Because every world traveler I've ever taken down the river says its the best thing they've ever done. Because nothing compares to staring down Crystal or Hance or Lava Falls, heart in your throat and trying to keep the bile down, listening to your guides plot their course (trying to look cool and keep the bile down), knowing you're completely out of your element, in their hands, and at the mercy of the river gods. Because tomorrow you might be dead, or too damn old, or too damn busy, or all three. Because no matter what river I do, anywhere in the world, I always compare it to THE GRAND, and so does everyone else. Because the heat is intense, the vertical cliffs are intense, the rapids are intense, the talented misfits called boatmen (even the women) are intense, the hikes and waterfalls and damn it everything down there simply demands to be paid attention to.
And that's something sorely missing in our lives.
Or you can go on a cruise and, well, do what you can do right at home: get entertained, get fat(er), listen to people talk drivel, go to the man-made pool, or man-made movie, or man-made shopping mall... and get herded around like so many cattle. Is that what you want? Then go do it then go back to sleep.
But if you really want to feel your heart beat, the sun bake, the water drench your soul, well then, make it happen.
Not that I have an opinion.
email me with your own opinion and you might just get quoted.
