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Things...

I'll miss about South America! Or the alternative (short) Latin America guide.....
* The whole of Argentina. Next time I go anywhere (apart from still wanting to go to Russia) I'll be going back to Argentina, to go further South to Patagonia and do a bit more general wandering.
* Tango in the street
* Attempting to speak some Spanish and occasionally being understood.
* Any time you need anything in La Paz, Bolivia, there is usually someone walking past selling it (pens, water, scissors, sunglasses).
* Santiago has lots of pharmacies
* La Paz has lots of funeral parlours
* Buenos Aires has a large stray cat population
* Everywhere else has a large stray dog population
* Small, cosy little hostels (currently sitting in Auckland Central Backpackers, which is somewhat lacking the personal touch)
* Llamas on the road
* Getting chatted up at least twice between the dancefloor and the bar. Blondeness doesn't quite guarantee me the same novelty value in New Zealand.
* The occasional power cut
* Mad football fans
* Guides who don't a) speak any English b) don't speak Spanish slowly enough c) don't actually appear to know anything about the region or things you are looking at and d) are about 7 years old.
* Buses with 20 more people than should be on them, tipping over, breaking down and sitting at the mechanics or a service station for 5 hours. Oh wait, that's one I definitely won't miss. Along with San Pedro (damn that place).
* The lovely buses that are only 3 seats wide, serve you champagne and let you watch Friends in English. Couldn't even pay for that in Inglaterra.
* Being able to sit outside till late because it doesn't get cold. Except Cusco, La Paz, and Uyuni...freezing in the Andes and the desert.
Might have to add some more to this later, when it sinks in that I have actually moved continents!

posted by Katie @ 4/19/2004 04:26:00 am