Wandering the Huasteca
multimedia

"Tracy Barnett is a bilingual journalist with original ideas, a formidable intelligence and the ability to distill complexity into colorful, compelling writing that is a pleasure to read — in English and in Spanish."
— Steve Weinberg, author and freelance writer

Featured Stories

Cultural safari in Tanzania: A cave where Ugandan rebels once hid, ancient rock paintings, traditional Haya dancers and a feast in a mud house that satisfied the soul. more>>

Trials and tributaries: Ranger Leslie knew these cypress-tupelo swamps as well as the 'gators that lurk here. She was in control here - or so I thought. more>>

Three days in Arabia: It wasn’t until we crested the mountain of sand and I stared through the car’s dusty windshield at nothing at all that I realized what awaited us. more>>

Canyon Lake: In July 2002, a gorge was gouged into the Hill Country limestone overnight in a catastrophic flood. When the waters receded, they left behind a natural marvel. more>>

Hakuna Matata in Zanzibar: It really is as beautiful as they say: Omani palaces and towers; graceful dhows plying the harbor; the scent of spices in the air. (with video) more>>

Doin' the Devils: Sometimes tranquil, sometimes tough. For experienced kayakers, Devils River is just right. more>>

Back from the ashes: Nestled in a grove of redwoods, the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur is a peaceful refuge. But look out the back door and the tranquility is shattered. more>>

Carlsbad Caverns: I'm sitting in a darkness so complete I can almost feel it. My eyes strain, push their way into the far recesses of the room, hoping for a glimmer. (with video) more>>

True Jazz: A week in the Lower Ninth Ward with the volunteers who are rebuilding a community reveals the deeper rhythm of New Orleans. With video. . . more >>

Wandering the Huasteca: Towering waterfalls, ancient monoliths, a pit full of swallows and a surrealist's dream are just a day's drive south of the border in the Huasteca Potosina. With video. . . more >>

California Coasting: From Hollywood to the Haight, a trip up the California coast offers opportunities for disaster -- and for natural redemption. With multimedia blog. . . more >>

Honey and Blood: Reflections on the former Yugoslavia, from the scarlet-marked shell scars in Bosnia's streets to Mary's apparition in Medjugorje, from Croatia's Old Town on the Dalmatian Coast to the Medieval hamlets of Montenegro. With slide show. . . more >>

Story of a Survivor : It would have been easy to forget Katrina amid the merriment of the French Quarter. A twist of fate, however, put me into the back seat of Hector Trau Jr.'s van and forced me to see the face of a much different New Orleans. . . . more >>

The Other Gulf Coast: Most Texans are content to stop at Padre Island or Port Aransas. But a 12-day road trip south of the border was an eye-opening look at a whole other coast. . . more >>

A Hard-Won Peace: Chile's human rights tours and independence day celebration give a revealing glimpse into a country's healing process. With slide show. . . more >>

Crucible of Cultures: I awoke at 4:30 to the otherworldly call to prayer, mingled with the cry of seagulls. Was it all a dream? Then I touch the amulet around my neck...I had fallen in love, just as I knew I would. more >>