I haven't really been the best blogger lately. Always busy with something to do and I never get the chance to update. Please forgive me. I know I am way behind! I have yet to even upload my recent travel pictures to my laptop. When I do that, I'll finally be able to show and express my love for Bolivia and Peru. And show all the food I ate too!
I've decided to write about the Misconceptions. of. South. America. today. Really? Yes because I have been almost all over the continent and I am constantly hearing negative things, as well as reading negative points about traveling anywhere over there and it simply is not true. After heading in that direction 5 times, I hoped that everyone would finally not be so worried about me the second I hop on a plane, but that has yet to happen. I find myself having to make sure I go on facebook or my email at least once a week to update where I am so they know I'm alive because THEY want me to. All because of the misconception that wherever I am at, it is not safe. I actually feel more safe there than I do here in certain parts of Los Angeles.
Yes, I agree with everything I've read about those certain countries with their drug problems and dangers but that is not what goes on every second of every day in every inch of each city in every country. I have been to Colombia and felt totally fine there. Of course I planned on staying away from the borders! Mexico City was wonderful. Peru was absolutely great. No guns in sight. I will say I do know people who have experienced negative situations and that pretty much sucks for the country when you just want to travel there and experience the local life, not be taken advantage of because you are a tourist. Those types of situations do change the mindset of people when they hear these negative statements and they decide to stay within the US than to travel abroad just because they have a friend who was held at gun point and was forced to hand over everything. I wish those making these kind of choices would stop in hopes of changing peoples minds but I doubt that will happen anytime soon.
So I can't really speak for everyone but I can speak for myself and write about my own experiences. For one thing, I have never been pickpocketed anywhere in this contintent. There may have been attempts in Brazil during Carnival by the kids, which I've heard are quite common as well as have seen it myself, but nothing happened. I think we were very lucky that trip.
There was an actual attempt this trip while in La Paz, Bolivia however. I was just strolling around minding my own business until I had to stop to fix my hair and clip it together to hold up. While I was doing that, an old man body slammed me in hopes that it would have distracted me but nope, I've been there way to many times, brushed it off like nothing happened and walked away. He got nothing. Even if he had tried, I wasn't carrying anything anyway! I'm not going to judge him and it didn't change my thoughts on Bolivia at all. People do different things in each country, even here in the USA so who am I to judge. I still felt safe that whole trip after that experience and never used my money belt at all. Everything, including my camera, were in my pockets the whole time.
We did have border trouble when trying to cross back into Bolivia from Peru. You can tell some people don't like tourists there in that country, which I also noticed another time when trying to get food at an open 'street' style restaurant aka tons of restaurants near eachother that looks like a mall but more like street food in a parking lot setting with one picnic table with two benches in each set up. Anyway, we had to wait in line while the guard let all the Bolivians go ahead of all of us backpackers because we refused to go to the end of the line. He finally let us go when there was no one in sight to cut in front of us. It didn't help that at border patrol, trying to cross on over to Peru, they didn't stamp an important document that I had, so on coming back, the guard was questioning me on 'why it wasn't stamped' as if I did something wrong, that I had to try to explain to him in Spanish that it wasn't my fault and I had given the guy the paperwork and he chose not to do anything with it. He surprisingly believed me and let me go.
Honestly, that was the most unpleasant experience I have ever had in South America and that was the only thing that happened to me in Bolivia that made me sad. Sad because the people there are so beautiful, kind, and friendly. The guards were the complete opposite of that. Felt kind of disappointed but chose not to let it get to me and moved on from there.
My misconceptions today are more on safety and my own opinion is that if you are smart about the choices you make, know where you can go and shouldn't be, and treat people the way you would like to be treated, you won't have any problems.
People in Argentina are the same people in Maine, just in two different locations. I read that they pickpocket there and to watch all your belongings, and carry your backpack over your chest instead of your back? No one there cares about your backpack. They are too busy in their fast paced lives to touch your backpack as they are speed walking and trying to avoid being hit by cars.
Not everyone has a gun in Mexico. Their issues are because of the gangs, their territories, and not paying the police enough to want to get rid of the gangs. The shootings happen mainly because of the gangs, not random people on the streets. We have gangs here in California too. And every other state in the US. And probably in every country in this world. Why scare off people from entering Mexico? I want to go back! It was so beautiful and the food was absolutely amazing. Mexican food will never be the same to me anymore in California. Until they start paying the police better so that they aren't as corrupt as the gangs, stay in safe areas and venture out with caution and not at 3 in the am. And don't bring kids.
Does every person in Colombia do and sell drugs? Does everyone in Ohio do and sell drugs? No.
Coca no es cocaina en Bolivia. But here in the US, they think it is because they choose not to educate themselves, assume, and just decide that you cannot bring it back or else they think you're a druggie, lock you up, and ruin your life. Does that mean everyone in Bolivia is a druggie since they all drink it there? No way. There are no effects of the drug when drinking the tea. Maybe because there isn't any trace of it in such a small amount of leaves. Did you know one of the ingredients in Coca-Cola is coca? Not the whole leaf, but an extract from it. It's supposedly 'de-cocanized'. Sure it is. Should everyone who drinks Coca-Cola be locked up? Mate de coca is the same as green tea. Let it go.
