It's been fun walking around Argentina the past few weeks. This country has so much cultural richness, it' astounding. I used to visit often as a kid, when my parents would bring us here to see my dad's family... but getting to know Buenos Aires as an adult has been eye opening.
A few ideas have come to mind.
1) It's amazing how much we are hung up on appearances in the US. Image is everything, and that's not necessarily a good thing. In Argentina, the lack of resources in certain areas creates an entirely different set of priorities. The result is a somewhat more practical, yet defeatist approach... and it's hard to blame them.
Not only should we be thankful for how great life is in the USA, but we should also think about how we might want to adjust our own priorities.
2) Not being in the loop for the political nonsense and awful instances of gun violence for a mere two weeks provides a new perspective as well. I think we've mistaken quantity for quality, again.
The 24 hour news cycle is insane, and the shock and awe approach undoubtedly keeps us reactive.
3) I prefer texture to cleanliness. Walking through the streets in BA, where graffiti and street art aren't controlled at all, the confluence of art, color, paper, grit, and greenery is a sight to behold.
For me, these three ideas are attached by a single thread...
Travel is a gift.
Hasta la proxima....