Looking back: Being a guide in Patagonia, Inca Land, Galapagos and Rapa Nui
I have been really lucky having had so many opportunities to work as a guide. One of my favorite places have been Patagonia, where I spent a year or horseback in 1997-98. Patagonia was my first job as a guide and I returned ten years after leaving the horses. It was a great return! I wrote this piece about those six weeks https://www.mikaelstrandberg.com/2008/12/07/after-six-weeks-of-guiding-in-south-america/
The Inca Civilisation has always been of great interest to me. It´s rise and fall through divison, internal strife, diseases and Pizarro, his men and horses, what an incredibly interesting drama. And such an interesting civlisation. And I have had the priviliged to do three tours to Peru, though of course the Inca Civilisation stretched way down Chile, west into Brazil and north up into Colombia. One of my dreams have always been travelling from north to south bu horse along the Inca routes of the time. As pleasant have been having had great people with me with a great interest in travelling and understanding! My personal highlights, Macchu picchu of course, but I believe I was as impressed with Ollaytaytambo. Read more at https://www.mikaelstrandberg.com/2008/12/21/the-life-of-a-tour-guide-and-a-few-reviews-from-clients-i-have-had-on-the-6-weeks-of-guiding-in-south-america/
Rapa Nui 2008.In between the Siberian Expedition, the failed Cross Sahara EXpedition and the first Yemen journey 2011, I was still priviliged to travel to many extra ordinary places as a tour guide. One of the most faschinating of all these new and old places was Easter Island or Rapa Nui. Such an isolated and spectacular place, Hawaiian weather and a great mysetry we still haven´t solved today. Hardly any trees left on this tropical island but loads of extraordinary statues (moai) and the prevailing idea that humans created a complete ecological and environmental disaster in their need to set up these statues all over the island and through wars and infighting. New evidence suggest, people got along, reality is more complex, and the arrival of colonial powers have a say in the truth, but no matter what, a must to visit for anyone who wants a unique insight into human history and mysteries.
Galapagos 2008. I have read Charles Darwins book about his voyage with the Beagle so many times, so when I finally made it to the islands which eventually would move him his thoughts towards his theory of evolution, I was overwhelmed. Though the island have of course turned into a giant tourist sector, which helps their survival too, just seeing the extraordinary fauna of the islands was a life highlight. I have been there twice so far and for this, I feel very priviliged. Both times as a tourguide, though the local guides was incredibly good, and the groups i had were the best of the best. there´s no doubt about that. Being a guide is a privilige indeed. And whilst visiting a special place like the Galapagos, get the best guide around. It does make a difference. Read more about this at https://www.mikaelstrandberg.com/2012/02/06/notes-from-a-tour-leader-part-3-home-coming/
