Blogs from El Calafate, Santa Cruz, Argentina, South America - page 16

Hola! Pretty late at night now on the 29th Jan but thought I´d do a quick update before heading off to Torres Del Paine for 5 days of hardcore trekking. 23/1/10 Flew from Buenos Aires to El Calafate, which we have immmediately given the nickname Colonel Gaddafi. More snappy. Absolute randomness as we get off the flight and bump into Mr Spivey. A few confused looks between Adam and me as we ask to ourselves ¨is that really Mr Spivey¨ and then finally sum up the courage to ask. It is Mr Spivey and we share some fun Physics/Patagonian related banter. Go to the local shops and buy some brilliantly named chocolate. If Stu is reading, look away now. It was called ¨Rhodesia¨chocolate. Unlike Mugabe´s regime, it leaves a pleasant taste in my mouth. 24/1/10 Wake ... read more

Hola Amigos! I left off in El Bolsón, the town of great jam and no Skype, and from here I took an immense bus journey to El Calafate. If you have a look on a map, it is pretty far! And to give you an idea, the bus left El Bolsón at 11.40am, and arrived into El Calafate at 2.30pm. That is an awfully long time to spend sitting on your bum, and the most comfortable seats had all sold out, so I had to take the 'semi-cama' bus, which is kind of like being on a plane! And they had some of the most awful films as well, seriously, avoid 'White Chicks' and 'I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry'. The worst thing is, you have no choice but to watch them as the sound ... read more

Day 6 Our driver from yesterday has agreed to take us out to the famous Glacier Moreno. The drive takes about an hour and is well worth it. The paved highway is only 1 1/2 years old and was previously a gravel road. I thank God for the paved road because it is windy enough and with my tendency of motion sickness, I do not need any encouragement to become ill. The driver is well informed of all the local history and is our own private tour guide. He stops at all of the best photo opts and even waits for us while we walk around and take in the scenery. Junior and the driver were conversing in Spanish and kept saying "Su Spido" (sp??) (sounds like speedo) so naturally we laughed and made fun of ... read more

RUTA 40 19.-21.12.2009 Bariloche-Perito Moreno 823 km, Perito Moreno-El Chalten 663 km ja El Chalten-El Calafate 215 km. Yhteensä miltei 1700 km kolmessa päivässä. Patagoniaa ei ole vain yksi, vaan ainakin kolme: pohjoinen järvialue, aavikko ja Atlantin rannikkoalue. (Miltei kaikista asioista, olioista ja ilmiöistä maailmassa sanotaan, ettei se ole vain yksi monoliitti, vaan on olemassa monta Patagoniaa.) Barilochen järvialue vuorineen jäi taakse. Andit etääntyivät horisonttiin. Sitten alkoi kasvillisuus harveta, kunnes puita ei enää ollut eikä kohta puskiakaan vaan ainoastaan suoraan sorasta kasvavia kellertäviä heinätuppaita. Maa oli täysin tasainen, tai tasainen jossa oli korokkeita, mutta korokkeetkin olivat tasaisia. Tuuli voimakkaasti ja maa pöllysi bussimme ympärillä. Tuuli tarttui heti bussiin heittelehtien sitä, jos vauhti kasvoi liian kovaksi. Sitten loppui asfaltt... read more

Después de la experiencia del polo sur, hice uso de la línea aérea del gobierno argentino, Lade. Es una compañía que es prácticamente del gobierno, lo recomiendo para volar internamente en el país, es muy barato y vas como en un jet privado pero convertido en comercial, da un poco de miedo y “vértigo”, vamos, que es una atracción de parque de atracciones, es impresionante ver los increíbles paisajes desde este vuelo. Cuando encontré mi hostal, el inolvidable “America del Sur”, y conocer a los divertidos recepcionistas, me fui corriendo a buscar el hostal de mi amiga italiana Silvia. Lo que aun no sabia es que me tuve que recorrer corriendo el pueblo entero, porque estaba al otro lado. Quedamos en que, al día siguiente, nos íbamos a Chaltén, asi que a las 8 de la ... read more