It started with the Gypsy kings
I think this is where my fascination with South America began, hilarious really because the Gypsy kings are French!
Next meeting Claudia a wonderful Mexican friend inspired the whole family with an interest in Central and South America. We still play Mexican Pass-the-Parcel at Christmas.
I went to visit Claudia in Merida in 2019, just before lock down and was entranced by the warmth of Mexicans the vibrancy of colours, the beautiful architecture, the sea, the flamingoes, and the food ...... Claudia laughed at me as I was gob smacked by the beautiful fresh produce at the super market. I was laughing because she would hold and smell every piece of fruit or vegetable before they made it to her basket. I came home with 3 types of chilli - a sweet one for ice-cream/sorbets, a table sauce and dried ones for cooking.
Long before I went to Mexico I asked Claudia to send/ make me some CD's of Mexican music and she introduced me to the Cuban Buena Vista Club and many more. It was 10 years after that that I found Salsa and Cuban Rueda and finally went to visit her in Merida.
So I guess my trip to Argentina was a long time in the making.
My trip to Easter Island was more of a ... well I might as well while I'm there... decision, coupled with the need to reset my tourist visa.
I had expected an island which was remote, windswept, the locals against all the odds adapting to their harsh environment, and of course the amazing sculptures, the Moai. What i found was an absolute paradise.
Getting off the plane we were welcomed with singers and dancers and every hotel greets its guests outside the airport (1 room + veranda and garden with chickens and a Moai) with a kiss and a garland of flowers. The Tupa Hotel guests (3 Brazilians and me) then hoped into a pick up truck in torrential rain and 5 mins later we were at the hotel.
The airport departure lounge!!!
Greeted with a lovely garland. I was also given a shell necklace as a leaving gift!!
The island is really small, there is one town, which is more of a village - chickens on the sidewalks and dogs in the road. many of the men have long hair tied in a bun on top of their head or out the back of cap, like the Maoi, who depict their ancestors.
I was presented with a lovely flower at breakfast to go behind my ear. What a beautiful summer idea to wear a fresh flower in your hair or behind your ear or in a buttonhole! After that I picked one from the hedgerows every day. You could also pick ripe guava from trees and bushes at the side of the road. I went for a horse ride up into the hills and on the way back my horse made a beeline for guava in the hedgerow for a quick snack.
I loved the slow pace of the island, there was lots to do but I enjoyed pottering around the town, swimming with the turtles in the little rocky Pea beach and at the rock pools, or snoozing under a palm tree. I took a taxi to beautiful Anakena beach - gorgeous white sands, crystal clear warm water (and no sea creatures) on the other side of the island, (past the Banana tree tobogganing hill) I ate delicious out-the-sea-today-fresh sea food including tuna ceviche. And then there were the beautiful sunsets either withe the Maoi at Sernatur or just in the bay with an ice cold beer or on the veranda at the hotel.
- meeting some truly lovely people
- out-the-sea-today-fresh sea food including tuna ceviche
- horse riding
- sunsets
- a little mandolin playing!
- going to Mass on Sunday with locals dresses in ceremonial head wear, playing traditional instruments and singing joyously.
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