Imagery: The Sea
Guevara creates a moving image when he writes of himself and Alberto sitting on the edge of the sea, contemplating their imminent journey. He captures the sea in its mystery and power, and how someone who'd never seen it—Alberto—would be transfixed by it.
Imagery: Chuquicamata
Guevara describes the place as being beautiful but without grace. He writes of its "imposing and glacial" (79) feel, the suffocating sensation of the plains. This is evocative language that captures the essence of this place he visited.
Imagery: Peru
Guevara writes, "with the heavy gray sky bearing down on us, we passed an interesting place where erosion had worn the huge boulders on the roadside into feudal castles. They had battlements, gargoyles observing us disconcertingly, and a host of fabulous monsters that seemed to be standing guard" (96). This is a memorable way to describe the sights along the road in Peru. It creates a gloomy, fantastical mood and place.
Imagery: Pagan Festival
Guevara writes beautifully and amusingly of the cathedral of Cuzco and how a couple of years after the bell was fixed by the Spanish, the bishop undertook a Christian pilgrimage through the city. Everything is crowded, colorful, and lively; banners wave, Indians perambulate in their ceremonial garb, and the bright colors of the bell, altar, and flowers are unforgettable. However, what makes this scene not just evocative but also humorous is Guevara's comment that the bishop begins to get the impression that it's a pagan festival. This is a hilarious slap in the face to conquering, colonial Spain and Christianity.
