Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
2nd February 2007 - Day 308
Set off from Bariloche along a 700 km road through the Rio Negro region of Argentina, which runs parallel with the Andes mountain range. We´re travelling in a small mini bus travelling with 9 other people, a guide called Roberto and Maxi the driver. The bus trip was long, but smooth as we haven´t started on the grubble roads yet!!! The bus ride down was fairly quite as everyone was obviously not acquainted. Stopped for lunch by a small river shaded by the trees, very cool! Our first nights stop was at Rio Mayo a small typical patagonian town, the hotel we were staying at (can´t recall the name) was the centre for the town´s entertainment - the bar, the restaurant and the night club! Although it seemed like everyone came to the restaurant to watch Argentina´s version of Big Brother. Had our first dinner which we had no idea what it was going to be, it turned out to be ok, apart from the starter which looked like chicken in vinegar but before i tucked into it was told by Bert (a swiss guy) that it was cows intestines - or tripe as we call it!! Yuck, i did try a piece but it tasted very rubbery.
3rd February 2007 - Day 309
Set off from Rio Mayo not before having a photo stop at the famous Route 40 sign post, where the grubble road begins just outside the town. Travelled for a few hours on the bumpy Route 40 road before stopping at Estancia Los Toldos a beautiful location in the middle of nowhere which was our hostel for the night.
Headed off on our first trek down the Pinturas River canyon, where the unique paintings of Cueva de las Manos (Cave of the hands) are situated. The views and the walk was amazing. The blue sky and the red canyons glowing - wow!! The tour at the caves was so interesting and in English aswell as Spanish - surprisingly. It was so much more interesting to have an explanation aswell as seeing the paintings.
Before dinner walked up one of the surrounding hills to catch a glimpse of the sunset - it was pretty special. Dinner at the Estancia was amazing, a pumpkin starter with lamb mains and choco nutty desser - yummy. Apparently the chef tutors at a school in Buenos Aires. Muy Muyi Buen!! The tour group consisted of a lovely if not mad dutch couple, both doctors, Donna and Mikael. A swiss couple, Bert and Bernadetta and Paul a lone Englishman. Didn´t really speak to the others - Maria and the hairbear bunch (as we called them) as they couldn´t really speak english. There was also Pablo who was also an Argentinian and spoke English quite well.
4th February 2007 - Day 310
Set off from the Estancia back down Route 40 towards Puerto Moreno National Park. Throughout the whole of the tour Roberto our guide was very helpful and packed with lots of information, he pointed out lots of wildlife along the roads, there were Guanacos (llamas), pink Flamingos, lots of native birds no. 74, no. 96 etc... , Reas (Emus), wild horses, and an Armadillo (which Roberto spotted running across the road, he then proceeded to jump out of the bus and ran into the bush to catch it for us to see!!!) This was hilarious, the poor thing was so stressed, once we took our pictures Roberto put it back down and it darted back into the bush for cover.
We stopped off at Puerto Moreno National park for out second trek, today was a little colder and windy.......we did´nt see any pumas but maybe that was a good idea as we saw some of their dinner (guanaco bones)
5th February 2007 - Day 311
Last day of our overland trip. Spent the majority of the day on the grubble road, stopping at numerous amazing views of the lakes, mountains and wildlife. Arrived in El Calafate in the evening very tired at Hostel dos Glaciers (very nice place to stay if anyones ever in the area). All decided to go for a final dinner as a group, but this was more of a challenge than anything else on the trip. We proceeded to walk around as a big group to all the recommended restaurants but they were either full or had no space for 13 people (theres a surprise!) Had an average but overpriced meal, in a fairly empty restaurant but at least the company was good!
6th February 2007 - Day 312
Set off from the hostel to have a look around El Calafate, stopped for a break in a really cool cafe/library either called Liberal Bar or El Bohio Cafe. This cafe was nice, yummy tea and cafes for afternoon tea. Met two Ozzies in the cafe - Holly and her boyfriend (can't recall his name) Arranged to meet them for dinner - but forgot that we had already arranged to meet Donna and Mikael for Dinner. Donna suggested having a BBQ at her hostel, which sounded like a good idea. Food was good as was the company.
- comments