Since the last time I sat down with Luke Attard to talk about his solo journey to Asia he hasn't stopped getting on planes and discovering the world - one city at a time.  The warm Maltese sun invites Luke Attard to talk to Cressida Abela about what hit his imagination most in the magnificent South American continent. Luke is a graduate in Communications and Spanish and Latin American Studies and speaks six languages. Currently he works in the tourism sector. His young age of 22 does not stop him from travelling.

In South America everything there seems bigger than it is in Europe. As soon as one sets foot on South American soil one cannot help but feel small compared to the gigantic cities and structures around you.

It goes without saying that cities are diverse to each other because at the heart of them are people who make the cities come to life. In Brazil's own Rio de Janeiro the people are very open and are "too relaxed" compared to their European counterparts. In Brazil as well as in Uruguay people put aside their racial differences and disregard racism. In Buenos Aires Luke experienced this first hand when he saw a street protest. The idea of protesting is quite ingrained in Argentine culture. People banging drums and blowing whistles fill the streets. "You could see that they do it with a lot of emotion and passion," Luke says nostalgically.

People there are also extremely passionate about their food. "The food is really tempting and I enjoyed savouring the flavours from a lot of mouth-watering dishes," Luke recounts with a big smile on his face but also feels slightly disappointed that these dishes are so far away. The main ingredient is grilled meat. The dishes are also diverse. This comes from the many immigrants who inhabit these cities. The people are very practical with their food and use leftovers to make new dishes. "People are very resourceful with what they have - including their meat," recalls Luke.

South America is a haven for coffee and caffeine lovers. "The coffee there tastes like nothing you have ever tasted in the best coffee shops, not even those in Italy." And that's saying something, coming from Luke.

Buenos Aires is a typical city where two cultures have merged successfully. European influence in the architecture is clearly noticeable. This has been mixed well with street art that moves it away from its European roots and gives the city a Latin American flavour. Buenos Aires owes its beautiful architecture to its past when the city was a wealthy and important mercantile hub.

The old cafes, libraries, tango lounges and cobble-stoned streets of San Telmo are unique to Argentinian culture. But the city is not all glitter and gold. There are extremely poor neighbourhoods such as La Boca where feral dogs are a common sight and shanty towns dominate the landscape.

Luke talks about Sao Paulo as being "metropolitan and cosmopolitan and any over - politan you can name," Luke recounts with a lot of enthusiasm. It is an immensely diverse city due to migration waves from Japan, Italy, Germany, Poland and Spain that integrated with the locals who were slaves that came from the North to work in the big city. But more importantly, people from different nationalities integrate together and the result is seen everywhere you go.

Luke's visit was augmented by a wide palette of colours. Street art and graffiti welcome you in every corner. In Brazil and Uruguay, street art transmits inspiring quotations and illustrate people and faces. On the other hand, Argentinians use this art-form to spread clear political aspirations.

South America also boasts endless, natural parks and breath-taking sights. "Even before landing in South America you feel that you are stepping in an endless green carpet of trees," says Luke as the warm temperature outside seems to herald a hot Maltese summer. But this fairy-tale-like image is shattered when one goes further inland and sees the devastating effects of deforestation.

Luke's ultimate jaw-dropping experience was his visit to Iguazu falls. This magnificent spectacle forms the boundary between Argentina and Brazil. It's not just the waterfalls themselves that leave people awestruck. "While on the platform, it's spectacular to see all those colourful butterflies fluttering their wings close to you," Luke recalls as if in a reverie. These falls are also characterised by the wild animals such as the coatis, which are hog-nosed coons, buzzards, monkeys and colourful Toucan birds that inhabit the area. For Luke, the best part of it was being able to sail through the Argentinian side of the falls.

For anyone planning a trip to these three countries Luke recommends the beaches in Rio de Janeiro as the first must-go places. "Even if you're not a beach person, the beaches are a must," Luke insists. The locals go there all the time and the beach is a window into authentic culture and traditions. The sunsets of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay are simply magical.

A trip to these South American jewels is bound to inspire, fulfil and give you more wanderlust than you've ever had!