Tuesday, February 25, 2014

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same...





So much has changed in Latin America and much of the rest of the so-called "Third World," (aka Less-Developed or Developing Nations) in the past several decades. Where one used to wait hours at a telephone central office for a expensive long-distance line to Europe or the U.S., then have the line go dead halfway through the call, today you can dial direct on your cell phone, Skype on your laptop or tweet or Messenger or chat on FB at your leisure. Where one used to drink cola or beer because the water was dangerous, today there is bottled water everywhere (we'll deal with the plastics pollution later) and ever-improving systems of 'agua potable.' Where one used to have to go to an airline office or travel agency in person to buy a plane ticket, then go back the day before the flight just to confirm your flight again, today you can buy tickets online with a credit card, and sometimes the flights even leave on time.

However... Some things do not change. Anywhere. Flights still get delayed. So, today I have the pleasure of sitting in a restaurant 'lounge' at the Viru Viru International Airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, eating saltenas and empanadas, drinking cafe con leche and jugo de papaya. My flight to Tarija is delayed, but only by 6.5 hours. Could be worse. Maybe I'll pull out that Inspector John Rebus murder mystery by Ian Rankin... Could be worse...

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Reading is always a good option. Never been to South America. Love seeing it for the first time through your eyes.

Unknown said...

Never been to South America. Love seeing it through your eyes. Reading is always a good option when your flight is delayed.

C & L said...

It is interesting to see how the internet connects people, reconnects people and keeps people connected. Does it cost us in less face to face time? Does it open our minds to the great variety in the world? Does it reinforce our insanity when we can others as crazy or crazier than ourselves? It is a new world. Still human, however, for better or worse.

Good luck with your travels! I got tired of empanadas, but now I miss them!