We were able to get business class to Atlanta, which was a nice reward. We even managed to sleep for a few hours a piece. Once we actually arrived in Atlanta, I reviewed our options for getting back to LAX. The first flight going out to LA was oversold by 12 and had more than 30 people on standby. Not one of them got on. It was clear that we would not be going direct if we wanted to get home today. We looked into many possibilities - none of them great looking. Everything from San Jose to Hayden was a bit messy. Everyone is flying today apparently. We narrowly got on a Delta flight to Northwest Arkansas and that is where we wait.
We would have to wait for about 3.5 hours to catch the next flight west, so I had some time to reflect on the trip in a sort of mini-post about my thoughts. Rather than my traditional ramblings, I thought I'd do a simple pro and con about Peru, particularly in contrast with my own country.
The Pros:
The people. Nicole was quick to point out that people were very friendly and patient, particularly when our language skills were not at their peak. When we were a little confused on the first night how to get inside the airport hotel, a guy hawking taxis pointed us in the correct direction without us prompting him.
While the constant hustling in Cusco was a bit annoying, the people as a whole were respectful and kind. Whether we were purchasing sweaters, going through customs, or trying to get train tickets in severely fractured spanish, the person on the other side of the conversation would smile and make sure that we were getting exactly what we thought we had asked for without simply trying to make us go away like a pesky fly.
The Cons:
Now it may have seemed like there was only one pro, but decent people are hard to find these days and finding people who care is a pretty big pro. Turks & Caicos in the Caribbean was a very pretty island with rich turquoise waters, but the people (both resident and visitor) were absolutely ghastly. Everyone had attitude and for me at least, this put a damper on the whole experience. So my cons for Peru are relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, but I give them to you anyway.
At the top of my list for souring my disposition is everything that the Ministry of Tourism is involved in. This includes access to all the major Incan ruins throughout the country including famous Machu Picchu. Now the street vendors have figured out how to sell a $1 magnet to someone who wants to pay with credit card, but the ministry of tourism cannot seem to understand that it would be a lot easier to buy a $55 entrance fee using Visa instead of going to an ATM repeatedly. Furthermore, the ministry is very strict when it comes to student discounts. Both Nicole and I had student IDs, but they would find any reason not to give us the discount. Basically my cons revolve around money, and I am known to be cheap. Obviously people will keep paying $55+ to see Machu Picchu, but it does seem a little bit like a scam in a way.
So what's the point of all this? Well I have often encouraged people to travel because I think people are too stuck in their own bubbles. Maybe folks are starting to take that advise because I had though I was going to Peru in the off-season. If that's the case, I'd hate to see it at peak season. The global economy seems to be doing well because I would hear accents from people from China, Brazil, Canada, France, and Korea. One country, as usual, was curiously missing. The good ol' USA. I had to sign a logbook to access a trail to the Inca Bridge, and part of the sign in was to indicate country. I had to go forward a couple pages to reach a blank line, and with about 30 lines per page, there was not a single American. I saw Argentina, Switzerland, Canada, Chile, and Japan in the book. Not one American. And this is kind of a sad trend I've been observing as of late. What is wrong with us? While we were away, another school shooting happened, and it was shrugged off as just another school shooting.
We get in the habit of looking up how safe other countries are and seeing what the travel warnings from the state department have to say. "Beware of petty theft in Lima. Be alert when riding public transportation. Avoid walking around at night alone." I wonder what they would say about the United States. It's a sobering thought. We reflexively look down at the countries of South America as having such grandiose problems, but we just aren't as great as we think we are. And maybe a little perspective might be a good cure to this notion that America is so exceptional. It's a long way from petty theft to systematic murder of kids. We may be exceptional, but as I watched the TV news in our hotel room, I couldn't help but be embarrassed for what has become normal in America.
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