My kids, Andy (23) and Jackie (20), are heading for South America. And, for the next 17 days, Jackie will guest-host my blog, with daily reports on their adventures in Peru, Argentina, and Brazil.
Why a South America trip on a European travel blog? Four reasons come to mind:
The spirit of our work at Europe Through the Back Door is to inspire people to turn their travel dreams into smooth and affordable reality by equipping themselves with good information and an expectation to travel smartly. As Andy and Jackie venture south of the equator, I hope you’ll join me in following their adventures. They are unescorted, don’t speak Spanish, have virtually no international travel experience outside of Europe, and will use non-Rick Steves guidebooks as they follow their wanderlust. They plan to travel both smart and well. They’re basically doing what any of us could do (though likely with a lot more late-night clubbing tossed in).
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| A photo from my Asia Through the Back Door days. |
I’ve long said that Europe is the wading pool of world exploration and that many of my favorite destinations and experiences are beyond Europe. Ages ago I wrote a guidebook called Asia Through the Back Door by simply adapting my Europe tips to my experience traveling in the Far East. For me, Europe was a fun and easy first stop to making the world my friend. As we follow these youthful adventures through Jackie’s candid reports, I hope we can envision ourselves taking the experience and confidence gained in Europe and using it (with a youthful vigor) in more distant corners.
I hope Jackie’s hosting of my blog will also cause parents to consider the value of young people gaining self-confidence and a broader world view by venturing beyond our borders — whether that be Europe or into more challenging places. As any parent knows, it’s both scary and exhilarating to see your children outgrow accompanied trips and fly away on their own. I’m betting this trip will be a rite of passage, and Andy and Jackie will come home with a better understanding of both themselves and the world around them.
Finally, I have a patriotic motive for turning my blog over to Jackie. My theme this season — inspired by all the Quran-burning, foreigner-fearing, anti-intellectual legions in our country — is this: “Fear is for people who don’t get out much.” Given the mesmerizing power of our media, it’s understandable that elderly Americans might be riddled with paranoia. (Observing my parents and my friends’ parents, I have a theory that people who can’t work or don’t have DVRs are limited to watching TV live, and 24/7 news is always there for them.) But even young people are susceptible to the fear-mongering that’s wracking our great nation. It’s my hope (but I could be wrong) that Andy and Jackie’s experience will help inoculate them to this new and virulent strain of pest in our society. And it’s also my hope that travel adventures can help us all better recognize the good and the joy in our world and then — rather than fear it — celebrate it.
With that, I’m going to step back and give the bully pulpit to my daughter. South America, here we come!
Bravo Rick, Jackie and Andy.
I appreciated Jackie's blogs from Spain, and look forward to hearing about the upcoming adventures. With S. America coming out of winter and heading into spring, I hope the weather is kind to the kids.
South America is much less expensive to visit than Europe, especially if you stay out of cities like Rio and Buenos Aires. And expansion of travel beyond Europe – particularly in winter – is possibly a new market for Rick Steves but also not too far from the U.S. flag pole. As for fear, trade a milder synonym like caution – and abide by it. The U.S. can probably help South America by having its tourists visit it in large numbers. Avoid drugs in ANY quantities. In Brazil, a tiny amount of ecstasy causes the police to ransom you. Pay them off and maybe you won't get prosecuted, maybe!! (according to a one year old article in the NY Times Magazine.)
Bravo Jackie and Andy! I had friends who "honeymooned" in South America. They got married and then traveled throughout South America for a year exploring the continent. I'll always remember their stories about the mines which were horrifying, but also how much they loved their trip. They came home and moved to Minneapolis! Meg, at least, was fluent in Spanish. She'd spent a year in Barcelona and so had some Catalan as well. Pam
I have missed Andy and Jackie blogs. So glad they are traveling together and Jackie will report on their journey. Thanks to all!
Have fun in Brazil! I'm Brazilian and tickets were so cheap last year I went twice. Alas, they're back to their normal cost of 1k from here in NYC.
"Fear is for people who don't get out much." Actually, after revisiting London/Paris/Munich for the first time in years this summer, and witnessing the ethnic/religious transformation of these cities, my concerns have only increased. I wish your kids well.
How is it possible that Rick has never been to South America?!
Glad to see this! I'm on my way to Asia for this year's trip (posting from Vancouver today), but plan to finally visit South America next year. Will be interested to follow their travels.
Thanks, Rick. Now if only American culture would provide me with enough time and other resources to take my daughter all over the world, I'll be all over it! No, I'm not asking for a government bailout. But I've spent at least the cost of 2 weeks for three people in Europe this year on my healthcare, and I am expected to work 60-80 weeks – often required to have my work laptop on hand even on vacation. And I'm not one of those people who has a Mc Mansion and cable TV, etc. I'm living well within my means.
Rick- As a parent, I think that you're being irresponsible and allowing your principles of worldliness to outweigh being a good parent. I'm a dad myself, and while I know that at some point my kids will do what they do, you are truthfully encouraging them to go to very dangerous parts of the world where the dangers are very real of kidnapping and violent crime, without sufficient preparation (like a guide or local contact). Frankly, it seems that satisfying wanderlust or seeing a different part of the world world are poor rationale for exposing your kids to very real dangers without enough sufficient preparation.
Your comments on this blog have been very comforting to my husband and myself as our daughter is leaving this weekend for Peace Corps service in Ukraine for 27 months. We will miss her like hell and worry and wonder, but we know that this will be the seminal experience of her life. We hope that she will be the kind of American who will build bridges and appreciate other cultures and ideas. We totally support your philosophy of a total world connection – what we have in common as humans and the profound idea that we all love our children and want them to have a better life.