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Top Helicopter Tours in South America: Best and Worst Routes
🚁 Helicopter Tour Rankings: The Best and Worst Routes in South America
I have a deep love for flying, and whenever there's an opportunity to witness breathtaking sights from above, I seize it. Here's my personal ranking of helicopter tours across South America:
🤮 Chile: Nazca Lines – 4/10
School textbooks claim that the geoglyphs in the desert are only visible from the air. That's a lie! There are metal towers along the highway where you can see everything perfectly. Tourists are taken over the desert in a shaky small plane, the views are monotonous, and it's nauseating. Not recommended.
😎 Brazil: Rio de Janeiro – 10/10
The most beautiful helicopter tour on the continent! Ocean, beaches, an impressive city on hills, and the statue of Christ overlooking the city. At the same time, it's the most carefree airport security system. Bags aren't checked, and no one even asked for documents. Apparently, the aura of the city's saint protects everyone.
😁 Brazil: Iguazu Falls – 8/10
The most powerful waterfall system in the world. The most famous part is the "Devil's Throat," a circular area surrounded by waterfalls on 270 degrees. It's powerful and beautiful: the helicopter flies right up to the Throat! I deducted two points because from below, on a boat, you can go into the waterfall itself, and that's much more impressive!
😎 Argentina: Martín García Island – 9/10
An island where a former president was exiled, located on the border with Uruguay. An ideal location for a date: a beautiful flight over the delta of the La Plata River, interesting island architecture, lunch in a small authentic restaurant, and crocodiles on the promenade.
😁 Argentina: Buenos Aires – 8/10
It's just very pleasant to fly over your city and examine your favorite places.
🥲 Peru: Machu Picchu – 0/10
A place where there's no helipad, but it would be great if there were! The ancient Inca temple is protected on all sides by high Andes mountains, and you can only get there by train. But a flight would be much more beautiful!
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What Skills Should We Teach Our Kids for the Future?
What Skills Will Actually Help Our Kids in the Future?
I keep thinking about what I can pass on to my kids - not just money or values, but real-life skills that will actually help them thrive in the future.
Obviously, it’s not the old Soviet-school gentleman’s kit: academic hard skills in every subject. In the age of AI and smartphones, who really needs encyclopedic knowledge of biology?
The Real Edge — Collaboration and Creation
So what matters?
Думаю, самое важное — это умение договариваться с другими людьми и создать что-то вместе. А значит, языки и много-много практики коммуникаций вокруг неочевидных ситуаций, психологии и бизнес-этики. С приправой по финансам, инвестициям, управлению и программированию. Немного юриспруденции… Стоп.
But Where Do Kids Learn These Things Today?
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Why You Need a Second Passport (Or Three)
Why People Get Second Passports — and Why That’s Not Enough
Most people talk about just two things when choosing a second citizenship: 1. How “strong” the passport is for visa-free travel 2. Tax advantages for business But honestly, they’re missing the point.
The Real Question — Where Do You Want to Build a Base?
Here’s the real starting point: where would you actually want to live?
We’ve all seen how fast the world can change - closed borders during Covid, wars, natural disasters, unstable governments. Being a citizen of just one country is a personal risk. When things go sideways, you’ll need to figure out where you’re allowed to go, how to legalize your stay, where to live - all while competing with a flood of other people trying to do the same thing. Much easier to plan ahead.
Citizenship as a Diversified Investment Strategy
Вы же не инвестируете все деньги в акции одной компании, а раскладываете по разным корзинам? Вот с гражданствами так же.
The basic security setup: three passports from three different continents, in places where you’d actually enjoy living - plus property in each. One region might go bad. Two, even. If all three do? Well, guess it’s time to catch the next rocket to Mars with Elon.
So - Where’s Your Emergency Runway?
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Rainbow Mountain, Peru: Ride a Horse, Not an Ambulance
Радужные горы Перу — как попасть и не потерять дыхание
I love wild landscapes - especially when I don’t have to share them with 500 tourists. And yes, I hate getting out of the car above 3,500 meters. But some places are worth the altitude struggle. Like Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca). Here’s how to do it with minimal effort and maximum reward.
When to Go and How to Avoid the Tourist Flood
Tour buses drop people off early in the morning. But by 3 p.m., the mountain clears out. I turned off the highway around noon - perfect timing. If you don’t want to deal with minibus chaos on narrow switchbacks, get there early and on your own terms.
