SI MONTHLY NEWS APRIL 2007 Travel reports
From SI Exco News
TRAVELLING IN SOUTH AMERICA….. 4 MONTHS….. 6 COUNTRIES…..
Before we started our trip we couldn’t realize how important Servas would be. We had no Servas experience at all and we really didn’t know what to expect from Servas. We only know Rose, the interviewer, and Rita, our National Secretary.
After four months travelling (26 July - 29 Nov 2006) with Servas in S. America we cannot express our feelings in a couple of words, so we have written this report.
All Servas hosts are very different, not only because they live in another country but there Is an enormous variety in age, culture and interests…. However they have one thing in common: they all are proud of their own country and the way they tell about the own country and the own region is amazing.
Quito, Ecuador, July 2006
We arrive in an upper class family. With Patricio we have extended discussions about the political situation in Ecuador and the large gap between poor and rich. The elections of mid October are coming closer and closer… and our host is very excited.
Cuenca, Ecuador, August 2006
In Cuenca, in south Ecuador, mother and daughter Polo pick us up. On arrival we have lunch in a distinguished restaurant with typical dishes. We are a bit embarrassed because as traveller it’s impossible to wear every day a new T-shirt. The restaurant isn’t the final point of the culinary experiences: unknown fruit at breakfast and more typical dishes are following...Servas is certainly not the best for our figure… With Humberto we talk for a long time about the difference between the social groups in the country. This way we learn about the story of David, an indigene who lives with the family.
Trujillo, Peru, August 2006
Elva in Trujillo (now are we already in Peru) lives with her little daughter in a small flat. She is happy to share the few square meters that are free with us. We chat in the kitchen till late at night.
Lima, Peru, august 2006
Fernando gives us a warm welcome in Lima … at 5 o'clock in the morning! From the first minute we feel at home. Again it becomes a culinary weekend. But not only food is a priority, a lot of different activities are on the program. Fernando accompanies us to the historical centre of Lima and spends a day with us to visit an archaeological site. By coincidence we have been part of a local festivity, we became ‘members’ of the Santa-Rosa procession! The whole evening long we talk about interesting topics and Fernando and his friend Felipe give an answer to all our questions; we enjoy every moment and our days in Lima are unforgettable. No diet in Lima neither. We learn to know five typical desserts of Lima, …in less than 2 hours!!
Pisco, Peru, August 2006
Elva from Pisco leaves Lima one day earlier than planned to be able to host us. To expect more hospitality isn’t possible. Elva is a very courageous older lady and never stops talking. Her energy and enthusiasm gives us a warm feeling. When we leave at 7 in the morning for a boat trip, she acts as a grandma in former days: she wakes us up and serves us a breakfast full of energy and gives some good advice.
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, September 2006
In Bolivia Servas isn’t very numerous. We had to travel to Santa Cruz to meet someone. We met Nils, from Germany and Marion. They lived in Spain before Bolivia. He perfectly formulates our Servas experience: with Servas hosts you have always something in common although they have a very different background and you meet them in very different contexts.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil We weren’t very lucky. We couldn’t meet a Servas host
Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 2006
Buenos Aires offers us a real Servas week! Although the national secretary Cintia is very busy she finds the time and the energy to share her passion for tango with us and to transform her kitchen in a tourist information centre. Funny how mother and daughter are passionately fond of the same soap. At these moments there is complete silence and we look and admire with them the Argentinean sex symbol and leading star.
Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 2006
A couple of days later and some blocks further we stay with Zulma and Roberto, just retired and very active for human rights. Zulma shows us the whole city. We have so much to talk about and discuss, very interesting with their extended cultural background. While we cross the vegetable market we get the idea to cook dinner ourselves and to prepare a real Belgian meal. They are happy with this and decide to invite some friends. Asparagus in the Flemish way, Belgian endives with ham and cheese and finally chocolate mousse with sesame biscuits as dessert were appreciated.
Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 2006
In the weekend we arrive at Veronica and Oscar’s place. Maybe they were hippies in a previous life. They are real Argentineans: barbecue on the roof! This way we contribute at the annual consumption of meat in Argentina.
Santiago, Chile, November 2006
Alvaro from Santiago moved out of the city, but no problem, we can stay with his parents in Santiago. Ricardo proposes to imagine that we know each other for years and we feel immediately at home… From all Servas hosts we met we think Ricardo is the most convinced: Chile is simply the best for everything. Ricardo is a man with a golden heart. With the whole family we have a barbecue in the garden at Sunday afternoon. On Monday morning we visit with him the place where he is working. The way these people are sharing with us all they have let us feel comfortable and it’s incredible how we have the impression that we know each other for many years. The feeling to have good friends and to have a home so far from our own place gives us the energy to go on travelling around the world.
Bariloche, Argentina, November 2006
What a pity we have less good experiences. Our host is new in Servas. First she gives us a warm welcome, but the next day she suddenly tells us at 5.30 pm to look for another place for the night … she is too busy … One hour later we are on the last bus going to the south! In the extreme south of the continent, far from everything and shivering of the cold temperature we meet Gabriel.
Ushuaia, Argentina, November 2006
In Ushuaia, ‘fin del mundo’, Gabriel is the only Servas member. Nevertheless he enjoys receiving Servas travellers. In the tourist season it might very busy…but no problem because Gabriel loves Servas. The first night he cannot host us because other people are staying with him. He takes us for a drive high in the mountains and we can enjoy a magnificent sunset on the Beagle canal. The next day we meet him by coincidence and he can host us. In a way he is a bit sad for the bad experience of the previous day: his youngest child lent her book about national parks and the Servas guest didn’t give it back.
Nevertheless we are welcome. We admire his Servas spirit and once more we have a very enriching and cosy evening.
During the four months of travelling we often disagreed about many things, but about Servas we are unanimous: so fantastic that there are no words to express our feelings.
Jo & Evelyn on a trip around the world
Hosts & travellers Servas Belgium
http://home.versateladsl.be/travelweb
uploaded by Amelia
