I have concluded the most atonishing trip of all, probably. in my entire life. until last year I had travelled to USA,(bordeline and financial centers), Europe (from the most prosperous to those new welcomed in the UE), from the richest to the most populous countries in Middle East, from the poorest, to the driest and greenest countries in Africa. BUT ironically, and eventhough I had lived most of my life in the South of Mexico and had shared studies with many latinamerican fellows at the ITESM, I had never travelled below the Suchiate river ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suchiate_River ).
Coming from Madrid to work for a Project in Guatemala, has been a rewarding experience not only on the professional side but personally, I felt and lived the Latin American experience on a way that has changed my perception of the whole continent forever.
Guatemala Experience
There were many feelings, some of closeness with the people, the way they worked, the way of living, their perception of the extra- latin american world, the oppression they think they felt everyday by the super-power; but people in the streets looked happy! they looked like friendliest people of the world, of course, being a latinamerican myselft I knew where danger really lied.
There are some things that saw
A Latin American cultural diversity, I saw all nationalities living and working without any type of prejudices, I saw people from all over America trying to make a living. We could understand easily in all senses.
Saddly, by reading the news there are also big and increasing problems originated by drug cartels, crime and people traficking. These two problems are originated in the USA way of living and they are, orinically, the biggest threads to the stability to all the countries in Latin America.
Visited Antigua which is a very well preserved town ( http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigua_Guatemala ), famous for being one of the epicenters of the spanish colonialism in America, very well preserved building surrounded by volcanos, its a great place to visit with a lot of history.
a few hours stops in Panama and Buenos Aires,
Travelling from Panama to Buenos Aires flew over the Panama Canal, I saw a lot of traffic in the seas, again the footprint of the such a disputed access to the Atlantic and Pacific ocean, internventionsm from the american side, it seems however that it is slowing down.
In Panama as well as in Buenos Aires I didnt go outside the airport, but that latinamerican spirit surrounded me, in Panama more laid back and easygoing while in Buenos Aires I felt closer to Europe, not only by the four hours difference but also people made a difference, specially argentinian women who looked so european. unfortuntately while I stayed for 7 seven hours in the Buenos Aires Airport, having the feeling of such a big capital felt it was not wise to go out and visit it. anyways Buenos Aires airport was a real mess in all senses, delays in my plane (while I was already aboard!), my bagagge lost, a mix of european and american electrical sockets, it was a rare place after all and felt more excited about discoverning Latin America than discovering Europe in Latin America.
Paraguay trip
Arrived in Paraguay, the driver was awaiting for me, again so friendly and all people with a big smile, Asuncion is a lovely city, maybe not a mega-city but it was enchanting, they were in the middle of the Summer and offices were almost empty;it was great mingling with people to have lunch, didnt have any problem with food at all, and they looked so open to foreigners, what was really surprissing is that Paraguay is in reality a bilingual country, they speak spanish and Guarani, a language that has been preserved since the colonial times.
Paraguay is a green country, the biggest “manto acuiferfo” of the world is there, there is a big future for this country, indeed.
Brazilian Trip.
Since I was a kid one of my dreams had been to visit Victoria Falls ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Falls) and Iguazu, therefore this was my opportunity.
on friday night took the “executive” bus towards Foz de Iguazu ( http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foz_do_Igua%C3%A7u ) in the Brazilian side, I saw the typical scenes of Latin America, poverty, lack of infrastructure, however there was still the feeling again in the air of Hope and that of better things will come, that can be noticed while talking with people and through their generosity they showed this optimism, I share with them this feeling or dream!
Arrived to the Borderline and very late remembered that as mexican I needed a visa to cross to Brazil!! trying to ease things I asked the officer where could I get the visa. (as easy as that), then an immigration officer came and after explaining my intentions, everthing was fixed Our Latin American Style: Talking. and then the officer proceed to readme some guidlines I should follow then he went on saying “you can get into Brazil, Brazil is a country that has the Frontiers open to the World, feel welcome” . this policy is unthinkable in many countries not only in the developed countries but in many others as well.
Was amazed on how things are working in Brazil, the infrastructure is being built, the public transportation, there is real sense of where this country is going and thankfully is taking a real leadership in all the region. when I was going back to Paraguay a brazilian women came started talking, she was a history professor in an university who had spent the weekend in Ciudad del Este ( http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciudad_del_Este ), as it is a tax free place, electronics and clothes were cheap, she just said that If wanted to see really nice cities in Brazil should go to the interior not the Border! I was atonished!
In town, decided to go to breakfast, just coffee and bread, went into a very family cafeteria but then I realised that I didnt have cruzairos and they didnt have change for my paraguayan pesos, the owner saw the situation and let me finished with calm my breakfast and while I said I would look for an ATM machine while leaving the deposit in my currency. he denied and trusted I would go to exchange money then I would come back, which I did.
Brazil is a country that develops its own industry, I couldn’t find any of those big banks that can be found in Mexico or Spain (BBVA, Santander,etc), they seemed to have their own banking system.
Excellent, friendly, working and happy people all over Foz the Iguazu, my visit to Iguazu Falls was UNBEVELIEVEABLE AND UNFORGETABLE! :
On one hand it was great to feel that finally I know a Region where Globalization has brough at least some Benefits at macro-economic development of the countries, still a lot of work ahead to do but the Region has all the potential, Resources, optimism and people to get though.
Latin American is a Region that needs to re-invent itself, not looking to USA nor Europe, they need to create their own model for development and well being, Brazil should emerge not like a Leader but like a model country for all Latin America. while Mexico is a country that chosed the wrong way in the 90’s and still doesnt know where it fits in the world! it is now recovering from the tequila hang over from decisions taken in the 90’s, it might take at least a couple decades more to start taking things seriously .
Following picture, to me, represents what is Latin America, it was taken somewhere between Guatemala and Panama:
Then, visit to Mexico
(follows next post) and concludes, essay from FP)
