Diego A.

Diego focuses on stories from North and South America, from colonial history and pirates to cartels and the modern underworld. He is especially drawn to places where crime, power, and myth collide.

The most recent posts by

Diego

A.

The Versace Mansion: A Palace of Excess, Murder, and Miami’s Darkest Glamour

Tragedies & Disasters

The Versace Mansion: A Palace of Excess, Murder, and Miami’s Darkest Glamour

Gold gates. A fashion empire. A gunshot on the steps. Step inside the palace of excess where Gianni Versace was murdered in broad daylight.

Portrait of a male author wearing a cap and backpack, smiling with a city skyline at sunset in the background.

Norman’s Cay: The Logistics Hub of the Medellín Cartel

Discover the dark history of Norman’s Cay, where Carlos Lehder hijacked a Bahamian island for the Medellín Cartel. Explore the sunken drug plane, the corruption, and the logistics of the 1980s cocaine air bridge.

Guadalajara: The Headquarters of Mexico’s First Narco-Federation

Explore the dark history of the Guadalajara Cartel and Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo. Uncover the rise of "The Federation," the deep state corruption, and the tragic murder of DEA agent Kiki Camarena that ignited the modern drug war.

Chapultepec Castle: The Only Royal Throne in North America

Discover the tragic history of Chapultepec Castle, the only royal throne in North America. Explore the 1847 Battle, the Boy Heroes, and the doomed empire of Maximilian.

Ciudad Juárez: North America’s Most Violent Border City

Dust, drones, and the Lord of the Skies. Step into the iron gate of Ciudad Juárez, where the global supply chain meets a high-tech cartel war. A raw look at the city that never stops fighting for its soul.

Tijuana: The Bloodiest Battleground of Mexico’s Cartel Wars

Where the American Dream hits a steel wall. An investigative record of Tijuana’s cartel history, the digital border crisis, and the human cost of reinvention.

Diego A.

Carthage: The Erased Metropolis of the Mediterranean

Ruins of Civilizations

Carthage: The Erased Metropolis of the Mediterranean

For 600 years, Carthage was the most dangerous city on Earth. It took Rome three wars, a continent-crossing army, and an act of pure spite to finally silence it.

Bodie, California: The Ghost Town of The Most Violent Gold Rush Site

Step back into 1880 at Bodie State Historic Park, the largest unrestored ghost town in the West. Wander through deserted streets and uncover the brutal history of the West's most lawless boomtown and the 'Bodie Curse' that ensures nothing ever leaves.

Nouadhibou Ship Graveyard: The World’s Largest Maritime Cemetery

Investigating the Nouadhibou ship graveyard in 2026. Discover how 300 ghost ships became a monument to corruption and corporate neglect in Mauritania.

Diego A.

Hadrian’s Wall: The Roman Empire’s Most Expensive Military Machine

Ruins of Civilizations

Hadrian’s Wall: The Roman Empire’s Most Expensive Military Machine

Explore the brutal history of Hadrian’s Wall. A deep dive into the Roman Empire's 73-mile scar of paranoia, the life of a legionary, and the cost of empire.

The Mauritania Iron Ore Train: A 700-Kilometer Corridor of Human Endurance

Ride the backbone of the Sahara on the world's longest train. The definitive guide to the Mauritania Iron Ore Train (SNIM), covering route logistics, survival gear, and the brutal beauty of the journey from Zouérat to Nouadhibou.

Diego A.