Place: Cape Town, South Africa
Weather: Sunshine and clouds mixed, 63/75F.
Route: From Sao Paulo 6,341 km east
In this blog I've focused on places, rather than historic eras. However, I feel like any travel between the Americas and Africa - even it's only virtual - should at least briefly discuss the awful history. The main political divides in the U.S. and many other countries in the Americas can be attributed to the history of slavery. And I don't think that these modern political differences will be overcome until we get to a basic agreed understanding of our past.
The following video is from The History Channel - it discusses the general atrocities that people experienced on ships and a specific ship - The Zong - after which there was legal precedent for treating slaves as "cargo" rather than people.
I feel like I should have a little bit of a demarcation here as, after almost 140 posts of Central and South America we are moving on to a new continent. The first thing I have to acknowledge is my ignorance going into this. I have learned so much about the cultures of the mostly Spanish speaking world that is right on my doorstep. I've started learning Spanish, because it's crazy that there's this huge continent just south of where I live that mostly speaks that language and I can't even put together one sentence.
I've also started a list of the places I need to visit in the real world - once the pandemic allows for that. I've traveled to Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. It's pretty embarrassing that I've never been to South America. There's really not a country in Central and South America that I don't want to visit - but if I have to narrow it down, here are my top ten cities.
1. Merida, Mexico - I'm not sure I had even heard of Merida before I went there virtually. It's a city of almost a million people in the Yucatan peninsula. It is overshadowed by being in the same general area (~3 hours away) as Cancun. It's also inland - so, no beaches. But it is right in the middle of most of the most important Mayan archaeology sites. Chichen-Itza is about half-way between Merida and Cancun. But, closer to Merida is Uxmal - which appears to be just as impressive as Chchen-Itza. There are dozens of smaller sites in the region and a large Mayan Museum in Merida as well.
2. Mexico City, Mexico - Simply a world class city that's far too close to not to have visited. There are also the many Aztec sites in Mexico City and nearby.
3. Cartagena, Colombia - With its many remaining walls and historic buildings - the old town seems like a place where you could easily imagine what it was like in the 16th and 17th centuries - when the Spanish colonies were still new. When English privateers sacked cities like to Cartagena in an attempt to limit the huge power Spain had over the region.
4. Quito, Ecuador - Over 9,000 feet in elevation and the capital city most closely located to the Equator - Quito has a lot of charm. It was actually one of the original UNESCO World Heritage Sites, when UNESCO started the program in 1978. The beautiful topography and historic architecture - it just seems like a very alluring city.
5. Lima, Peru - Peru might be the most interesting country in South America. Home of the huge Inca Empire - there are countless archaeological sites to visit here including Machu Picchu. The city of Lima itself shouldn't be overlooked. It is the second largest population of anywhere in South America. It has a large number of museums and the food is supposed to be incredible.
6. Santiago, Chile - Another huge city on the Pacific, Santiago is very modern. Nearby is the beautiful historic town on the sea of Valparaiso. Not to mention that two of the great wine regions of the world are within driving distance. One in Chile and the other just over the Andes in Argentina - I would say that 90% of the wine I drink is from one of these two places.
7. Buenos Aires, Argentina - Home of the tango - that alone should be enough. Of course there is a lot of beautiful architecture as well and nearby beautiful beaches. Montivideo, Uraguay is also nearby - which is supposed to be worth a trip on it's own.
8. Rio and Sao Paulo, Brazil - I know that any citizen of these two great cities would shudder at being thrown together - but they are relatively close geographically - and I want to squeeze in another city in my top ten. Rio has the beaches and the dramatic terrain - but it also has a lot of culture as well. Sao Paulo is the largest city in the Americas. It has amazing food and even the biggest snob would feel at home with all the cultural offerings of the city.
9. Salvador de Bahia, Brazil - It was actually the first Brazilian capital. The Northeast in general and Salvador specifically is has a very strong African influence - in fact it might be the most African place you can visit outside of Africa.
10. Havana, Cuba - Within 20 years of Columbus landing in the New World Havana was thriving. Cuba was Spain's main base for the colonies in the 1500's. The island has always had political and strategic importance for the area - even up until the present moment. There is also the amazing culture - the beautiful music that formed through interaction with places like New Orleans and South America.
Time to move on to a new continent!
Place: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Weather: Mostly cloudy early, scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day 69/85F.
Route: From Paraty 277 km west on BR-459 and SP-070.
