| Admin/Biog History | In 1964-1965, Waterfield undertook a four-month sightseeing tour of South America. He arrived in Colombia after sailing from La Rochelle on the 'Magellan' and used different forms of transport to complete his tour of the continent. While in Chile, Argentina and Brazil he socialised or resided with embassy staff or other expats, and he was accompanied by the British Ambassador Sir David Scott Fox on a sightseeing excursion of the Los Lagos region in Chile and just over the border into Argentina. On his return journey from South America Waterfield took a boat from Rio de Janeiro to Cannes. |
| Description | In this 153-page journal, Waterfield records a sightseeing tour of South America, including Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. The journal is complete, with dated, mainly daily entries from 4 December 1964 to 23 March 1965. It includes descriptions of sea voyages to and from France and along the coasts of South America and inland journeys by car, train, bus, airplane and boat, and the places and people he encountered. Many of the entries include descriptions and opinions of the changing scenery and populations, and sights such as historical and contemporary architecture. They also convey Waterfield's love of the natural world and his specialist knowledge of horticulture, with plants named and described in detail, as well as his enthusiasm for the arts through references to literature and poetry or making drawings or paintings. There are a few sketches in pen of things Waterfield had seen and wished to record or explain visually.
It includes visits and journeys to and from the following places or sites, with entries generally spanning several pages. The below list indicates the approximate order of the tour, although his route saw him return to some places.
-La Rochelle, France
-Barranquilla, Colombia
-Cartagena, Colombia
-Colon, Panama, including the Panama Canal
-Buenaventura, Colombia
-Guayaquil, Ecuador
-Chimbote, Peru
-Lima, Peru
-Cuzco, Peru
-Machu Picchu, Peru
-Puno, Peru
-Arequipe [Arequipa], Peru
-Arica, Chile
-Antofagasta, Chile
-Santiago, Chile
-Termas de Chillán, Chile
-Temuco, Chile
-Puerto Montt, Chile
-Petrohué, Chile, including Todos Los Santos Lake
-Llao Llao, Argentina, including Nahuel Huapi Lake
-Osorno, Chile
-Puyehue National Park, Chile
-Buenos Aires, Argentina
-Montevideo, Uruguay
-Santos São Paulo, Brazil
-São Paulo, Brazil
-Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including the Carnival and Sugarloaf Mountain
-Ouro Puerto, Brazil
-Salvador, Brazil
-Brasilia, Brazil
Other entries of note include those that concern embassy or expat life (for example, in Santiago, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia) and politics such as the election of President Frei in Chile, and a passing reference to the environmental impact of the fishmeal industry in Chimbote.
Related material can be found in DHW/2/4 - Sketchbooks: South America: 1964-65. |