I’m Diego Rios, the traveller and writer behind Just Cruising Around. I have spent most of my life in Peru, living in Pueblo Libre, Lima, and Cusco. Part of my childhood was spent in Sweden, and I studied and lived in Australia for seven years. Thanks to my parents and my experiences abroad from a young age, I can speak five languages, which comes in handy when I’m travelling or socialising.
For most of my adult life, I have been a traveller, never imagining that I would start a blog. However, here I am! This project was inspired by many friends who suggested that I write a book filled with my travel anecdotes and recommendations. In early 2023, with the support of one of my closest friends, I decided to create “Just Cruising Around.” This space allows me to share all that information and personal experiences related to my travels and life abroad.
When I turned 18, I arrived in Cusco for the first time with a friend from Sweden. We were searching for a place to create a bar where we could work forever, but things don’t always go as planned. Eventually, I began working in the tourism industry, starting as an interpreter on guided tours and eventually leading groups myself. I worked as a guide with the pioneer of Free Walking Tours in Cusco and had a fantastic time.
In 2015, I decided to move to Australia to study. After completing a Diploma of Business and Commerce at TAFE Queensland on the Gold Coast, I transferred to Griffith University, also located on the Gold Coast. I graduated in December 2019 with a double degree in Government & International Relations and International Business.
Soon after graduating, the pandemic began, and restrictions were enforced, prompting me to leave the country. I returned to Sweden, which was one of the few countries allowing entry for travellers from overseas, as there were no restrictions in place. After spending some time in Sweden and Europe during the pandemic, I managed to return to Peru and my beloved Cusco, the first place I fell in love with and where I have been coming back for over ten years and counting.
After about a year in Peru, I set off again, this time to Southeast Asia, where I spent nearly two years exploring. I started in Thailand, then moved on to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia before returning to Hoi An, Vietnam. Hoi An became my second home away from home, where I was fortunate enough to find amazing new friends, including some I had met in the past.
Currently, I am travelling through South America once again, exploring new locations, meeting interesting people, fishing here and there, enjoying the local cuisine, and trying to capture those crazy and unique moments to share with anyone reading this blog.
Let’s build something together.
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