Bus Diaries (?)

It wasn’t really like the motorcycle diaries. First because I’m not Ernesto “Che” Guevara, second I didn’t have a “Poderosa” (name given to the motorcycle by Alberto Granado), and third my journey was of 5 months and not 8.
Although, like Che I’m also 23 at the date of the journey and has those 2 men I also saw things that lead me to question the value of progress as defined by economic systems that leave so many people beyond their reach.
I discovered the real Latin America in the people I meet on the road, the diverse geography I encountered is reflected on my own shifting perspectives. Is all still confusing but I’ll get the significance of it in the end; eventually. What I realize now is that this experience will be the starting mark of a re-defining of ethical and political fundaments on a longer journey, my life.

I intend to start writing not a diary but a “memoriam” of all the diverse spectrum of stimulus that Latin America offered me. I will tried to resume all that voyage into a manuscript that can transcend my emotions, experiences, lessons learned, and social perspectives. It will be written into a series of small paper/titles (that will include the already online article about the 1st month I spent in Uruguay) detailing the facts that I lived and had a huge impact in me. One thing I know for sure, I have to get back there and unfold some more of its secrets, there I lost a love but found another!
I’m still writting driven by will and inspiration, trying to get some of me into a scratch of paper …

Machus latinus

I just couldn’t help and not open a big grim…
The space was the “buquebus” – the fast ferry that connects Colonia (Uruguay) to Buenos Aires (Argentina) – the place the duty free shop. While moving around the several rows of things to buy I start noticing the great affluence of men to one of the sections of the commercial area. It was where all the testers were of “eau de toilette” and they were properly using them, shoving down loads of spray.

It looked like a weird ritual. Really looking Latino men (i.e. with hair sticking out of their open shirts, with their gold necklace and bracelets really “bling” guise, with the hair pulled back with gel) coming in, and going straight to the tester and “PSSSSHHHHHH” down it goes… and it was one after the other! I was just out of the picture observing the episode and smiling, thinking I could easily be in Portugal. Sometimes I like to do this, step out and just analyse the “human behaviour”.
After I just bought a bottle of Crave by Calvin Klein – US$32, amusement included!
Guess I also want to get a bit Machus latinus..