El Cafecito Travel Talks

What would you do if you had no return date? At just 24 years old, Fabian left behind a career in sports event management in Austria and bought a one-way ticket to South America. Six months later, he’s still exploring—discovering new cultures, making friendships in hostels, cheering alongside locals during the World Cup, and learning that travel is about much more than checking countries off a lis...

Should you join a group tour or travel independently? In this episode, I sit down with Nathan, an experienced traveller and international teacher, to compare the advantages and disadvantages of both styles of travel. We discuss safety, flexibility, cost, meeting new people, language barriers, and when each approach makes the most sense. We also talk about cruises, all-inclusive resorts, relocating...

In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks , Tony sits down with Azim, a 27-year-old teacher from Dublin, Ireland, who is working at an American international school in Valledupar, Colombia. Azim shares what led him to leave Ireland, how international teaching can open the door to travel, and what life is like in a hot, music-filled Colombian city famous for vallenato. The conversation explores c...

What really goes on behind the scenes of a hotel? In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Tony sits down with Pierce Lowney, an Irish hospitality professional who started working in a local pub at just 14 years old before building a career in luxury hotels. Now backpacking across South America, Peirce shares the stories, lessons, and unforgettable moments he’s experienced from both sides of t...

In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Tony sits down with Gregorio Cárdenas from Medellín, Colombia, who set out on the adventure of a lifetime: riding his motorcycle from Colombia to Ushuaia, Argentina—the southernmost city in the world. What started as a dream became a journey through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. Along the way, Gregorio balanced life as a digita...

In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks , Tony sits down with Troy, who recently relocated from the United States to Cuenca, Ecuador — along with his dog, Cosmo. Troy shares the real process of moving internationally with a pet, including paperwork, airline restrictions, unexpected costs, and why he eventually used a pet transport service with a pet nanny. He also talks about the extra complic...

What is it like to move to another country at age 10, learn a new language, attend school in a different culture, and build a new life from scratch? In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Tony Lloyd sits down with Karmarri and his mother, artist Iyahdae Rose, as they reflect on two years living in Cuenca, Ecuador, before returning to the United States. Karmarri shares his experiences learnin...

What would make someone from Switzerland trade a plane ticket for a sailboat? In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Tony Lloyd sits down with Tobias, a young traveller who chose the slow route to the Americas. Instead of flying across the Atlantic, he spent 26 days at sea, sailing from Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands to Martinique in the Caribbean. Tobias shares what life was really like...

In this episode of El Cafecito Travel Talks, Tony Lloyd speaks with photographer and recent graduate Skye Jalal, who is travelling through Ghana, Kenya, Germany, Ecuador, and Mexico on a Watson Fellowship. Skye shares how photography became her way of exploring identity, community, family, and the African diaspora. She discusses her experiences photographing Afro communities across different count...

After several years away from the microphone, El Cafecito Travel Talks is back. In this special relaunch episode, the tables are turned as Skye Jewel interviews host Tony Lloyd about his journey, life in Latin America, travel, community building, and the experiences that have shaped his perspective over more than 25 years living in Latin America. In this episode, we discuss: • Growing up as a Thir...

Ed Howell a.k.a. Hazukashii, after retiring from the US military, decides to spend his time hashing around the world. Hazukashii shares with us the tales of the Hash House Harrison, how he was renamed, and his quest for hashing in over 100 countries.  His words of advice for us: people are people and the hash is a great way to meet new friends and to discover new cultures His Hash web site:  ttp:/...

Brian and Alec Altonen farmers Michigan USA taking a winter break to do a father and son trip to explore Ecuador together They share with us the reasons for travelling at this time, what they hope to get out of this trip and what life was like back at home for the last year. Their words of advice for us is, do your research go travelling but do it safely. Guest: Brian and Alec Altonen    alecalton...

George Griffiths from Canada also featured in show #33 and #37, finally settled in Cuenca Ecuador  George shares with us his impressions of his first 6 weeks in South America, some of the interesting things he has seen so far,  somethings he is not a fan of and the cost and characteristics of his new home. His words of advice for us is to have someone to guide you along the way in your transition...

