South/Central America
It’s A Family Affair
Too often, traveling with others is a compromise - from the itinerary to the activities and more, leaving dissatisfaction in its wake. Why journey long distances at great expense but not fulfill the basic desires of everyone in your group? So it is with traveling with the most intimate of groups, the family. Just because you are connected by marriage or birth does not mean that each individual has the same concept of what the experience should be. Rather, each likely has his or her own idea. This I discovered on our recent visit to Buenos Aires, Argentina’s trendy capital. Our little family of three collectively fancied the following: fine hotels and restaurants, contemporary history, tango, horseback riding and shopping. What else could we do but try to address them all? We all agreed, but first we had to settle in.
A Beginner's Guide
Imagine an idyllic coastline of tropical beaches and world-class surf breaks, backed by a gorgeous hinterland of smouldering volcanoes – and virtually no tourists. Throw in a handful of ravishing colonial Spanish towns and a dynamic capital and you’ve got El Salvador, one of the most enticing yet least visited nations in Central America. True: poverty and crime remain big problems here, but remember that the civil war ended way back in 1992. Tourists are rarely affected, and outside the capital your biggest worry will be sunburn. Driving around the country is easy and fast (it’s small enough to get anywhere in a couple of hours) and the official currency is US dollars. Salvadoreños are some of the friendliest people in Latin America and English is widely spoken – almost everyone you meet has a relation working in the US (or has been ‘up north’ themselves).
Seventy-five years ago, when Belize was still British Honduras, Aldous Huxley wrote about it. “If the world has any ends, British Honduras would certainly be one of them. It is not on the way from anywhere to anywhere else. It has no strategic value. It is all but uninhabited.”
Lima, “The City of Kings”, is the fifth largest city in Latin America and was once the capital of South America. Straddling the coast of the Pacific Ocean, it’s known for its’ Incan ruins surrounding modern urban enclaves built during Spanish colonialism. Striking baroque architecture from that period abounds and can be seen in many government buildings, churches and historical houses. In fact the entire historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From May through December, the sky is often dull with low clouds and dense fog, an aspect that perhaps adds a certain air of mystery. Regardless of the weather, surfing aficionados flock here from all over the world for a chance to ride Lima’s consistently perfect waves. Peruvian cuisine, considered among the world’s most delectable, is said to taste best in Lima.
If you mention going to Colombia to almost anyone be prepared for a long pause and then a grimace. While the country has had a reputation for being dangerous in the past, it’s just that…in the past. With a beautiful countryside, cosmopolitan cities and first class accommodations, Colombia is now a more safe and viable option for a terrific vacation. Plus, we all know it has some of the best coffee in the world! So, intent on searching for that perfect blend of beans and the elusive Juan Valdes himself, I packed my bags.
Buenos Aires is a huge city with thirteen million people living in the greater metro area. While it is low on the list of the top 20 largest cities by metropolitan area, most people don’t know that it’s the second largest city in South America (after Sao Paulo). In many big cities with urban sprawl of this kind people often create enclaves to escape the hustle and bustle of the centro (downtown). Palermo (like the Sicilian capital) is one of these that stands out for its’ vibrant originality and in your face style quotient.
