I'm safe in Buenos Aires.

As many of you know, demonstrated by the onslaught of worried emails, the Pacific coast of Peru was hit two days ago by a strong earthquake that registered an estimated 7.9 on the Richter scale and has killed upwards of 400 people and injured scores more.

I wanted friends and family to know that I'm currently safe in Buenos Aires... lucky that I made the decision a couple weeks back to travel south from Arequipa, Peru through to Bolivia, Chile and Argentina versus heading up the Peruvian coast.

Please help the people of Peru, who've been devastated by this natural disaster, by making a donation to the relief effort through an organization of your choosing.

- Cristal