You can't go wrong with South America. Well, okay, you can. There are certain bits of Brazil you should stay away from, and I wouldn't touch Colombia or Venezuela with a ten-foot pole. Aside from that, there are few places you can go in South America that aren't insanely interesting.
Take Bolivia, for example. I don't know much about the place, except what I've read in National Geographic. I know that the women there wear funny hats. I know that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid went down there to hide when the Pinkerton Detective Agency drove them out of the States. I know it's a very high country, being stuck halfway up the Andes like that. La Paz, I've heard, is the highest capital in the world.
But that's as may be. What I'm really interested in is the place where La Paz sits—the Altiplano. Meaning "high plain" in Spanish, it's a plateau nestled among the Andes mountains. It's the remains of the bed of a gigantic lake dating from the Pleistocene, of which Lake Titicaca is a remnant. The climate is semiarid,with little rainfall, extremes of temperature, and animals with lungs the size of forge bellows.
For all of Asia's forests and jungles, for all of Africa's plains and mountains, for all of Australia's deserts...South America calls to me. It's the nameless allure of the New World, the unexplored land, the unknown continent. The bleakest volcanic barrens and the lushest of tropical woodland are found there, and everything in between. The culture is rich. The languages are diverse. The flora and fauna are among the most bizarre on Earth. The place is utterly open, utterly wild, utterly fascinating to me. Bolivia sounds like a good place to start and work outward in an ever-widening spiral. Bolivia to Ecuador (got friends in Quito), to Cuzco (once the stronghold of the Inca), up to the Amazon, back down to Patagonia, to French Guiana, to Uruguay (Montevideo's the best place to learn to tango), to Tierra del Fuego (the literal ends of the earth), and finally to Valparaiso, Chile, perhaps to embark on Kon-Tiki's ancient sun-washed voyage across the South Pacific, to Easter Island and beyond, to Polynesia. Someday, maybe.
10 comments:
I haven't seen Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in ages! It's time to pop it in for another watch. Raindrops keep fallin' on my head...
Aaaahh, I've got itchy feet. Bolivia sounds absolutely fantastic. There is something about these South American ancient civilizations that are darkly mysterious and almost frightening...probably because so little is known about them. If I become an archaeologist, then I am definitely going to South America to try and find El Dorado.
I would say that South America is the next great tourist mecca. It's weird, but you should go before it gets utterly ruined.
(not that I've been. but i really want to. and going as a tourist is just adding to the tourist wave. but what can you do, right?)
Also, have you seen The Motorcycle Diaries? Awesome movie about travelling around South America on a motorcycle, based on the life of a young Che.
Bolivia has never been in my mind as a "must go", have always seen myself as a Destination Europe girl, but you do sell it well.... now wondering if it's on my way TO London or my way back...
Ahhh yes...South America. Your words took me there. (you have that talent)
I have been secretly wishing and dreaming to visit Cuzco one day ever since I've read about the Inca Empire. What a fascinating place that must be...Hystory and mystery in one magical combo.
I am hoping that someday we will both blog about our trips to South America.
You first, though! Need to know about that flora and fauna. If the flowers don't have teeth, I'm going.lol
Great exotic blog, Postman.:)
willow: Motion seconded! I haven't seen it in ages.
"Who are those guys?"
Jane: Well, why don't we go?
You hit the nail on the head, as usual. And quite eloquently. There's just something darkly, newly, vaguely, shimmeringly mysterious about those ancient South American civilizations. In some ways they're comparable to the Egyptians or Babylonians; in others they're starkly and ominously disparate.
El Dorado is possibly my favorite ancient legend ever, even more than Atlantis. It's the perfect mystery and the ultimate treasure all bound up in one. A fabulous city made of gold, hidden deep in the unknown and trackless jungles of the New World, guarded by a primitive and potentially barbaric civilization. Chills the blood and ignites the imagination. We should become archaeologists and go.
"The Motorcycle Diaries"? Why no, I haven't run across it. Though, based on your description, I can't understand how I couldn't have yet. I'll look it up ASAP.
Cate: Hey there! Thanks for stopping in! I'm the exact opposite. Europe has typically held no fascination for me whatsoever. It's the godforsaken, far-flung, uncivilized spots that hold my attention. Depends on how you fly! I'm sure Bolivia's on almost a direct-line route between you and London if you plot it right...hint hint...
Ahh, Bolivia.
I'm much older than you (a Ms not a Mrs)and when I was growing up, I was the only Olivia in that tiny town. Probably in the whole state of GA. Olivia de Havilland was the only celebrity to speak of and, apparently, she wasn't that well-renowned. Meaning...no one remembered her. After all, she was Melanie and not Scarlet.
And, they certainly couldn't remember my name.
Meeting people for the second or third time was always accompanied by, "Hmm, I remember you, but not your name. I do remember it's different, but..."
On the first day of school, the teacher, on making her way down the roll, calling out the Mikes and Judys and Teresas, would invariably call for Oliver and look up to find me instead. Timid back then, I would sit in my new desk, waiting for the inevitable faux pas, and cringe when it came around.
Then I discovered Bolivia. Finally, a kindred spirit. I didn't know anything about Bolivia, other than that she lived down in South America and had a name no one could remember. But boy was I proud.
I always thought I'd visit her someday. And someday I shall.
Thanks, Postman, for rekindling the fire.
BTW, Postman wouldn't happen to be borrowed from Kevin Costner's movie would it? If so, how apropos, my new friend. I love that movie. Even though most seem to think it long, tedious and a flop.
Excuse me, my mistake, Ms. Herrell.
Olivia de Havilland always gets second billing, doesn't she? Nobody remembers her. I keep confusing her with Barbara Stanwyck myself. Don't ask how.
Golly, school must've been ROUGH. I'm sorry to hear that. Were they expecting maybe a Jane or a Martha or a boring ol' Hortense?
Well I'll be danged. I had no idea there'd be anyone ELSE out there who'd want to go to Bolivia, let alone that the place had a "kindred spirit" in the blogsphere. That's quite an idea. Let's hope we make it someday.
You know, Postman was my high school nickname. It was only later that I learned that there'd been a so-called horrible Kevin Costner movie with that name. I suppose I'll have to see it now. I dig apocalyptic films.
Postman, I was directed to your beautiful writing my my friend above, Olivia. I too, have a HORRIBLE name...IVY. It isn't so horrible now that I'm an adult. But Poison Ivy, wow, still kind of makes me upset. And there always was that annoying question from teachers (and others) "What is your REAL NAME?" As if Jennifer wasn't cool enough and I decided one day that I should call myself a plant? (oh, and my middle name is really Bliss. hehe)
Anyway, I do love your writing. Just reading the post above has me hooked! If you find the time, please check out my new blog. I have just started this adventure into blogspot, and hope to make a mark.
Thanks so much for sharing your words. They are inspiring.
~Ivy
My ex-wife was from Montevideo....and the country is graced with a strong Italian influence which is reflected in their Spanish and cuisine. Sadly I never had the opportunity to visit.
I will.
Well, hello there, Ivy! Thanks for stopping by! Thank you for the kind words (and Olivia, thank you so much for the recommendation)!
Hey, Poison Ivy is a formidable nickname. It may come in handy for you later. I had a student in Korea nicknamed Ivy and she was quite a character, smart and sassy. I always thought the name had a ring to it. "Ivy Bliss" is even more melodious, like a set of silver chimes.
I'm comin' right over to check out that blog of yours! Appreciate the compliments. Hope to see more of you.
Jerry: Man, that makes me want to go even more. Sounds amazing. Just the flavor of the air, that Italian-Spanish influence...maybe we'll meet up there someday.
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