Six Travellers six continents six questions... Intro: Who are you and something about you? Share with us one of your childhood memories pertaining to the holidays? What was one of your most interesting Holiday travel experience? What was one of the best gift you’ve ever gotten? What was one of the best gift you’ve ever given someone? What are your plans for the 2020 Holiday? suggestions for how ot...

Six Travellers six continents six questions... Intro: Who are you and something about you? Share with us one of your childhood memories pertaining to the holidays? What was one of your most interesting Holiday travel experience? What was one of the best gift you’ve ever gotten? What was one of the best gift you’ve ever given someone? What are your plans for the 2020 Holiday? suggestions for how ot...

Hannah Kern From the UK, a VEGAN | ENVIRONMENTALIST | SOLO CYCLIST | FEMINIST | SOCIAL & HAPPINESS ACTIVIST,  decide to leave behind a possible career as a lawyer to travel the world to spread her messages. Hannah shares with us why she decided to embark on this journey, some of the struggles she’s had along the way and various highlights. Her words of advice for us is to look for the opportun...

Nicolas Pollock from Australia and Daniel Rubner from Germany headed off on individual solo adventures and as destiny would have it they find each other and discover a Travel Bromance. Nicolas and Daniel share with us how they met, the fun they had travelling together and how they’ll continue being friends for a lifetime. Their word of advice to us is through solo travelling you discover more and...

George Griffiths from show #33 is on his way from Canada to Cuenca Ecuador while Covid is still roaming the world. George shares with us some tips on what we need to prepare for before travelling, some of his own mishaps and ways he overcome them. His words of advice for us is to do your due diligence before leaving out but don't stop travelling  Guest: George Griffiths      https://www.faceb...

Pau Amos an American who retired early from his university career found a way to combined his two passions, travelling and competing in triathlons "Racecation" Paul shared with us from his new home in Cuenca Ecuador how he was able to combine his passion for competition and exploring the world at the same time. His words of advice for us it’s not to be afraid to do something that will pu...

Franco Heiler, an accountant from Argentina discovers that you don’t need to have a big bank account to travel the world. Franco shares with us how a one month trip became a long-term world exploration, navigating his way with little or no money and the “sky bank”... His words of advice for us is that we need to trust in ourselves and trust in people Guest: Franco Heiler      Instagram. @francohei...

Kaspian Clark, an American who found himself with a new canvas after losing his job and home at the start of the global pandemic, decided to pack up and move to Cuenca, Ecuador. Kaspian shared with us the enjoyment he had in his work at Airbnb, his decision to move away and what life is like for him so far in his newly adopted Ecuadorian city. His words of advice for us is to “expose yourself to d...

George Griffiths, a Greek/French/English Canadian (TCK) is off on a journey to see what other possibilities the world has for him. George shares with us the details of his multicultural background, his reasons for embarking on this new journey and what he’s hoping to find at the end of the trail.  His words of advice for us is not to be afraid of change. It's always better to have tried and f...

Cindy Smith an American who grew up travelling as an army brat (a.k.a. TCK)  which sparked the flame to her lifetime wanderlust. Cindy shared with us the different stages she’s had as a traveller both the good and the bad times and some of the ways travel has changed in the last 20 years. Her word of advice for us is to go out and explore the world regardless of our individual abilities. Guest: Ci...

Danny Tanaka a Japanese-Peruvian (TCK) realizes that it’s not always that easy to find a place to call home. Danny shares with us what it was like to travel and live in Japan, the home country of her paternal grandparents, why she still continues to travel the world and how this has made her into the person she is today. Her words of advice is that home could be a place within your mind and maybe...

Peter O'Donoghue, a special needs teacher from Ireland discovered how the people we meet while travelling can impact our lives in different ways. Peter shares with us some of his stories of people he met along the way in his South America trip both in the good and bad times and how this has helped him to form the person who he is today. His words of advice for us is that through travel you ca...