Blogs from Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina, South America - page 11

Dag 86. Litt forsinket ble vi hentet 08.40. Etter vi hadde hentet resten av de som skulle vaere med, totalt 12 personer + en baby paa 7 mnd, kjorte vi til en strand ved Punto Ameghino hvor vi kunne se flere Sorkaper, ogsaa kalt sorlig retthval. Etter 15 minutter maatte vi kjore videre for aa rekke baatturen som skulle vaere fra Puerto Pyramides kl. 10.30. Vi fikk tid til et lite stopp langs veien - et par med harer hoppet lekende rundt minibussen, og det maatte vi faa med oss. Alle ble utstyrt med redningsvester, og vi gikk ombord paa baaten, ca. 20 personer. Da alle var kommet ombord ble baaten kjort ut i vannet fra stranden ved hjelp av en traktor. Baatturen varte i ca. 1,5 time. Etter bare noen minutter saa vi en hval ... read more

Dag 85. Forst: Karianne - ha en super dag idag!! Eirik vaaknet tidlig (bombe, hva)! Kl. fem var bussen kommet til Trelew, og han var sikker paa at vi skulle av her. Han duppet saa av et lite oyeblikk, og vaaknet med et rykk da bussverten ristet han i skulderen for aa sporre om vi ville ha frokost. Den besto av det samme som vi fikk igaar etter avreise, dvs. en standard frokost. Da frokosten var ferdig og Eirik hadde tvunget nedpaa den SOTE kaffen, var bussen framme i Puerto Madryn. Paa stasjonen var det egen hotell- og hostellinformasjon som hjalp til med overnatting. Eirik paatok seg oppgaven med aa vokte baggasjen, mens Jane gikk til informasjonen for aa skaffe et sted aa bo. Mannen var svaert behjelpelig, og 10 minutter etterpaa ble vi hentet av ... read more

This year for fourth of July, Dain and I did something no other North American did to celebrate Independence Day. We traveled to the east coast of Patagonia to get some fresh air and winter time beach activities. During this time of year, the Southern Right Whales arrive to mate, as well as the Elephant Seals. Later, in September & October Orcas arrive to feast on seals; in fact, Patagonia is the only place in the world where Orcas will swim full force onto the beach of sunbathing seals to grab a snack and then flop their way back to the water. However, we were a bit early to witness this phenomenon. Nonetheless we were still excited to take in the winter time beach environment and very much looking forward to whale watching. Everything started off ... read more

Puerto Madryn and its surrounds are a representative example of how Argentina's population has been shaped by settlers and immigrants predominantly from Europe. Seeking to escape oppression by the English in Wales, and encouraged by incentives from the Argentine government to colonise sparsely populated areas of Patagonia, a boatload of Welsh would-be settlers landed in what was to be Puerto Madryn in 1865. Unlike the catastrophic effects for indigenous people that other European incursions into South America often had, the meeting of the Welsh and the local Tehuelche was to result in an relationship of mutual respect. The Welsh recognised the Tehuelche as the rightful owners of the land, and the two groups were to remain on good terms, with the local tribe acquiring a particular liking for Welsh bread. On a headland at one end ... read more

Day 153: I am not longer a fan of Argentinian Politics. Even if they do paint their Government Buildings Pink. When everyone started stirring again on the bus, the atmosphere was thankfully a little more (dare I say it) jovial than it had been the night before. And after coffee and alfajores (which I normally avoid like the plague, since they contain dulce de leche, but given that food was limited, and we couldn't be sure how long we'd be stuck there, I decided to take what I can get), moods lifted a little more, as everyone left the bus for a walk around in the crisp fresh air of the Argentian countryside, which had now been divided by scores of lorries, blocking both lanes of the carriageway. Even the drivers seemed to be in relatively ... read more