Ruth E. Kaul (1919–2016)

This is a marvelous memoir of a woman in her late 20s or early 30s (I will have to check) who decides after the end of WWII to leave her family home in Illinois and spend 6 months traveling in South America. Ruth Kaul was the mother of a friend of mine, Lorel Wisniewski, who published this book after her mother's death. The story begins at the Mexican border and follows Ruth, who brings her typewriter and a Spanish language book with with her everywhere, through Mexico, Panama and finally to Peru where she spends most of her time investigating the cultures and communities of this fascinating place. A trip to Bolivia and several other places are described — all with a sense of humor about her difficulties communicating with people, the differences in cultural habits and unexpected changes of plans that seemed to occur on a regular basis. Highly recommended!… (más)