I find myself with little to write that seems important…so I’m gonna babble. I’ve spent the last weeks wondering through northern Argentina with little aim and little enthusiasm; I guess I’m on a bit of a ‘downer’. I suppose this happens to most people who travel for long periods of time…eventually you start to question why you travel at all. Why am I here? The simple act of traveling seems somehow hollow and ultimately selfish. There is nothing concrete about it…you go to a new place, get yourself sorted in some form of accommodation, and then walk around to see the ‘sights’. I don’t wanna see any more sights! The only thing that really gives me purpose and energy to move on is the people (and mountains), not other travelers, but the locals. So many people come to this part of the world and fail to capitalize on this aspect of travel…talking to the people, getting to know their culture, sharing their maté, and accepting their hospitality, whether it be a bed or a free ride. I feel that a large part of the reason for this seclusion of the backpacker population is a lack of available communication…they can’t speak the language and it is so, so important to speak the language down here. So, I suppose I am a bit worn out and disinterested in the ‘backpacker culture’ down here…it seems that everyone is the same only with a different face and a different accent. It’s hard to avoid, though, because when you check into a hostel you inevitably will be meeting mostly or only English speakers who want to connect with other English speakers to go out together to party. Camping is the only salvation because the campgrounds are mostly filled with South Americans. One does meet the occasional bright spark in a hostel that defies the norm, but it gets rarer and rarer.

I’ve been stewing on this for days while feeling sorry for myself and contemplating packing it all in and going home to do something ‘constructive’…but then, as sometimes happens, you arrive in a new place and meet new amazing people and WHAM, your re-charged, ready to keep going. This is what Cafayate and an amazing young Argentinean/Brazilian artisan couple has done for me…and I thank them. In fact, more than anything, just being back in the mountains is rejuvenating. I am thanking myself now for picking a traveling route that follows one of the greatest mountain ranges in the world for thousands of kilometers (pat on the back Ian). Also I have re-doubled my language learning efforts…the Spanish is definitely improving, but I won’t be giving any lectures on metaphysics anytime soon.

So onwards! Soon I will be leaving Argentina behind, briefly stopping in northern Chile and then exploring (dare I say it) the heart of darkness or more like 'the heart of highness' …Bolivia. Yippee!!

P.S. I’m including a picture of Iguazu Falls, where I was last week, because it was one of those few places that words don’t equate with…a very powerful place, aside from the little raccoon like critters that steal your lunch, bastards.