Posted on 01/02/2019 10:13:20 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Like a grand dame fallen on hard times, Buenos Aires was dimmed by economic collapse. In between its Paris-like cafes and wrought-iron balconies stood the blight of boarded store fronts. On its great boulevards, scavengers sifted through dumpsters for anything they could resell.
That was 2002, when I covered the debt default and currency devaluation that had devastated this nation. But it's the fate of the Argentines to live in a vicious loop.
Back this month for the first time in 16 years, I saw a country stuck in what has now become its natural state: crisis. As if living a deja vu, I flipped on the TV to once again hear Argentine newscasters fretting about bailouts, the diving peso and fears of default. Beggars - even more than before - panhandled on the same corner by an imposing church on Santa Fe Avenue. As others had done years before, stores advertised going-out-of-business sales....
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Chile is the most beautiful unsoiled country I’ve ever visited. Especially southern Chile, wow the Alps on the cheap.
unsoiled = unspoiled
I want to go there some day. Costa Rica is like a poor-man’s Hawaii, with poisonous snakes thrown in to make it interesting. I can’t recommend driving there, though. Better to hire a local to do that for you.
Only cultures that have embraced some or all of the tenets of the Age of Enlightenment succeed. This includes free markets, human liberty and natural law.
A+ on the history lesson. As history recedes forgetfulness rises and the lessons learned many times have to be relearned at great sacrifice.
Sad indeed, and especially when their are so many glaring examples of present day history in the making.
A good lesson, except one has to consider the real agenda behind the lesson presented by the SF Carbuncle as a previous comment has alluded.
Chile is doing fine. Closing in on first world status. Which, considering that back in the 1970's people were going hungry, is a major jump. They are even starting to grumble about immigrants who are trying to move in. First world problems. :)
Uruguay is not bad.
It is fair to say that the Spanish did not spend a lot of energy setting their colonies up for success.
Better then the Dutch, french and Belgians though. Certainly better then the Japanese and Chinese.
Let's not even talk about the mohammedans.
“Is it a fair statement to say...Spanish-based cultures just do not succeed? Im trying to think of some, but they dont come to mind. Have often wondered why that is.”
James Michener wrote that every former Spanish colony is corrupt, because the Spanish were corrupt.
“Really sad as it is one of those countries that has everything and they are busy making it into nothing.”
That sounds a little too familiar ...
I cant recommend driving there, though.
Also got a chance to drive in Costa RicaI have family there. Driving is an exercise in survival of the fittest. Size always has the right-of-way; you don’t wait for an opening in the traffic, you just barge inwhoever has the most guts wins! I found Costa Rican traffic really interfered with my calm.
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