South America - Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador and Uruguay

BOLIVIA

I attended the 6 -month language course at the Maryknoll Language Institute in Cochabamba, Bolivia.  We  have a moderate and nice weather even during summer. I have enjoyed walking around the city streets.   My north american friend and I organized our weekends to climb mountains as well as explore nearby towns during the ferias to give us the chance know the people, culture, produce, food, etc. I practised my spanish with the young kids in the south of the city too.  I go there once a week to tutor the kids.  I got a recurring problem that affected my stomach during my stay in Bolivia-- it is the quality of water.  I have developed intestinal problem throughout my stay.  I have diarrhea almost everyday.  I could not digest corn and I could not eat fresh vegetables outside of my foster family´s house.  Even eating at the classy restaurant in the Hot Spring Resort of Ororu, I still have gotten the same stomach/intestinal problem.  The high altitude of La Paz made me very sick at the airport. I thought I would passed out.  It was only in Cochabamba that I have been taught how to cure those bodily problems, i.e.  boil and drink the "coca" leaves or masticate it.  It´s surely is effective.  I also frequented the canchas to get me second hand clothes.  With my foster family, we would dine-out on sundays after the mass.  Bolivians they do this especially on Sundays, it is a family day.  Most of these dining places are open on Sundays only.  The ground floor of the house is used for this purpose.  During feastdays and parties, Bolivians would never miss dancing and I loved it too.  I danced to the satisfaction of my soul so to speak.  Until I get so tired and could not move anymore.  I enjoyed my fridays:  dined and wined with my colleagues/friends in the language institute, most of them were maryknoll.  I joined the dancing program so as to learn the typical dance of the country.  I am fascinated with the bolivian music,  bread and coffee... all in one.  What a good life to have 1 to 2 servings of "pisco sour".  In the Sta. Cruz Jesuit Missions, we really get back what we paid for... good food, nice and clean hotels plus a tour of the city.

ARGENTINA

I like the distinct character and identity that Argentinians want to claim as its own.  There is a culture appreciation that I kind of perceive especially those that live outside of Buenos Aires.  In the northern area of the country like Jujuy and Salta, you will find a lot of indigenous that are habitants of Bolivia. Huge farmlands are planted with soya, sugar cane, etc.  Argentina is so huge.  A vast of land.  A varied climate.  Their beef is the best one I have ever tasted.  It is a different taste.  I like the pizza baked in the traditional clay oven. There is a blend of being rural even in an urban setting.  Poverty has marked this country since the economic downfall in 2001.  I have seen the homeless under the bridge and on the side roads. People are hospitable.  Argentina does not pronounce " double ll in pollo (po-yo) but rather po´´shhoo!!! In Latin America, Costa Rica and Argentina conjugate differently the second person, e.g. verb tener  .... not as tienes but " tenes".  I like the alfajores and dulce de leche.  It is a delightful living in this gorgeous country, "Don´t cry for me Argentina!!!


ECUADOR

Charles Darwin visit to Galapagos Islands of which he came out with the Theory of Natural Selection has imprinted a desire for me to visit Ecuador where Galapagos Islands are found.  Although I cannot make it to the said island where it is a habitat of flora and fauna that became a subject of Darwin's investigation, I ended up visiting Ecuador's 2nd largest city - Guayaquil, which sits on the west bank of Guayas River that flows into the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Guayaquil.

One of the known spots to visit would be Malecon 2000 which  is a 2.5 kilometers boardwalk where one can enjoy museums, gardens, fountains, shopping malls, restaurants, bars and food courts as well as boarding docks where several embarkations offer both daytime and nighttime tours up and down the Guayas River.  Other places of interest would be Cerro Santa Ana, Las Peñas, the Point, Parque Historico, Torre de Reloj, Malecon Salado and many more.

It is an important observation for me to see iguanas roaming around the public areas (parks, under bridges and trees).   It is so refreshing to see a dense vegetation within the city.

URUGUAY

A short visit and stay in Montevideo, Uruguay was a glimpse of an economically rich and democratically inspiring country  for it is known to be the least corrupt country in Latin America.

What marked in me in this short visit is the European influence it has in the culture, buildings and even so in the fine dining I had that evening with the host organization that gave me the accommodation and travel experience of a lifetime in this beautiful country.

Uruguay means river of the painted birds in the Guarani language.  The river starts in Brazil and ends in the Rio de la Plata Basin which forms the water border between Uruguay and Argentina.  Uruguay is packed with flora and fauna.  Farming and livestock is a real wealth in this small country of  3.4 million inhabitants.

It was summer in Uruguay but since Montevideo is on the river, the weather changes in a day, from being rainy and cold to being sunny.