Backpacking Eight Months On the Road Bus Through South America Metros By David Rice |
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| Metros Page Twenty |
| Metros Backpacking by Bus In South America Eight Months On the Road By David Rice |
Metros and Money
www.softseattravel.com
Page 10
In Rio I really changed my mind about going to Africa.
I had thought that I might get a ship from Rio that heads to Africa but I
couldn't find a passenger ship anywhere. There used to be a regular run of
passenger ships but the only one I could find was a gay boat that left Rio on
a regular run several times a year and docked in Cape Town.
Cape Town is a beautiful city I understand from reading about it and I wanted
to tour there but I decided to complete my tour South America first and then
look into a boat to Cape Town later. As events unfolded, however, I wrote it
off as not possible this time.
Although I want some day to see the great beaches along the African coast
and I would also like to see Namibia, I would put it off until some later day.
For that moment, I decided to stay and finish my tour of South America.
I know that after I rest for six months back home on the farm I will get itchy
feet again and will be hitting the road. Maybe Cape Town next year.
Tropic of Capricorn
Rio is just north of the Tropic of Capricorn and this puts it just at the edge of
the tropics. As I would go south, the climate would change and I would enter
a temperate zone. After my nine days in the tropical heat of Rio, however, I
was ready to head south for Iguazu falls, also known locally as Cataratas. On
the way I would cross the Tropic of Capricorn at Sao Paulo. but by that time I
had my fill of cities for the moment and although I was interested in the metro
system of Sao Paulo, billed as one of the most modern of South America
Metros, I would pass.
The Metro
Metros interest me because of the underground life that they harbor. Whole
cities of sorts exist in the metros: up-scale and trendy shops exist on the
same walkway where you find beggars, panhandler, and thieves. All coexist
underground where all manner of man and beast mingle on the same terms.
The metro makes every person equal for the moment; they pay the same
fee, walk the same corridors, pass through the same turn styles, and occupy
the same rude seats. And as a bonus, the metro gets me to places quick
and cheap while providing free entertainment.
I will get on a subway and ride it all day. On any subway there is also all
kinds of advertising and posters, photo exhibits on the walls and often free
entertainment. It is an unusual place the subway. I have seen many: London,
Buenos Aires, Paris, Munich, Mexico City, New York, and some day I will ride
the Moscow subway. I love them.
On the subway you must, of course, be careful or you will be the victim of a
pickpocket. I stick my money in my sock but when the subway is jam-packed I
avoid them. I was once pick pocketed in Mexico City and although they only
took twelve dollars from my front pocket, the incident left me cautious. At first
I felt violated but since the loss was minor I got over it soon enough. It taught
me a lesson, however, and now I keep my small change in a front pocket
while I sew up my back pockets where I keep my larger stash. I open an
access port reachable only by taking down my pants. Awkward yes but that
way I never loose too much if the pickpockets, who work in groups, get the
best of me as a group of aggressive thieves did on Mexico's subway.
I don't like money belts so by secreting money and valuables in several
places, I avoid the annoyance of a belt and the pain of a large loss. In
Mexico city I lost 12 bucks but the incident left my mind pretty quickly once I
got up in the city and started sightseeing.
Stuff happens and it is best to be prepared while at the same time remaining
optimistic about the joys of travel.
I had thought that I might get a ship from Rio that heads to Africa but I
couldn't find a passenger ship anywhere. There used to be a regular run of
passenger ships but the only one I could find was a gay boat that left Rio on
a regular run several times a year and docked in Cape Town.
Cape Town is a beautiful city I understand from reading about it and I wanted
to tour there but I decided to complete my tour South America first and then
look into a boat to Cape Town later. As events unfolded, however, I wrote it
off as not possible this time.
Although I want some day to see the great beaches along the African coast
and I would also like to see Namibia, I would put it off until some later day.
For that moment, I decided to stay and finish my tour of South America.
I know that after I rest for six months back home on the farm I will get itchy
feet again and will be hitting the road. Maybe Cape Town next year.
Tropic of Capricorn
Rio is just north of the Tropic of Capricorn and this puts it just at the edge of
the tropics. As I would go south, the climate would change and I would enter
a temperate zone. After my nine days in the tropical heat of Rio, however, I
was ready to head south for Iguazu falls, also known locally as Cataratas. On
the way I would cross the Tropic of Capricorn at Sao Paulo. but by that time I
had my fill of cities for the moment and although I was interested in the metro
system of Sao Paulo, billed as one of the most modern of South America
Metros, I would pass.
The Metro
Metros interest me because of the underground life that they harbor. Whole
cities of sorts exist in the metros: up-scale and trendy shops exist on the
same walkway where you find beggars, panhandler, and thieves. All coexist
underground where all manner of man and beast mingle on the same terms.
The metro makes every person equal for the moment; they pay the same
fee, walk the same corridors, pass through the same turn styles, and occupy
the same rude seats. And as a bonus, the metro gets me to places quick
and cheap while providing free entertainment.
I will get on a subway and ride it all day. On any subway there is also all
kinds of advertising and posters, photo exhibits on the walls and often free
entertainment. It is an unusual place the subway. I have seen many: London,
Buenos Aires, Paris, Munich, Mexico City, New York, and some day I will ride
the Moscow subway. I love them.
On the subway you must, of course, be careful or you will be the victim of a
pickpocket. I stick my money in my sock but when the subway is jam-packed I
avoid them. I was once pick pocketed in Mexico City and although they only
took twelve dollars from my front pocket, the incident left me cautious. At first
I felt violated but since the loss was minor I got over it soon enough. It taught
me a lesson, however, and now I keep my small change in a front pocket
while I sew up my back pockets where I keep my larger stash. I open an
access port reachable only by taking down my pants. Awkward yes but that
way I never loose too much if the pickpockets, who work in groups, get the
best of me as a group of aggressive thieves did on Mexico's subway.
I don't like money belts so by secreting money and valuables in several
places, I avoid the annoyance of a belt and the pain of a large loss. In
Mexico city I lost 12 bucks but the incident left my mind pretty quickly once I
got up in the city and started sightseeing.
Stuff happens and it is best to be prepared while at the same time remaining
optimistic about the joys of travel.
David Rice Photo