When we tell people about our travel plans, they are almost uniformly concerned about Mexico. The American media, in its usual sensationalism, has managed to help perpetuate some stubborn stereotypes about our neighbor to the south, and most of our countrymates have a negative impression of a nation that is actually a leader in our … Read more →

We crossed a major item off our list this weekend. The “van” has been purchased. Out with the old and in with the new. Check that.  Out with the old and in with the older is more accurate. Pictured below is our old ride on the left and our new ride on the right: The … Read more →

Disclaimer: The first section of this post is generally coherent. The second section starts as mildly odd rambling, then devolves into pseudo-scientific fervor and madness. Hot showers are not a right. As we prepare to venture into new lands, I have been increasingly aware of the fact that as an American I carry the ridiculous … Read more →

If you grew up within a couple hours of the Kansas City area and are somewhere between the ages of twenty and forty-five, there is a strong statistical probability that your first ever roller coaster experience was on the legendary Zambezi Zinger at Worlds of Fun. Named for (and themed after) an African river, the … Read more →

You may have noticed that we repeatedly use a few terms which you may not be familiar with. Below is a glossary of sorts which will surely grow as time goes by. Location independence – The quality of not being tied to a specific place in terms of work and lifestyle. Any individual whose work and … Read more →

Vangabonds has officially gone social. So go ahead and follow us, like us, share us, recommend us, and subscribe to us. Tell your friends, tell your family, tell Obama, tell your dog. You can use the links below to check out our pages, and you can subscribe to receive new post notifications in the right … Read more →

Riding in our little van on October 9th, 2010, were ourselves, two Brits, two Israelis, one Dutchman, one Guatemalan, one Mexican, and one Japanese guy with a guitar who spoke neither English nor Spanish. The ride was long and slow, beginning before dawn and ending just in time for a late lunch. After our second … Read more →