Blogs from Esquel, Chubut, Argentina, South America - page 2

Esquel and Parque Los Alerces Four meters/12 feet of rain a year--yikes, that's a lot for a rain phobe like myself! Yet the storms and drizzle are what make the temperate Valdivian rainforest and the National Parque de Los Alerces so lush and green, and filled my visit with rainbows. I'd come to the little-visited park to see the alerce, one of three millennium trees (those living longer than a thousand years), the other two of which are in California. The oldest being on earth is the bristle-cone pine, the second the alerce, and the third, the sequoia, a relative of the alerce. Some alerces have been dated to more than 4,000 years and measure 4 meters across. I signed up for the tour of the Circuito Lacustre to meet these old giants. Here in March, ... read more

Auf der Ruta 40 hatten wir nun eine lange Strecke vor uns, die über hunderte von Kilometer aus Schotterpiste besteht. Also stundenlanges Schüttelbecher-Dasein – wir hatten keine Wahl. Genau dies macht jedoch auch den Reiz der Ruta 40 aus. Die Planung wo tanken und wo übernachten musste sicher stehen. Ach ja, Bankomaten gehören auch zur Planung… Nebst Ortschaften auf der Strassenkarte, die sich im Vorbeifahren als zweieinhalb Häuser entpuppen, gibt es einige „Estancias“ entlang der Strasse. Bauernhöfe, die Zimmer und zum Teil auch ein warmes Abendessen anbieten. Dabei sind die Estancias dann keineswegs bescheidene Herbergen. Unter 100 Schweizer Franken ist kein Doppelzimmer zu haben. In keiner „Ortschaft“ entlang der Ruta 40 trifft man derartige Preise. Unser Joker war da unser Zelt, das wir so bereits in wenigen Nächten „abgeschrieben“ hatten. Für 10 USD konnten wir oft ... read more

's Morgens opgepikt door Mario (Mc Rae, die zenne gas wel wist staan), onze gids voor de komende dagen.. vandaag +-800 km.. grootste deel nog verharde weg.. Voor de rest: meren, bergen,regen, zon, bossen.. en eindeloze rechte wegen, parallel met de besneeuwde Andes en Chileense grens, in de Patagonische steppe aan het einde van de rit. N stuk afgesneden door het nationaal park Los Alerces.. Prachtig uitzicht en schitterende landschappen.. Tegen het einde van de rit was t tijd voor serieus schele zever.. Rio Mayo is Patagonisch 'dorpje', eigenlijk 5 straten en n hotel. fris windje en geen kat op straat.. alleen de tumbleweed missen we nog.. In ons hotel 'El viejo Covadonga' ligt de nadruk vooral op viejo (=oud), n jaren 40 decor met koud bier ;-).. Net voorzonsondergang viel de elektriciteit uit.. het verhaal ... read more

Esquel is a small town nestled in a valley. Various hills and mountains surround it. The people living here are a mixture of farmers, people involved in tourism and others. Skiing, national parks, fishing and a mixture of outdoor types of tourism are all possibilities nearby. So the town has many restaurants, coffee shops, chocolate and ice cream places to support visitors and residents. The altitude is around 600 metres above sea level, so its dry and cool. ... read more

Had an afternoon of being a tourist in Esquel with Elsa. She finished work for the day and we had a late lunch and then headed off to see the hydro power station near Trevelin. This project was commenced in the early 1970's with the government of the day that was a dictatorship at that time. There was no consultation with the people of this area, and there was no attempt to preserve the national park land that was used. Initially the people of this area were told it was going to create cheap power for them but then the true reason for the project was made clear. The power goes straight to Puerto Madryn to supply power for the aluminium smelter there. 3 small lakes became on huge lake and a massive earth and rock ... read more