Blogs from Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina, South America - page 13

Messed up when we first published this a couple of days ago and no one received it so here goes again. Time to do some catching up on this thing as we´re about 2 weeks ahead of it due to Niamhs bout of writters block. Think it might have been the immodium that caused it. Having said that some facts need to be clarified in relation to our Spanish course and Niamhs perceived ability to now read Spanish poetry having completed the course that I dropped out off. Lets start at the start. Monday morning 9am, first day of Spanish course. In comes our first teacher that we will have for the first 2 hours each day. This guys real enthusiastic but of the 6 people in the class, 5 are looking at him like rabbits ... read more

Unser nächster Aufenthaltsort ist Puerto Madryn. Der schnell wachsende Küstenort wimmelt vor Touristen, die von hier zu den Ausflügen in die umliegenden Naturschutzgebiete starten. Einen Grossteil der Touristen machen die Argentinier selbst aus, für die gerade Hauptreisezeit ist und die losziehen um ihr Land zu erkunden. Peninsula Valdez Dieses Naturschutzgebiet bietet eine reichhaltige Tierwelt. Die für diese Region bekannten südlichen Glattwale haben wir leider verpasst, ebenso wie die Orcas, die sich auf den Strand schmeissen, um Seelöwen zu erbeuten. Dafür konnten wir auf unserem Tagesausflug Guanacos, Maras, Gürteltiere, Pinguine, einen grauen Fuchs, faule Seelefanten und hunderte Seelöwen beobachten. Letztere sind gerade mit ihre Nachwuchs beschäftigt, wir sind sogar Zeuge einer Seelöwengeburt. Da freuen sich die Möwen, denn die schnappen sich kurz darauf die Plaz... read more

Puerto Madryn, nossa parada depois de Buenos Aires, nao eh o lugar mais ermo do mundo. Muito arido, muita terra, muito sol e ainda muita gente, bem menos, eh verdade. Apesar disto, a cidade eh bonita, formos a Peninsula Valdes e vimos leos marinhos, elefantes marinhos e pinguins. Nao, nao vimos orca (para o desespero do Rafa). Mas nem precisava. Agora, depois de uma rapida parada em Rio gallegos, uma cidade feia, diga-se de passagem, estamos a caminho de Puerto Natales. Acabo de ver, pela janela do onibus, uma montanha com neve no topo. Eh minha inpiracao para escrever. Sinto que a viagem chega perto dos tao sonhados lugares. Temperaura minima registrada na noite de Rio Gallegos - 8 graus centrigados. por Xuxa... read more

Na het ontbijt hebben we mountainbikes gehuurd om naar een natuurreservaat te fietsen, zo´n 17km verderop. Een warme (zeker 30gr) tocht over een stoffige weg met veel klimmen en dalen. Veel zeeleeuwen en aalscholvers gezien. Na terugkomst op het strand gezellig wijn gedronken met een kaasplankje. Uitzicht op de walvisbaai, een graad of 20, geweldige sfeer. Morgen verkennen we het schiereiland "Peninsula Valdez", een groot en een van de meest populaire natuurreservaten van Zuid-Amerika.... read more

Puerto Madryn: Gateway to Peninsula Valdes After a long, arduous journey from Cordoba to Puerto Madryn, punctuated by an occasional stop in some small village, before moving on slowly through the seemingly endless & bleak Pampa, we arrived in Puerto Madryn, gateway to Peninsula Valdes and Welsh Patagonia. If we thought we had it hard on this 20 hour+ bus journey, it was nothing compared to the journey made by the first permanent settlers in this area. The Welsh arrived in the middle of winter in 1865 after a two month voyage from Wales. Things were no easier once they arrived, and for the first few months lived in caves near the sea. Not quite the idyllic Patagonia they were expecting! Trelew and Gaiman have, today, more of a Welsh feel to them than Puerto Madryn, ... read more