The sum of this equation

I set out on this trip with the hope of capturing the essence of South America and satisfying a lifelong dream of visiting it. A big challenge considering the limited amount of time we had and only visiting 4 countries.

Did I succeed in my quest? Let me recap.

I saw the tango performed in one of the oldest cafes in Buenos Aires, Cafe Tortoni. I visited Eva Peron’s grave, wondered the streets of San Telmo, ate beef and drank Argentinian wine.

I managed to climb to the Sun Gate and view the warm sun setting over Machu Pichu. I visited a cloud forest and rainforest for the first time.

I defied death and cycled down its road. The Salt plains of Uyuni dazzled me and played with my eyesight.

Salta provided me with countryside for a rest from the madness. San Ignacio took me back in time. The Iguazu Falls soaked me from head to toe and provided Elsa with her first Toucan sighting.

In Rio I witnessed the Samba, experienced Copacabana by running on the promenade and drinking coconut water on the beach, flew like an eagle over the city and saw the night lights from Sugarloaf Mountain.

In the end, I even felt like a local in Ubatuba, Brazil, dancing samba and just kicking back with a few caiporinhas.

And conversations.  With other travellers, amongst our group,  jokes about the differences and the similarities between us, men and women, different countries. And conversations with locals that don’t understand English but we communicate by wild gesticulation and then laugh at the craziness of it all. The unity amongst us all is built by a common understanding of the joy of seeing or experiencing new things and a love for an adopted country, their country, the one they already love and want to introduce us to.

So, to summarise:
See South America – tick.
Capture the essence – tick.
Finally satisfy my travelbug – …

What I didn’t bargain for was meeting travellers from other South American countries that would entice me to return, knowing now after meeting them that I must see their countries too.

I doubt my travelbug will ever be fully satisfied. So the stories will continue…soon I hope.