2024

S1.E1 ∙ Nazca

Wed, Dec 31, 1969

Pandemic era travel creates a few unplanned fiasco's leading to "solo-travel" anxiousness. Eventual embarking on a 7-hour journey into Peru's Southern Desert region, forces contemplation of ones past and mankind's present sociological issues. Ancient archaeological sites and a flyover of the famous Nazca lines contemplate true mysteries that still remain in our world, while ancient engineering reveals mans desire to survive among the harshest of conditions. An evening stroll through the main town, looks at some of the more modern history and challenges that new generations of the Nazca people face today. A visit to tourist hot spot devastated by the pandemic, is a reminder that the pandemic affected everywhere.

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S1.E2 ∙ Lima

Wed, Dec 31, 1969

Surprise discoveries are made during a first time visit to the Larko Museum with a local friend. As it turns out, the ancient past might have been a lot kinkier than we might have thought. During a visit to the Malecón in Miraflores, Tom stumble's across a freestyle rap battle which sheds light on the current art form and how Peruvian youth deal with social issues like immigration and gender. A interview with a modern Peruvian couple, one a college professor and the other a real estate professional, reveals political instability and some societal challenges facing Peruvians today. Visits to several archaeological sites are a reminder of the antiquity of the region.

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S1.E3 ∙ Arequipa

Wed, Dec 31, 1969

Cinematic volcanic landscapes and religious imagery, mix with a laid back Spanish vibe. The UNESCO World Heritage city center fills the screen with baroque style architecture that reminds one of a different time. Small protests, opportunities for gambling, and amazing deserts, drop in along the journey. The stunning 500-year-old Santa Catalina monastery invokes humble religious beliefs, the historic role the church played in colonialism, and raise questions about self-isolation in a world emerging from a global pandemic. Along the way, Tom accidentally joins a street comedy show, which exposes some aspects of Peruvian culture that might be more complicated than may otherwise be apparent. An erratic drive to an outdoor museum and rock quarry shows how the regions geology helped turn the geographic location into Peru's 2nd most populous city. Higher up in the Andes, a few hundred kilometers from Arequipa in the tiny town of Andahuaylillas, the beautiful "Sistine Chapel" of the Andes Mountains displays a bit of its beauty. While in direct contrast, a short walk from the church, bones claiming to be from an alien/human baby hybrid, add to the legend and mythology that is the Peruvian Andes.

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S1.E4 ∙ Cusco

Wed, Dec 31, 1969

High up in the Andes sits the ancient Incan capital of Cusco. Conquered by the Spanish in 1533, the historic ancient sites surrounding the city still provide mystery and awe. The unique Andean culture emits an energy that feels both authentic and ancient. Tom embarks on several excursions to archaeological sites, in and outside of the city, that still leave modern archaeologists in wonder today. The people Tom meets along the way do bring levity and beauty, but it's a Q'eros Shaman, a direct descendant of the Inca, that portends a future that might mean harder lessons are still on the horizon for the host.

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S1.E5 ∙ Sacred Valley

Wed, Dec 31, 1969

About an hour outside of the city of Cusco, and thousands of feet lower in elevation, sits the Sacred Valley of the Inca's. Because of its lower elevation and access to water, the valley played an important historic roll in agriculture and the growth of the Inca empire. An important slice of man's past was written here, in regard to the cultivation and evolution of maize. Although Tom spends some time with his friend from Lima, the real stars are the ancient megalithic archaeological sites that are as monumentally mysterious, as they also are in size and scope. Two of the main sites, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, are the bookends that encase season one's penultimate episode with the wonder and beauty it deserves. The Sacred Valley's small town feel reminds the audience of simpler times and that there are still places in the world where personal exploration can provide a sense of new found spiritual gratification.

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S1.E6 ∙ Iquitos

Wed, Dec 31, 1969

In the satisfying Season One's finally, the journey culminates in the jungle with Tom confronting truths about himself and truths about aspects of society that affect millions around the world every day. Past battles with addiction and the effects of the consequences he faced due to addiction, sit front and center. Shamanic interactions with an ancient mysterious medicine cause personal inner conflict that Tom worries could threaten his identity in recovery. While parts of the story focus on the darker nature of mankind, the culture, interactions, and lessons learned, remind the audience and Tom that's there's still a lot of light in the world. The larger question about the best ways to heal the planet and the people looms large.

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