Saturday, January 16, 2010

Holy book finally found

"Real travelers love South America. It's as if the continent was built for travel; it's the sort of place that presents you with challenges every step of the way and rewards you with euphoria you've never imagined. Sweat yourself dizzy on an Amazon canoe ride and be rewarded with a cool evening of caiman-watching on a black-water lagoon. Brave a white-knuckle bus ride down Peruvian slopes and be astounded by endless Andean vistas. Face the chaos of a massive metropolis like Bogotá or Santiago de Chile and feel the elation of comprehension when the city suddenly makes sense. Endure Patagonia’s wind-driven rain while chasing life-affirming sunsets.

The real reward, however, is the South American spirit. It seems like the entire continent approaches life with the enthusiasm of an old-fashioned road trip: the windows down and the stereo blaring. It's a subtle approach to uncertainty that will surely infect you. And as for the music - it's one thing that never leaves your side. With every adventure there is a soundtrack. Samba spices up the sandy streets of Brazilian beach towns, panpipes liven Andean markets, Argentine folklórica (folk music) trickles out of truck radios in the pampas, and the jolting rhythm of cumbia makes those Andean bus rides even more absurd.

In the end, don't think of South America as a place. Rather, it's something you turn yourself onto, that engulfs you and changes you - your state of mind, your outlook on life. As soon as you step foot on South American soil, the transformation begins."
- From the holy book of Don Madonarra, Miguel and El Fredovito

Boat ride around the waterfalls. Rest of the explorers bathing nearby.