About South America

James and I love South America.  From our experience, the culture in South America is one that embodies a lot of our own values and preferences in such a way that people come first, clocks and watches are optional and relationships are paramount.  The pace is a little slower and accumulating stuff is not the goal of life.  People seem to be genuine with each other and are honest and open.  There are friends everywhere you go.  

When we were in the city of Iguacu falls last week, we experienced South American culture in a very CLOSE way.  

We went to an artisan market to pick up some souvenirs.  We had asked our hotel clerk if there was an artisan market nearby that also had somewhere we could grab a quick lunch.   We took his suggestion and left feeling hungry, bought a few things and asked the clerks at the market where we could get something to eat.  They said there was nothing nearby and that we'd have to get another bus to a restaurant that tourists always liked.  (Translation:  $$$)  When we asked if there was something simpler and less expensive, a man named Lelo who had been hanging around the store (though he didn't work there) offered to show us to a Lanchonete down the road that his buddy worked at.  We figured he'd point us in the right direction and tell us where to walk, but instead he walked us to his car.  A VW Beetle.  Original.  And, yes, all 7 of us squeezed in the little yellow bug and headed down the road.  The place he was taking us was closed so we wandered around until we found another where he also had friends.  

We ate xis-salada (aka cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato) better than the ones we'd had at the hotel restaurant for half the price.  He hung around a while talking with his amigos and then headed off in his little yellow car.  Didn't ask for a thing from us, he was just happy to be able to help.  

Thanks, Lelo, for sharing your car, your hospitality, your culture and your joy with us.