After all the wandering, and after saying our farewells to Melissa, Ernesto gave us a ride back to Abbeville. We took that opportunity to quiz him about Peru. He told us that his sister, much to his amazement, had recently chosen to go to Colombia on holiday. He couldn’t understand why she would want to, given the current conditions in the country. Again much to his amazement, she came back enthused about her experience. She told him that the country is beautiful and that everyone was extremely friendly – it was clean, quiet, she felt safe, and she wants to go again. We were delighted to hear that, as it matched exactly what we had read recently on a cyclist’s blog. Now we are more excited than ever to visit Colombia.
Ernesto also told us that Peru is safe for travel. He pointed out that travelers anywhere are magnets – easy targets – for pickpockets and scams, and for over-priced, low-quality goods. But many people generally like travelers, depending on how they travel. If the traveler is open to new cultures, wanting to experience them, and is open to new experiences, the locals will be helpful and friendly. I can certainly testify to that in our case! Ernesto did add that that’s one of the big benefits of making local contacts before getting into an area. Then you’re experiencing it through the eyes of a local, and you’ll be guided toward safer areas and better quality goods, having a much more real experience all around.