Tiziana, Mark, Giuliano, Tati, “Chucky-Host” in El Calafate at Kiritina’s House Homestay

¿Por qué? ¿Por qué viajar?

Durante más de media vida, me prometí huir de la tiranía del Invierno.

I have slowly clawed my way to South America the past five years. I study maps, practice (a laughable description) Spanish using Pimsleur, sign up on Scott’s Cheap Flights finding deals to Ecuador, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, and Argentina. Not all flights have been great deals, it has gotten me here. I stay in simple places and walk for hours. And I eat.

I have grown to like this part of the world.

Why do I travel? For reasons of health and mental well-being I must banish Winter. This paragraph will be my last attempt to explain. My truth is when days grow shorter than the nights, I suffer. It is an affliction I have recognized longer than half my life. Spending too many winters impaled to the couch of inactivity, my promise to banish darkness is being fulfilled. Here I am in South America a second time this winter (northern hemisphere winter of course). Psychologists name this SAD--Seasonal Affective Disorder--a type of depression that’s related to changes in the seasons. There are many remedies. With the exception of using antidepressant medications, I have tried everything. The ONLY remedy that works is to recharge in a place where daylight hours are longer than nighttime hours. I have thoroughly tested this. No further explanations shall follow.

There is an amazing benefit to travel. Northern darkness leads to southern light. It leads to meeting fellow pilgrims: Pilgrims Celebrating At The Altar Of The Communal Table, acolytes of fire and food.

The curse of winter has granted me freedom to explore, to recount, to distill, and to share. I will tell you about Daniel and Guillermo, about John, about Tati, Chucky-Host, Tiziana, and Giuliano, about Alessandro and Giorgio. These people I have just met. Many more stories of other pilgrims I’ve met along the way to that altar.

Depression is the worst malady someone may suffer. I don’t wish to replace it for something else and I won’t try to imagine what will eventually strip me of life force.

I do not recall a February feeling as balanced and energized. This is the reward of banishment. I will not extrapolate what may have happened had I banished Winter sooner. I will not lament missing the company of family and friends, which I do. I shall use this gift.

It is about food, about life, about living in the light, about people at the altar of the table.

Mark Rosenstein

Palermo Soho, BsAs

8 febrero 2020