Peru was absolutely wonderful! I felt completely safe there. The food was way too amazing. So amazing that I have still been thinking about the food! Hands down the best food I've had in South America! Besides Northern Brazil of course! I can see the dangers in Peru but I got the vibe easily about where I can and shouldn't be. The area around the airports aren't really safe looking but I say once you dig into each city, you can see for yourself how much culture Peru offers. I stayed away from the touristy spots in Lima for the majority of my time and enjoyed myself. I saw the touristy part of Lima and honestly wasn't too fond of it. Just way too many people there and not enough culture, in my opinion. Cusco was great but unfortunately since Peru wasn't in my plans originally, I wasn't able to really dig deep there but for the week I was there, I did and saw a lot. For one thing, the time to see Machu Picchu is now so there were more people there than usual and wasn't a fan at all of the tourists! Too many big cameras in sight! So from what I learned from is that you will be fine in Cusco because most people are there to eventually see Machu Picchu and you will always be surrounded by people and you will be okay. I say be the person who travels there in February because Machu Picchu is closed that month so less people will be there and be there first when it reopens! I can see how dangers can occur in this country and I do know people whom I have met on my travels who've had a gun pulled on them but I really think they were in the wrong area. If you are aware of you're surroundings, there will be nothing to worry about. Oh and watch the meat there because sometimes they aren't cooked thoroughly and will cause stomach problems. Oh and I read that you will be pickpocketed and all that negative stuff from the time you are in Cusco to the time you are wandering around Machu Picchu trying to come up with your own theories of this world wonder. Um, that would be a no. Mumbo Jumbo. I can't even tell you how it is even possible. Even if you hike the trails. It's too cold over there on the trail to hide, be sneaky, and pickpocket from people. Go and enjoy yourself now because Machu Picchu has been a hot topic lately over there about closing the trail or really coming down on how many people enter this magic land. Don't take any chances. Not being a planner definitely has its advantages. :)
Can't really speak for Venezuela because I haven't been there yet but I do work with someone who is from there and will one day go back there. When she does, I'll be there! She, herself, once a resident of Caracas has been held at gunpoint (may or may not have been a real gun) and was forced to give up her watch. I believe her when she says there is a problem there but it is not everyone who lives there. I still trust her!
I will however not count out that scary cab (we still don't know if it even was a cab ?) in Costa Rica which had taken us on a short cut during our hour drive from Puntarenas to Montezuma where Vanessa had her 100% deet in one hand and a pen in the other and my smile on my face hoping the guy would change his mind and not kill us! And I actually don't blame him. That was our decision.
I do and I don't recommend staying in the Casco Viejo neighborhood in Panama City because it isn't really a safe neighborhood at night and when your hostel friend hands you a map and circles all the places of where not to go, it's not a good thing! But at the same time, the area is great, people are friendly, no Americans around, and you are out of the touristy area. I'd also like to point out that Costa Rica is WAY more Americanized and touristy than Panama. Next time you are out there, please don't count out Panama. In the end, I was totally fine there.
Honduras, Roatan, and El Salvador was fine to me. Just don't wander off at night.
Paraguay is a quiet country to me. I actually met a girl from Paraguay in Bolivia and I had told her that I have never seen anyone from Paraguay out in other countries! Very safe there.
I still remember being surrounded by a few Brazilians on Copacabana Beach, all talking to me, having a good time with my poor Portuguese and my much improved Spanish at that time (which flip flops between travels, but working on it daily now), and all I could think about was the camera in my hand. And you know what, they did nothing! Curiousity was all. Nothing happened to us there. Just don't walk alone at night.
Ecuador was Americanized to me, well, not too bad in Guayaquil. I think I even came at a not so good time. 130 prisoners in Mexico City broke out of prison the day before I arrived there and then headed on over to Guayaquil, which had all over the news a girl who was killed by a taxi driver the day before I arrived there. Crazy, I know, and I won't lie, I was a little nervous BUT I was totally fine because I made sure to make smart choices and I was a-okay. That didn't scare me off at all. You are completely fine there. Stay out of the touristy areas for a real Ecuadorian experience.
Chile was fine to me in most areas. The only thing I worried about were the facts. Empanadas are from Argentina. Pisco Sour is Peru. The Inca history started in Peru. It is also not cheap there. Chill people. You'll easily make friends. Good food there as well!
I feel so confident being in these places that if I wanted to live there, I could and there would be no problems! South America is an absolutely beautiful continent full of richness, love, history, culture, liveliness, boldness, adventure, beauty, beautiful people, kindness, openness, fun, excitement, value, creativity, wonders, mystery, uniqueness, really good food, and the list can go on and on and on...
You can backpack alone and be fine. You can travel with friends and be fine. You can bring kids and be fine. You. will. be. okay. :)
Unfortunately South America is the only continent I can really discuss because I haven't been anywhere else, besides Curacao, parts of the US, and Asia, but that was at an early age and need a refreshment! I will be starting to hit up other continents soon with definite trips to South America in between because I have to see the whole world and I'm not done there.
So if you know anyone who is traveling to that region, wish them the best, keep in contact with them, and let them discover each beautiful and unique country.
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