Worlds Apart

You cannot reach Iquitos by land. Hidden in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, this rubber-boom city will not give you leave to enter unless you have conquered the river or the clouds first. It is a world apart from Paris and yet they have something rather unexpected in common: Gustave Eiffel. Not a tower this time around, but a Casa de Fierro gifted to the jungle by the famous French architect.

Despite its isolation, Iquitos is the fifth largest city in Peru and a very cosmopolitan one at that, brimming with culture and even luxury in the midst of untamed wilderness. It is a quirk of history ready to befuddle the visitor. That it is possible for it to even exist – a jungle city – seems like a contradiction in terms.

Yet not far from its dazzling lights, quite another life unfolds on the shores of the Amazon…

The indigenous people of the Amazon Basin keep alive the traditions of their semi-nomadic tribes. Like their ancestors, they subsist on hunting, fishing, gathering, and agriculture. Unlike their ancestors, they add tourism as a source of income.

This picture was taken in a village some four hours by boat from Iquitos. Two women dancing, in juxtaposition.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Juxtaposition

23 thoughts on “Worlds Apart”

A beautiful juxtaposition. It strikes me that despite differences in people and culture, time and place, music and dance are universal. 🙂

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vicbriggs on January 26, 2014 at 10:46 pm said:

Thank you, Lee-Anne. Can’t help but think of Austen again and Darcy’s comment on the matter of dancing 😉

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- Lee-Anne on January 27, 2014 at 1:55 am said:
  
  Hahaha! Thank goodness Mr Darcy met Lizzy to teach him a little humility. 🙂
- vicbriggs on January 27, 2014 at 2:05 am said:
  
  I’ve watched a recent re-imagining of Pride and Prejudice, where Darcy ended up with another character and I have to say I found it unbelievable that anyone else could teach him that, even if the girl was a massive Austen fan. 🙂
- Lee-Anne on January 27, 2014 at 2:54 am said:
  
  I am reeling from the shock (horror and disbelief) of Fitzwilliam Darcy ending up with ANOTHER CHARACTER… What was the director/adapter thinking??
  Poor Jane would turn in her grave at the mere hint of such a travesty! (sorry about the hyperbolic language and punctuation, I’m just a bit stunned) 🙂
  
  PS: Was this “re-imagining” satirical?
- vicbriggs on January 27, 2014 at 10:38 am said:
  
  I’m afraid not. It was a very loose adaptation. A case of “what if”. Here’s the link to the wiki outline of the plot in case you are curious. There is more than a shocker in store, including the elder Miss Bennet marrying Mr Collins. It’s all topsy-turvy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_in_Austen
- Lee-Anne on January 27, 2014 at 8:27 pm said:
  
  Thanks, I’ll check out the link. Will have to have a stiff drink beforehand from what I can gather! Jane Bennet settle for Mr Collins, after the genial Mr Bingley – absurd!
- vicbriggs on January 28, 2014 at 9:31 pm said:
  
  My thoughts exactly. I will happily watch any adaptation, but I do look forward to some recognisable Austen beyond the name of the characters 🙂
- Lee-Anne on January 28, 2014 at 10:39 pm said:
  
  Hi Vic, I had started to watch this adaptation when it aired here on the ABC but stopped when I realised what liberties they were taking with plot and character.
  
  And Emma’s comment to Mrs Weston, when she tried to match-make (suggesting that Jane Fairfax and Mr Knightly would suit) popped into my head: “…you do it ill!”
  
  To all future (silly) adapters of Austen I say: “Pray desist, you do it ill!”
  
  (I’m aware I sound very pompous, stuffy and conservative here:) )
- Lee-Anne on January 29, 2014 at 9:33 pm said:
  
  Exactly!
  BTW a Year 12 student gave me a copy of ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’ (he thought I might like to read it) 🙂
- vicbriggs on January 29, 2014 at 10:20 pm said:
  
  Oh no! What did you say?
- Lee-Anne on January 30, 2014 at 12:38 am said:
  
  I read a bit and laughed…the idea is novel and I suppose, funny. Also, I didn’t want to dampen his enthusiasm or willingness to buy and read books (but I gave it back quite quickly -it was awful! 🙂
- vicbriggs on January 31, 2014 at 4:35 am said:
  
  I can imagine, but as you said: always good to encourage reading 🙂

As London is to Fresno! Haha. Have to go to NY to see an Eiffel work I think.

I don’t even think there’s any Frank Lloyd Wrights around here, haha.

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vicbriggs on January 27, 2014 at 2:08 am said:

It sounds like a trip to the Big Apple is in order soon. Alternatively, you could visit Iquitos 🙂

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- Kaufman's Kavalkade on January 27, 2014 at 2:20 am said:
  
  LoL Maybe the Statue of Liberty will tour Fresno someday! 😉