamese cuisine as rice and noodles is nuoc mam , a salty ish sauce that is used in most Vietnamese recipes. Anchovies and salt are layered in wooden barrels and then allowed to ferment for about six months. he light-colored, irst-drained sauce is the most desirable.� - foodbycountry.com
“Designated a World Heritage site in 1994, Halong translates as ‘where the dragon descends into the sea’, and legend claims the islands of Halong Bay were created by a great dragon from the mountains. he bay’s immense number of islands are dotted with wind- and wave-eroded grottoes.” - lonelyplanet.com
“How do you get around in Vietnam? he eight most popular and unique transportation methods in Vietnam are: Xe Dap (Bicycle), Xe Máy (Motorcycle/Mopeds), Xe Ôm (“Hugging” Motorbike), Xích Lô (Cyclo), Xe Lôi (Pulling Cyclo), Xe Lam (3-Wheel Motorbike), Xe Khách (Public Bus), and Xe Bò (Cow Cart).” - talk.onevietnam.org
“he tradition of Vietnamese water puppet shows dates all the way back to the 11th century. Puppet shows in Vietnam take place over a waist-deep pool of water; puppets are controlled from below. he secret of how puppeteers control the puppets from beneath the water has been guarded for centuries - see if you can igure it out!� - goseasia.about.com
dedicated to my family for encouraging me to explore the world and to all the friends and acquaintances i have made along the way. may this be the start of a life-long adventure around the globe. all photos taken by sophie fuchs. all reproductions must be requested from the photographer. Copyright Š 2014 Sophie Fuchs. All Rights Reserved.