Hike or Horse? Choose Wisely at 5,000 Meters
Let’s be clear: 5,000 meters is brutal. After a few steps, your lungs are screaming and your brain wants oxygen tanks. The trail takes a couple of hours on foot - or you can ride a horse. Problem solved? Not quite. This is Latin America, my friends.
At a random checkpoint below the summit, your guides might say: “Get off. It’s dangerous from here.” “Qué carajo?” I reply in my finest Spanish. Turns out there’s a sheriff at the viewpoint handing out $10 fines to any horse that dares cross the final ridge. Environmental protection, thin air - take your pick. No horses were harmed on our trip, but I walked the last bit.
Learn Spanish — Seriously
While launching my drone, sheriffs showed up immediately. Apparently, there’s a fine for that too.
Moral of the story? In Latin America, speaking Spanish expands your options - and reduces your fines.
Enjoy the Views and the Chaos
Latin America is always a bit of an adventure - rules shift mid-game, but the scenery makes it all worth it.
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Driving in Peru: What to Expect on the Road
Why Driving Is the Best Way to Explore Peru
Перу — небольшая высокогорная страна в Южной Америке. Как и в большинстве других стран региона, на авто здесь намного интереснее, чем пешком.
But — there are a few key things to know before you go. I’ll cover the wild places in the next post. Today’s all about the driving.
Peruvian Drivers — Worse Than in Indonesia
🚘 The drivers. If you’ve driven in Indonesia, you’ve got an idea. Now imagine that - three times worse. If not, do not attempt Peru without your own stunt team.
Funny how neighboring countries can have wildly different driving cultures. Chile, for example, has some of the calmest, most polite drivers in all of Latin America.
From Sea Level to 5,000 Meters — Yes, Really
🌋 Peru is about elevation. Lima and the coast sit at sea level. Cusco and the Sacred Valley? 2,700 meters. Between them — the Andes, with passes around 5,000 meters. Most routes will have you driving high-altitude serpentines or sleeping in remote mountain towns at some point.
My tip: spend a few days at 2,500 meters first - Arequipa is perfect - and bring some oxygen cans. If you run out, stop by any medical clinic for a refill.
Some Places You Just Can’t Drive To
😱 Not everything in Peru is road-trip friendly. Two highlights - Machu Picchu and Iquitos - are completely cut off by mountains or jungle. Machu Picchu also requires booking months in advance. Raise your hand if you plan trips six months ahead! Yeah, not me 😂
More Peru Highlights Coming Soon
Peru truly surprised me. I spent over a month driving through it and loved it. I’ll share my favorite places in the next posts. Stay tuned.
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Berlin Weekend Guide: Coffee, Breakfast & Local Walks
My Favorite Local Spots in Berlin for a Slow Weekend
🇩🇪 Dropping my top Berlin picks
Люблю Берлин за расслабленный вайб города для местных, не каждая европейская столица может таким похвастаться. Делюсь лучшими местами для неторопливого выходного дня.
Where to Drink Coffee — The Barn and Five Elephants
Two of the best specialty coffee roasters in town. Always fresh, always excellent.
Instagrammable Brunch — No Fire No Glory & Factory
Classic Berlin brunch spots. Expect a 20-minute wait and the perfect avocado toast assembled like a dream.
Full-Day Walk — Teufelsberg (Devil’s Mountain)
An abandoned Cold War listening station turned street art wonderland. Covered in graffiti, full of stories, and one epic view.
Lazy Urban Walk — Along the Kreuzberg Canal
Stroll along the canal, grab a kebab from a local joint, and watch the sunset at Dreiländereck.
What Are Your Favorite Berlin Spots?
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Checklist for Remote Nature Travel and National Park Stays
How to Prepare for Remote National Park Travel
🚘 Checklist: How to Travel Through Remote Nature Shitholes
За последние два года я проехал больше 100.000 км на машине по двум Америкам и Евразии. Часто так бывает, что около классных природных локаций отели ну, скажем, очень маленькие (спасибо, что вообще есть). Я обычно бронирую место для ночевки в середине дня — в красивых местах никогда не знаешь, сколько часов захочется погулять и пофотографировать по дороге.
Questions You Must Ask the Hotel Before You Arrive
Especially in Latin America, never trust the description on booking platforms. Always ask these questions directly:
✔️ Are you open today?
✔️ What time does the front desk close?
✔️ Is there heating or working A/C in the rooms?
✔️ Do you have hot water?
✔️ Is there enough hot water to fill the jacuzzi?
