My adventurous "debut" was late. Being a woman and very young at the end of the dictatorship were two considerable obstacles. Depending on the country to visit, The first is still. The competent guides are in these circumstances of great help. As for being very young, the seventies, We were not then the Spanish standing to load with the backpack and develop around the world with a couple of snacks and four pesetas in the pocket. There were still years for the euro, The popularization of plastic money and flights low cost.
Generally, When tourism "starts" as leisure activity, It is mostly "in company" (The couple, Friendships, The family ...) and "package". With this second term I mean the fact that everything enters. From hotels and round trip tickets "at home", Even excursion tickets, diverse museums and shows. The guide, also. So we were going for the world; Thus continues to go the majority. The adventure was and is in the hands of some brave. Rarely, however, solo. Yet, We have been progressing and some tourists have begun to think that a hint of chance and autonomy are never bad.
My adventurous "debut" was late. Being a woman and very young at the end of the dictatorship were two considerable obstacles
This is where the guides enter, essential complement of every trip, Be "package", In small or solo groups. Above all, To countries that are difficult for us to access by language and culture. In his hands as diligent parents we become spoiled children, Although we know little about our accidental "parents". Although some may become compatriots that, Once in the country, have decided to stay for very varied reasons.
Tourism has evolved a bit and today travels almost everyone. Even babies of a few months. But the old adventurer - many of them British and some, Excellent writers of traveler stories - continues to be reduced. Value is needed. And economic "possible". However, An old and well -known correspondent told me not long ago that some adventurers and authors of successful travel books do not usually move alone. At least, With a guide. Essential in many cases, Although it is much more romantic to say that they are alone.
In his hands as diligent parents we become spoiled children, Although we know little about our accidental "parents"
The capitalist trapicheo has made tourism "necessity". The knowledge of the other? I fear that things are not going around. The bad thing is that the invention of mass travelers does not end up becoming another threat to the already very deteriorated health of the planet. Untreated, as, of a migration looking for water or bread to take throat down. Or of a desperate attempt for not dying after having been expelled migrants from their lands because of our economic interests and our warbharronadas war. Nor of a scientific journey or an anthropological investigation. In any case, Virtual walk to fill bus, airports and hotels to the "chicken coop" in the time of Holganza.
In this frantic up and down when he has become traveling, The proper guide continues to be necessary. And we can find it in the agency with which we travel - if we are in the “package” - on the Internet, In some NGOs and in the agencies of some countries that encourage responsible tourism - the one that does not sweep.
In this frantic up and down when he has become traveling, The proper guide continues to be necessary
The guide can be found, sometimes, traveler. There are those who want guidance for everything; either in the city or in the jungle. It is true that in some countries they become indispensable. They did writers like David Chatwick. I have done so sometimes.
A good guide may depend, sometimes, Pleasure pass to tragedy. I'm not exaggerating. A plus in favor is that our guide puts us in contact with friends and family. It is, in this case, of an unconventional and enriching "package". Although that never allows us to integrate totally into your world.
The only circumstance in which we do not need a "presence" guide is when we decided to travel around the world sitting on the house couch to see an interesting documentary of the National Geographic. But if the country presents unavoidable difficulties, We better have a local handle by hand. I still remember mine's cold blood in El Salvador. An old guerrilla commander during "the conflict" that led his truck without brakes by earrings; Without making it know so you don't suffer. Or that of Guatemala, who took me out of more than one jerk when we were thrown through ravines before suspicious pursuers. Or that time we missed a small group with guide, driver and cook for the desert of Namibia In an area where the only water we had was that of our Cantimplores.
If the country presents unavoidable difficulties, We better have a local handle by hand
If we stop to think about it, They are a good handful of hours and days living with a stranger of infinite patience in most cases. But it was worth it, Although the farewell is always painful, especially if the trip has left their mark. They create links that tear us from our daily miseries, Well, we share their world and make ourselves the illusion that, for a time, We went like brothers. Or even better: as friends of the good.
