ARCHIOPERA

South America

This continent is a host to multitudes of societies separated by history, politics, and geography. There are beaches, deserts, jungles, mountains, plains, and cities. While traditional lifestyles are the norm for some, others have embraced the new culture of immigrants and amalgamation. There are museums, churches, and historic ruins that tell us where the people of South America have been. Night clubs and karaoke bars remind us that this place is very much current and in progress. Crossing South America was a complete experience.

As we climbed the Andes, the sky got bluer and the sun more intense. Air is thin and there is definitely a sense that we’re in a different world. We were told not to get dehydrated at this altitude.

City of Cusco is a tourism hub of the area. The city itself is an interesting site with livelihood not exclusive to tourism. People here celebrate the combination of Inca and Spanish cultures. There is a deep sense of tradition in the way city plaza is laid out and the activities that take place in it. There are churches and houses built over Inca (?) constructions, indicating the deep history of the place. Go up the hill to see Sacsayhuaman ruin, which is the grandest example of Inca construction. While Machu Picchu is swamped by horde of tourists every day, this magnificent place is a park for the locals to relax and enjoy the quiet. It makes me think how superficial tourism is.

Hiking up the Andes was tough but a rewarding experience. The locals we encountered were mostly women and children because men have gone away to find work. These people live away from civilization and tax collectors. They do not have the most basic staples of modern life and would have been some of the most remote people on earth. I’ve never understood hiking and trekking, but I’d be happy to do this again for the unique experience of and encounters with people like them.

Machu Picchu is fully saturated with tourism. It’s the kind of place I loathe yet was fascinated by the mystery of the architecture. There are three different types of construction, possible evidence that people that we call Incas aren’t who we think they are.

There is a rich history of silver in Bolivia. There are still independent miners digging through the hard rocks with pickaxes and explosives. Occasional breaks with coca leaves and 96% alcohol spirit is how they get through the tough days. It would have been interesting to get to know these roughnecks a bit better, but they generally don’t want to have anything to do with foreign tourists.

Town of Uyuni had an atmosphere of the wild west. It felt like the last bit of civilization before the unknown. There’s trash everywhere, but romantic and attractive in its own way.

Travelling between Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro felt more in tune with the global image of South America. There’s more football, cattle ranches, and visible wealth disparities. The town of Boca was the most memorable place for me; a colorful immigrant community that gave birth to tango and Boca Juniors. There’s something powerful to be felt in this town, especially at the football games. Perhaps it’s the pride of the underdog. I felt the sense of communal resilience and determination in the neighborhood. Coming from a country that suffers with loser mentality, I was envious of this immeasurable attribute.