No need to fly beyond Miami to visit Latin Americans
Greetings from beautiful Quito, Ecuador at an elevation of 9000′. Quito has its advantages over the U.S., notably the ease of connecting to the Internet (cybercafe on every block) and the low prices (haircut and lunch in the nicest part of downtown for less than $10 total). After a stopover in Miami, however, I’m not sure that one needs to leave the U.S. in order to visit Latin America.
In 24 hours in Miami, most of which was spent with my cousin Jennifer, I met people from Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Venezuela, and probably a few more countries. A trip onto the highways reveals the driving style of every Latin American country on display as every driver tends to follow the rules of whatever country he or she is from (sadly this results in an average of more than 10 serious accidents every day and a lot of snarled traffic).
tuan cao-huu
April 22, 2004 @ 8:17 pm
Philip:
> Quito has its advantages over the U.S.,
> notably the ease of connecting to the
> Internet…
I am surprised. I also thought we are wired more then most countries, especially Ecuador.
Maybe it is a richness for tourists?
Tuan
tuan cao-huu
April 22, 2004 @ 8:17 pm
Philip:
> Quito has its advantages over the U.S.,
> notably the ease of connecting to the
> Internet…
I am surprised. I also thought we are wired more then most countries, especially Ecuador.
Maybe it is a richness for tourists?
Tuan
Rafe
April 22, 2004 @ 8:20 pm
They don’t call Miami the capital of Latin America for nothing.
Neil
April 22, 2004 @ 11:46 pm
The deal is, nobody has an internet connection to the home in Ecuador. By Philip’s logic, a city with a lot of laundromats would be advanced, even though the reason may be that nobody can afford their own washing machine.
Patrick Morrison
April 23, 2004 @ 1:21 am
It’s said that the United States ends at the Dade/Broward line (Dade County houses Miami, Broward County is the first US outpost North of Dade). Living in Broward, it’s kind of nice to be able to sample the food, culture and coffee of South America, without a passport or airline ticket. We may need Jimmy Carter and the UN to monitor our elections, but the salsa’s worth it. Enjoy Ecuador.
Carlos
April 23, 2004 @ 1:28 am
>>The deal is, nobody has an internet connection to the home in Ecuador.
I live in Quito and that’s wrong, not everyone but a lot of us do have internet connection at home (it
Bas Scheffers
April 23, 2004 @ 6:38 am
I think the first line of your post reveals the true reason to go south of Dade county: “Quito, Ecuador at an elevation of 9000′”.
When I went to Florida I remembered thinking: “Jeez, I though I was from a flat country!”
My fiancee and I are still planning to travel in Latin america for a few months before moving to her native Australia in a year or two. Can’t wait to take in the scenery!
Philip and his rasist comments again
April 23, 2004 @ 4:30 pm
What the F is with this hollier than thou attitude of yours?? I was at a party and someone referred to you as an arrogant p. I am beginning to accept that as a fact.
Bas Scheffers
April 24, 2004 @ 4:55 am
Funny how many don’t see the difference between realism and racism. I have driven in Miami and can tell you traffic is chaos compared to other US cities and Philip’s is not an unreasonable conclusion.
If the same comment would have been made if the immigrants were mostly whites from Western Europe you would probably have grinned and agreed.
Matthew
April 25, 2004 @ 3:21 am
Bas, maybe Philip’s next “realist” comment will be to suggest saving that plane fare to Africa and visiting an NBA game instead.
Bas Scheffers
April 25, 2004 @ 2:17 pm
First off all, you are accusing someone of something they have not said or may ever say.
Secondly, that comment in itself would not be racist nor would it imply racism on the joker’s part. Politicaly incorrect maybe, but not racist.
Patrick Morrison
April 26, 2004 @ 4:08 pm
Dave Barry, the Herald’s humor columnist is often credited with the ‘driving according to the rules of their countries of origin’ formulation, Mr. Greenspun is just echoing it. So blame Mr. Barry if you think there are racist underpinnings, but plenty of locals of all backgrounds here in South Florida think it is a pretty accurate assessment.
Javier Henderson
April 29, 2004 @ 11:01 am
I visited Galapagos last November. Cybercafes are everywhere! Even Port Isabela (pop 2000) has two, for example.
I also spent a few days in Quito, and noticed the high density of cybercafes there. Plenty of foreign backpackers at the one I visited once or twice, as someone already mentioned.
I will now patiently await Philip’s comments on the security personnel found at banks.
mark_fridman
April 30, 2004 @ 3:18 am
u can see it in Dave Barry’s blog.
dona summers
July 26, 2004 @ 12:50 am
How about fast internet connection to Home in Quito
dona summers
July 26, 2004 @ 12:54 am
Carlos,
do they have FAST INTERNET CONNECTIOn, like DSL in Equador (quito)