THE GOOD and GREATER.
AT THE END OF THE WORLD
Being back in the North America for a while now has helped me temper my thoughts on our South American adventure. I didn’t want to–and won’t–write about how great I, and I believe Kate as well, found it to be, but much of the trip seemed to have us left slightly wanting or wondering.
Funny being that we both travel without needing much of anything. Many small shortcomings that are not worthy of mentioning individually but collectively added to our shared judgement of the trip as being good in many respects, but not one of our favourites.
Forever grateful and amazed at having travelled for three months, it was nothing but amazing how fluidly we adventured. How fortunate (and soul-saving) it is to have a partner that is almost always pointed in the same direction as I.
Reflecting on those months of travel, some of the greatest things about the trip were its differences. Although we can all admit that “different” doesn’t necessarily mean “better”. As much as we appreciated how fortunate we are to be able to travel as we do, different in many cases throughout our trip reflected that not all things and places, in fairness having barely seen “all,” can be and should be great. A grounding effect.
As life goes and different is, some of the sights barely surpassed good and likeable by our (and only our) measure. Particularly in no fault of the many obliging Chileans and Argentineans that have crossed our path. It even reflected the lives of many Chileans and Argentinians who struggle under less-than-ideal circumstances. As always, we travel as guests.
It is the first trip that I’ve done from which I’ve returned home truly sensing how fragile, exploited and unbalanced our earth–at least this corner of it–has become. The villainous battle of the villainous man beguiling nature. Man mistreating his own mankind. Woman mistreating her own womankind.
I feel somewhat guilty to make these comments from a distance, to have turned my back and flown. I am part of this world. I am one of the children.
I left Chile and Argentina feeling that counties have long lost battles void of any benevolent treatment of the so many foreign nations that have for centuries gripped, if not strangled, these beautiful places.
Battles already lost hundreds of years ago led to precious natural resources being expropriated, raped and prostituted to the extent that “Johns” have long moved on from these once beautiful women who had lost their hearts and their souls.
Battles, as in so many countries including Canada, that had the sad effect of disenfranchising the indigenous populations. The illusion of having discovered new lands, lands that have been occupied by peoples for centuries before.
Battles resulting to patterns, negative patterns, of immigration and in the exploitation of human lives for the interest of the self-indulgent politician, be it that a military leader.
Battles still so recent that citizens were labeled as the “opposition,” sent into exile, or worse, sent to prisons in their motherland where only extreme darkness lay behind every door. Endless decades of revolution, oppression and bloodshed…
Political battles in all matters of finance, again for the treasury of the self-serving.
I return home to Canada in this year that we celebrate 150 (plus) years, and thank whomever that we haven’t had enough time yet to screw things up too badly. I try to travel the world to better understand the world.
BUT OH CANADA!!
I do travel for the love of nature, and for land and for seascapes. While different I like, and this last journey was certainly different, (as indifferently as possible), I express to anyone who may wish to listen:
Though we did not explore all of the Andes, if one wishes to see some of the most spectacular mountains in the world, you need only start in our homeland. Where do you begin, Banff, Jasper, maybe Lake Louise?
Though sail we did, not through all of the passages separating the two countries. And yet if one wishes to see some of the most spectacular coastlines in the world, pick any of Canada’s three.
Having explored several, if one wants to rival (and by my account surpass) a true ”Lake District,” pick most any point on a map of northern Ontario, and far, far beyond.
If one wished to practice some urban exploring and sightseeing, sorry Santiago and well, we did like Buenos Ares, which remains in the running, fly to any of Canada’s big three.
OK Chile, you do beat us in the arid desert category. Yes Argentina, there is something terribly unique in the empty vastness of your plains. (On top of it all, not to be too judgemental, I’ve been to more than a couple of backed-up toilet countries. I better not mention names, because there’s one to which we would like to return.)
I write as many of these battles have been lost, but in these countries there are people with the heart and soul to walk back into these battlefields, whatever they may be, that continue to rage fiercely.
I’ll end by revisiting the one hundred + posts that we created. Many already bring back some amazing memories. Memories from all angles, and yes, many of them great.
We experienced earthquakes, we out-ran the terrible fires that seemed to devastate areas that we had only just travelled. We left before floods raged into Santiago, leaving millions on another end of a disaster.
I’ve said already a number of times since we’ve returned that without going and doing, one never knows. Can’t think of a better way to find out what one likes and dislikes. We travel the world to better understand the world.
Chile maintains that ”all is welcome.” Thank you. Argentina “Beats to your Rhythm.” Won’t forget it.
To me, traveling is a great privilege. A privilege to be able to just go. The privilege of being a guest in someone’s home and homeland. I hope that I shall never travel one kilometre in any direction without thanking my partner and partners that make this world one of the nicest places I’ve known.
niagara pablo
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