South America Wrap Up
Trip Start
Apr 09, 2006
1
144
148
Trip End
Jun 09, 2007
Cartagena,
Colombia
Monday, May 21, 2007
*The Antarctic cruise must be the single most memorable event from my travels thus far. I honestly could not have written a better overall experience - wildlife, fellow passengers, crew, food, weather. I feel tremendously lucky that the stars were in alignment for this one.
*The unique beauty of Salar de Uyuni was inspiring. Taking the trip in reverse order of most travelers provided a less crowded experience and allowed each day to build on the previous....getting better and better each day until our last sunrise in that otherworldly place.
*There's really not much more I can say about Machu Picchu than hasn't already been written by countless others. Hundreds of years younger than many of the other wonders I've seen around the world, it was remarkable to see a glimpse into what the conquering Spaniards must have seen at other sites.
*Despite the generally poor-yet-typical weather, the hiking and sites in Patagonia were stunning. There have been few other places on the planet where I've found such rugged beauty.
*By and large, South Americans are a welcoming and hospitable people. Unlike some other cultures, I found them patient, warm and accepting. Poverty obviously shows itself here, but the people seem much less personally affected by it, perhaps because the population is much less densely populated overall than in places like Asia.
South America - Lowlights
*Perhaps it's because I'm near the end of my trip, but Cartagena simply did not live up to expectations. Of course, it is a beautiful colonial city...but it just doesn't warrant all the chatter out there among the traveling masses. Perhaps starting rather than ending a South American trip here would provide a different experience.
*Perhaps not a lowlight, per se, but I don't think I would choose to return to The Galápagos again anytime soon. The Ecuadorian government needs to get itself together and enforce much stricter regulations around the islands before they deteriorate into further chaos. The rules set forth by the Antarctic governing body are a perfect example of the kind of protection that is desperately needed.
*South America: pull yourselves out of the backwards Catholic rut that you are in and make some inroads against teenage pregnancy and AIDS. Seriously, let's pull our collective heads out of our asses.
Comments
be careful. its a long fall from your high horse!
biatch! :)
Re: be careful
Couldn't happen.