Sudamérica, te quiero

Memories of our visit here five weeks ago came flooding back. We chatted excitedly in the taxi to Miraflores about all the things we had forgotten: places we’d visited with friends, the coastal fogs, the unfinished buildings, the mestizos; we wallowed in the nostalgia. I love South America. Suzie and I were talking last night over pizza and beer about how perfect the last five weeks have been. Now I’m trying to fight off the sadness that’s hovering under the surface; I’m trying to pretend I have more than nineteen hours left here.

I don’t want to leave. Most of you won’t know but I tried to change the day I fly home so I could spend an extra two weeks in Ecuador enrolled in a Spanish school. Unfortunately my flights are set in stone, so I am still going home tomorrow. I don’t feel ready to go back to Britain, and I don’t want to go back to Britain. I can only console myself with the fact that there’s plenty more of the continent I haven’t seen just waiting for a return visit. Plus in thirty-six hours or so I get to see my family for the first time in three-and-a-half months – I can’t wait to see you all! I have a lot of catching up to do with old and new friends too, so it’s not all bad.

But for now Suzie and I are off to revel in the sights, smells, sounds, and tastes of South America for the last time. I love it. If you ever get half a chance to visit South America don’t hesitate, do it. And if you need a travelling companion you need look no further!