I´m a logistical person as you have probably gathered from my blogging style. I tend to blog more about little things that happen and how we get places than described in detail how incredibly cool the places are that we go. Sarah does a better job with that kind of stuff. So, in sticking to the logistical stuff, here are some other notes that may be of interest to some. Climate - Chile and Argentina have been similar in temperature to September back in the States. Mid 60´s most of the time with variations on the higher and lower end. For the most part, it hasn´t gotten below the 40´s at night even in the coldest places. So, what do you wear? - me, I have been in a short sleeve shirt and occassionally throwing on ... read more

One month in and there are a number of thoughts that don´t fit too well in to a blog of what is going on, but thoughts nonetheless we want to remember. Sarah The amount of top 40 American pop music we hear on a daily basis is wild and unexpected. Restuarants, streetside stores, buses, the random traveller in a hostel, etc, etc, etc, all can´t get enough of it. Everyone from the kids to the older folk - a homely, 60ish year old woman on our bus had ´i wanna be a billionaire, so f***ing bad¨as her ring tone. We couldn´t stop laughing. So while the amount of music, movies and American culture is largely visible, the American people are not. We have met only a few long-term backpackers from the US (2 that I can ... read more

The bus ride to La Serena was packed with movies and entertainment for me as Sarah slept. We passed through a few wind farms (Vestas machines). Zookeeper, in spanish but with english subtitles. Muppets in english. It was great. But then they threw on this Bimbo Fico guy, a comedian who is shown on a number of buses. Sometimes people like him, other times no. I do not understand anything he says. He looks a bit creepy though and his style is very different than comedians I see on TV. He is decked out in this white suit with a white top hat. He look like an evil circus guy from a movie. Anyway, we arrived in La Serena with 2 hours before dark, so we set off quickly to find a hostal. And finally, there ... read more

To this point I think we have done a pretty good job logging our activites on the blog. That being said, there are stories and things we think of after the blog was posted that we´d like to remember. We (ok, mostly Sarah) is keeping a journal, but my handwriting is horrendous and I´d rather type it out if I can. So, sporatically we will be going back to blogs previously written and adding/updating things. For example, I´m going to put a new section at the bottom of each blog with Post Post Additions and also, if Sarah or I want to add anything to posts the other person has done we are going to note that as well. So, just as a heads up. If you are interested in seeing those updates I think it ... read more

We arrived in El Bolson around noon Wednesday (March 14th) to clear skies and beautiful temperatures (I´d guess high 70´s to low 80´s). By this point, we´ve established a routine. Try to get information from the bus terminal. If information isn´t available there, find out where the tourist information office is and head there. The information we typically look for is: 1) Where are the campsites and which are the cheapest (or hostels, but lately we´ve just been camping), 2) What are some of the recommended things to do around town or nearby - we typically know what we want to do, but it is always good to get more input, 3) How do we get to the next town we want to go to - sometimes the bus terminals aren´t easy to come back to, ... read more

At about 6:30 we awoke to bitter cold. After breaking down camp, we began our walk to the bus station (probably a mile or so). Despite the freezing hands from the tent poles, I was excited to catch the 8:00 bus to Futaleufu and go rafting. At about 8:00 our dreams were shattered. The bus from Esquel only goes to Futaleufu Monday and Friday. The woman who gave us the information on taking the bus had given us a piece of paper showing the times for Monday, Wednesday and Friday and we asked her specifically about taking the bus Wednesday. I´m not sure if she made a mistake, or perhaps, since it is now off season, the Wednesday bus no longer runs. Either way, we sat at the bus station with no plan. This is a ... read more

While El Chalten was the smallest town on our trip so far (population 600ish - 2 years ago anyway), Esquel has been the town we had the smallest information on leading up to arrival. We found a map and walked towards the campsite from our book only to find it closed. Our backpacks are rather heavy and uncomfortable to be walking around everywhere, especially with upset stomachs. Disappointedly we walked back to an information building and got information on another campsite and of course it was only a few blocks from where we just were. The campground has turned out great. It is up on a hill overlooking the town and comes well equipped with showers and bathrooms. And other than the barking dogs it is quiet. This is the first place we have been where ... read more