Place: Paraty, Brazil
Weather: Partly cloudy early, scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon, 77/92F.
Route: From Rio de Janeiro 248 km west on BR-101.
Images:
Place: Valongo Wharf, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Significance: From 1811 to 1831 close to a million enslaved Africans arrived to the Americas at this wharf. At least half the population of Brazil has some African ancestry. The economic disparities in Brazil are some of the most pronounced of anywhere in the world. Much of that disparity can be traced to the history of slavery in Brazil. Only discovered in 2011, this wharf has become a place of spiritual importance for those of African ancestry in Brazil - a place to recognize those who entered this country against their will and who persevered under extreme circumstances. Anything that can be called uniquely Brazilian is fully or at least in part African. This is a place where that history can be recognized and honored.
Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site
Images:
Place: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Weather: Partly cloudy, 75/87F.
Route: From Ouro Preto 399 km south on BR-040.
Place: Ouro Preto, Brazil
Weather: Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon, 58/79F.
Route: From Diamantina 380 km south on BR-259.
Significance: In the 18th century it was center of the Brazilian gold rush. Over 800 tons of gold was sent back to Portugal from this town. The labor required to dig out all of this gold was provided by enslaved peoples. The town was the largest in South America in the 18th century. It was ten times the size of Sao Paulo during the height of the gold rush. Many Baroque buildings built at that time still exist - many of the churches filled with gold harvested from the nearby hills.
Video:
Images:
Place: Diamantina, Brazil
Weather: Partly cloudy, 57/79F.
Route: From Salvador 1,124 km SSW on BR-116.
Significance: Diamantina was the center of the diamond mining operations in Brazil in the 17th and 18th centuries. The town has a number of Baroque style buildings.
Video:
Place: Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 77/82F.
Route: From Sao Cristovao 314 km SSW BA-099.
Place: Sao Cristovao, Brazil
Weather: Mostly cloudy skies, scattered thunderstorms in the morning, 76/87F.
Route: From Olinda 520 km SW on BR-101.
Significance: The World Heritage Site is actually limited to Sao Francisco square which includes church, convent, provincial palace, and homes. Sao Cristovao was established in 1590 when Phillip II of Spain ruled Spain, Portugal, and Naples.
Images:
Place: Olinda, Brazil
Weather: Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, 76/82F.
Route: From Natal 283 km south on BR-101.
Significance: Olinda was established by the Portuguese in 1535, invaded and destroyed by the Dutch in the 17th century and then rebuilt by the Portuguese in the 18th century. Olinda grew rich through the trade of sugar cane. It is one of the best preserved colonial towns in Brazil. Olinda is also known for its large Carnival featuring a parade of "giant dolls" - representations of famous people of the region and country.
Video:
Place: Natal, Brazil
Weather: Mostly cloudy skies early, partly cloudy later in the day, 75/85F.
Route: From Fortaleza 533 km ESE.
Place: Fortaleza, Brazil
Weather: Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, mostly cloudy late, 79/87F.
Route: From Sierra de Capivara National Park 819 km NE on BR-020.
Place: Sierra de Capivara National Park, Brazil
Weather: Sunshine and clouds mixed, 72/90F.
Route: From Sao Luis 918 km south on BR-135.
Place: Sao Luis, Brazil
Weather: Sunshine and clouds mixed, 78/89F.
Route: From Manaus 3,538 km east on BR-319, BR-230, BR-222.
Place: Central Amazon Conservation Complex, Brazil
Significance: Given that it's over 6 million hectares it doesn't make much sense to talk about weather or route. This is the largest part of the Amazon rainforest that is protected. There are all the plants and animals that you think of with the Amazon rainforest, including river dolphins, manatee, a giant endangered fish (arapaima), jaguar etc. Often called the lungs of the earth - many other areas of the Amazon are being devoloped - where as this entire area is protected.
Images:
Place: Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela
Weather: Partly cloudy skies, 70/87F.
Route: From Port of Spain 683 km SW on ferry to Guiria, route 9, and route 10.
Place: Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Weather: Intervals of clouds and sunshine, 72/85F.
Route: From Georgetown 351 miles NW.
Place: Georgetown, Guyana
Weather: Rain showers early with some sunshine later in the day, 75/83F.
Route: From Central Suriname Nature Reserve 625 km WNW on Martin Luther Kingweg, Oost-West Verbingding, Albina-Parimarbo ferry, and Berbice Highway.