✔️ Does the internet work?
✔️ What time does the kitchen close?
✔️ Is there secure on-site parking?Booking Sites Lie — Ask Directly
Don’t rely on booking.com descriptions. Ask everything.
What Are Your Favorite Travel Hacks?
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Crossing into Armenia by Car with Dual Citizenship
Entering Armenia with Lithuanian Plates - Here's How It Started
I’m driving into Armenia. Border guards look carefully at my car (Lithuanian plates), then at me. Back at the car. Then back at me. And say:
— Sooo, you’ve got a Russian passport. Under the customs union rules, you’ll need to leave a $25,000 deposit in cash for vehicle import. You’ll get it back when you leave.Sure, I’ll Just Leave $25K in the Mountains — Totally Safe
Yes, I pictured it exactly like that: leaving a fat wad of cash at the border, and two weeks later, the envelope is still patiently waiting for me in the mountains, untouched.
When a Second Passport Becomes a Get-Out-of-Customs-Free Card
Погодите, ну это же для граждан РФ, у меня вот есть ещё паспорт.
— (long sigh) In that case, no deposit needed. Just pay a $10 "gyneco-ecological fee" at the bank and you’re good to go.
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How I Got Argentine Citizenship by Having a Baby
Why Argentina Has One of the Best Passports in the World
Yes, anyone can get an Argentine passport. Here’s how I did it 🇦🇷
Quick highlights: visa-free access to the EU, UK, Japan, and 172 other countries, delicious steaks, fast and surprisingly simple naturalization process, and a classy mushroom emblem on the cover. A great addition to my collection!
When a Baby Becomes a Global Strategy
There are countries where a baby gets a passport - and in a few, the parents do too. As ancient Jewish wisdom says: “A child is not a luxury, but a mode of transportation.”
Why Argentina Is the Smartest Place to Have a Baby
Of all the viable options for birth-based citizenship, there are really just eight decent ones: USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Chile, and Ecuador.
Canada and Portugal require prior residency before birth.
The U.S.? Risk of a hospital bill the size of a small plane, no passport for parents, and future banking headaches for the child. No thanks - I’ll just buy the plane.
Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and Ecuador require several years of residency before the parents get citizenship.
Which leaves… Argentina.
How Citizenship-by-Birth Works in Argentina
Here’s the process: you fly in with your pregnant partner on a Russian passport, give birth, and the baby receives permanent residency and a passport within a week. Parents can apply for citizenship right away.
Fast-track court decisions can take 6 months. Worst-case? Up to 5 years stuck in bureaucracy. How to speed it up? File the right court motions, and show up to politely nudge the clerks: Hola, señor, how’s your day? (Pro tip: don’t do this in bad Spanish. Our team has experience - say the code word capybara or a discount if you’ve read this far.)
Medical Experience: Like a Top Private Clinic for $4K
Argentina’s healthcare is excellent - my wife was happy. We spent about $4,000 for a birth experience on par with elite clinics: a private two-room suite and an English-speaking doctor. Plus, they fully support partner births. I got a funny protective suit and walked right in.
Don’t Want Kids? You Can Still Get Citizenship (Slower)
Для нежелающих рожать детей в Аргентине процесс получения гражданства почти идентичный, но дольше на 2 года 🙂 Хотя с учётом последних изменений— время на получение гражданства между родившими и нерожавшими может усредниться.
Argentina Feels Like Home Now
I’ve written more about life in Argentina (see links below). But I’ll say this: the country surprised me in the best way. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to come back to every European winter. Now I return - as a citizen.
Vamos, Argentina!
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Tech Founders and Migration: To the U.S. or Out of It?
Two Migration Paths for Tech Founders — Into or Out of the U.S.
Давно заметил, что эмиграционные потоки техфаундеров делятся на два трека:
— Those trying to get into the U.S.
— And those trying to get out.Peter Thiel: From California to Miami — and Maybe Further
Peter Thiel touched on this in a recent interview with Joe Rogan.
- During COVID, Thiel joined the exodus from California to Miami - chasing simple pleasures: lower taxes, looser laws, and better weather.
- Now he’s considering moving even further - out of the U.S. altogether. His reasoning: every country has its own issues. Simpler countries have different trade-offs: freedom of speech (as if the U.S. is a shining beacon of that), safety, and more. His short list? New Zealand and Costa Rica. (Ocean proximity clearly a key filter.)
So, Which Direction Are You Headed?