Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 01/11/08
Hello and Happy Holidays everybody!
It was a long time since I wrote last time. There were several occasions where I actually did and one of these occasion will be posted here as an illustration of how “the path was ready to kill me”. Well, not really the path itself, it is just that a lot of people, in fact most people, think that traveling is fun. And it is, a lot of fun! But sometimes..., sometimes it becomes a burden and a very heavy one. My worst time happened to be in Argentina. It is quite sad, because looking back now I acknowledge the beauty of this country and its people, the wonderful nature and interesting culture. However, back in the days I could only see the negative things, ie: fake Latin-American culture (everybody was white and European), the obsession with meat and horrible pizza and quite strong and annoying accent in Spanish. Ironically, I have adopted this original accent afterwards, to such extend, that later other Latinos I met along the way, including Brazilians, thought that I was Argentinean. Also, because I was so critical and judgemental I was forced to look closer and deeper at everything there was in Argentina and as a result I know this country far better then any other country I have been to (I also spend a lot more time there) and any other backpacker I have met so far. Back then I did not realize that, I was annoyed with everything, from as I called it, “lack of culture” to food, from men greeting each other by kissing on a cheek to the total industrialization of the Argentinean society...
Later I have found my comfort in this country but that happened a lot later and in Buenos Aires, which is another story and already written… in Russian, just waiting for my “editor” for a turnaround, will post is asap.
When I was marooned in Mendoza for over a week I made a decision, despite of my plan, I was literally forced to escape this unpleasant to me country to Chile. Here is what was saved before the lightening took out the electricity… use as a contrast to my future posts. Hopefully there will one after the Carnaval.. Oh Brazil it is almost better then Colombia.
Hello and Happy Holidays everybody!
It was a long time since I wrote last time. There were several occasions where I actually did and one of these occasion will be posted here as an illustration of how “the path was ready to kill me”. Well, not really the path itself, it is just that a lot of people, in fact most people, think that traveling is fun. And it is, a lot of fun! But sometimes..., sometimes it becomes a burden and a very heavy one. My worst time happened to be in Argentina. It is quite sad, because looking back now I acknowledge the beauty of this country and its people, the wonderful nature and interesting culture. However, back in the days I could only see the negative things, ie: fake Latin-American culture (everybody was white and European), the obsession with meat and horrible pizza and quite strong and annoying accent in Spanish. Ironically, I have adopted this original accent afterwards, to such extend, that later other Latinos I met along the way, including Brazilians, thought that I was Argentinean. Also, because I was so critical and judgemental I was forced to look closer and deeper at everything there was in Argentina and as a result I know this country far better then any other country I have been to (I also spend a lot more time there) and any other backpacker I have met so far. Back then I did not realize that, I was annoyed with everything, from as I called it, “lack of culture” to food, from men greeting each other by kissing on a cheek to the total industrialization of the Argentinean society...
Later I have found my comfort in this country but that happened a lot later and in Buenos Aires, which is another story and already written… in Russian, just waiting for my “editor” for a turnaround, will post is asap.
When I was marooned in Mendoza for over a week I made a decision, despite of my plan, I was literally forced to escape this unpleasant to me country to Chile. Here is what was saved before the lightening took out the electricity… use as a contrast to my future posts. Hopefully there will one after the Carnaval.. Oh Brazil it is almost better then Colombia.
Valdivia, Chile. 10/19/07
It is raining here. Strange, have not seen rain for some time.., the ocean, the lakes and rivers.., there is so much water around I forgot how it is. I have been inland for too long. It feels good to get back to the water... It still rains here, they say that this region gets about 200 days of rain a year but the locals joke that it is actually 200% chance. There is not much to do so I read. “Martian Chronicles” somehow feet the scenery perfectly, it is also strange however, and I have a feeling of déjà vu, must be the Germans. So I am reading my book, drink mate and listening to the rain.., tomorrow is seven months, and I have promised to write more over a month ago. Write about Peru and other stuff… But I can not, doesn’t seem right at this setting...
It is a bit like Germany here. The architecture, the people, the food… Yea, that’s what I am going to start with.
It has become some sort of custom of mine; I have even been accused by some that the purpose of my travels is actually food! Well, it is in a way. I love to eat and I love to eat good and interesting food. For example, today I ate two interesting meals, well, one was interesting another one was good. After a none-significant breakfast I went to the market and picked up something what looked like red bloody hearts but actually were some kind of seafood (octopus or shellfish). I still don’t know what it was, and while eating I have recalled scenes from the Cannibal Lector movie. Then after visiting Niebla Fortress I had a smoked salmon…
Sometime ago I read a book named “Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?”, it was a funny cheerful descriptions of food, killing and killing recipes. I will never come close to that kind of descriptions but trust me that fish was good. Hell with Argentina, I’ll become “pesci-vegetarian” here. Just kidding, there is no better beef in the world then Argentinean. However, who much meat can you eat? They are abscessed these Argentineans. Anyways, this is not the point, the fish and seafood is great in Chile. I have never liked ¨this stuff¨ before, but know, becoming a “gourmet-wanna-be” I could appreciate a fine fish and oysters, especially if they come with German brewed beer. Oh, these Germans, they know a thing or two about their food and beer. If one wants to try fine German cuisine, plus excellent beer and pay much less then in Germany one should go to south Chile…
1 comment:
how are u man, what is going on? it is amazing, i thought to myself not long ago, how a person can dissapear from life for a long time and then... one day he will come back to figure out that everything has changed in the lives of the people he left behind. Well, maybe not everything, but definetely a lot.
How amazing, it looks like there is no other world exists once the person is out of your life, and when i actually discover this other world being opened to someone else who is out of my life, it seems so unreal... and sometimes unfair. Because I also want to experience it, but not willing to give up my lifestyle.
Anyway, i tend to remember you and talk to you as if you dont exist anymore, rather hypothetical conversations with sadness about the past, that it went not exactly the way i would want it to go.
Every time when I come to your blog and find a proof that you do exist, it makes me happy.
I remember you as one of the hardest people to take and at the same time I really miss you as a very important person in my life.
how we went to long island and you burned your bills by the beach. how i was mad at you at the restaurant and walked away. how we strolled around brooklyn and i felt so light and happy. how you peed in Sheepshead bay and I was scared someone would call the cops. and many little things...
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