Adventures In Tolerance Town

Author : Neil Mapes
Publisher : Neil Mapes
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 287 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Download or read book From Dementia to Adventure written by Neil Mapes and published by Neil Mapes. This book was released on 2017-02-03 with total page 287 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From dementia to adventure, in the travel literature genre, is an experiential journey in and around Peru. Neil Mapes put his life in London, which included working with people with dementia, on hold to take a career break in Peru. The two-month journey took place during August and September of 2001 and involved the lone circumnavigation of an enchanting country. London and dementia are swapped for Lima and adventure. The struggles with dementia are left behind for new adventures. After the dirt and danger of Lima the journey proceeds down the coast to the tourist highlight of Pisco and the natural beauty of Las Islas Ballestras. Then it is onward into the depths of the Andes to Arequipa, Lake Titicaca, Cuzco and the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The mountains are left behind as the journey flows into the Amazon jungle and weeks are spent getting lost in time and space before traversing the Andes once more to experience the lesser travelled towns and cities of the North coast before returning to Lima. The country and its many offerings are seen at first hand and reflected on with humour and compassion. This work is like a cross between ‘Round Ireland with a fridge’ and ‘The Celestine prophecy.’ It explores the highs and lows of independent travel and how enriching this form of travel is. It is aimed both at the serious traveller, who wants to take a break from their current career life and get a feel of the country they are to visit in a way that a guidebook cannot provide, and the armchair traveller who is in search of escape into a new world. It will appeal to people who like to reflect on the experiences of meeting people and visiting places. The primary theme throughout is one of connecting with the local people and the landscape. There are many Peruvians who are met and influence this journey. Some of these include Armando who dispenses his advice on his beloved country, Monica the barmaid in the fishing town of Pisco, there is the Ayahuasca jungle artist called George, Christian missionaries on the north coast and love with a girl named Elsa on the way back to Lima. The secondary theme is that of spiritual discovery and development. The stresses of modern city life are put on hold to reflect on what is important in life - time for the soul to grow. At each stage of the journey there is time for inner searching and contemplation. The questions asked are the central questions that exist in all our lives, for example: ‘What am I here for?’ ‘What am I doing with my life? It aims to allow people to discover their own spirituality, to assess where their lives are going and how to make the best of the time we each have. For the many readers that may have found themselves wrapped up in a career they no longer care for, or one in which they are becoming weary, this work gives them one example of how to break this downward spiral. If each person that reads this work asks himself or herself the following question then the writing will have achieved its goal. ‘What do I really want to do and to be before I die?’