El Calafate - El Chalten - PATAGONIA!!!
October 30, 2007
En route to El Chalten by bus, rocks were popping up from the packed down dirt road, hitting our windows. Outside there was rolling rocky vastness similar to parts of the southwest. Everything as far as I could see was muted and gray and brown, with the exception of a few intermittent lakes.
I feel like today has spanned about three days. We woke up in Buenos Aires at 4 am in preparation for our 6 am flight to El Calafate, Patagonia. According to news from other travelers in the bus terminal, Buenos Aires has since shut down its flights, while the workers strike. If this is true, we must have been one of the lucky last flights out before the strike.
When we arrived at the airport, we were both still experiencing stomach discomfort - queasiness...general badness - most likely due to something we both ate. This persisted on and off throughout the day - but was the worst in the morning.
The flight was 5 hours, with a "technical stop" or "layover" in Ushuaia - the southernmost city in the world. Depending on our weather and enjoyment in El Calafate and El Chalten, this might be our only exposure to the city. The flight was long and uncomfortable for both of us, as we were seated in front of an emergency row, which resulted in seats that didn't recline.
After the long flight to El Calafate, it was a short, but expensive (apparently that is to be the hallmark of our trip - expensive)...cab ride to the terminal, or bus station - so we could secure seats on the evenings' ride to El Chalten.
We were then left with over 5 hours to walk about El Calafate - an overpriced touristy town which would have otherwise captured our interest for no more than a couple of hours. In fact, aside from some nice buildings, El Calafate didn't strike us for any other reason than its high prices, although we know it to be the gateway to some of the greatest natural splendor on earth.
El Chalten is very remote, so much so, it lacks a paved road, or even an ATM or bank. I can't even imagine how far away the nearest one might be, 3 hour at the very least.
As we pulled closer and closer to El Chalten, Mt Fitz Roy, the iconical image of the Patagonia clothing company was striking in the distance, getting closer and closer as we neared. It was just as breathtaking as the images I have adored for so long. As we pulled in, It was after 10 pm and dark out, reminding us how long a day it had been getting here.
The town was so quaint and small, that its city lights literally looked like fireflies in the dark as we pulled nearer.
The mountains are much closer than I thought they would be, and the town seems to have a natural charm. Our hostel is huge and welcoming, and comfortable enough in its first impression. It has been a long day - but the views of the mountains are encouraging me for the next phase of this trip. I am glad to no longer be in Buenos Aires. El Chalten is about as much of a contrast as can be found to the noise and crowding of the big city.
En route to El Chalten by bus, rocks were popping up from the packed down dirt road, hitting our windows. Outside there was rolling rocky vastness similar to parts of the southwest. Everything as far as I could see was muted and gray and brown, with the exception of a few intermittent lakes.
I feel like today has spanned about three days. We woke up in Buenos Aires at 4 am in preparation for our 6 am flight to El Calafate, Patagonia. According to news from other travelers in the bus terminal, Buenos Aires has since shut down its flights, while the workers strike. If this is true, we must have been one of the lucky last flights out before the strike.
When we arrived at the airport, we were both still experiencing stomach discomfort - queasiness...general badness - most likely due to something we both ate. This persisted on and off throughout the day - but was the worst in the morning.
The flight was 5 hours, with a "technical stop" or "layover" in Ushuaia - the southernmost city in the world. Depending on our weather and enjoyment in El Calafate and El Chalten, this might be our only exposure to the city. The flight was long and uncomfortable for both of us, as we were seated in front of an emergency row, which resulted in seats that didn't recline.
After the long flight to El Calafate, it was a short, but expensive (apparently that is to be the hallmark of our trip - expensive)...cab ride to the terminal, or bus station - so we could secure seats on the evenings' ride to El Chalten.
We were then left with over 5 hours to walk about El Calafate - an overpriced touristy town which would have otherwise captured our interest for no more than a couple of hours. In fact, aside from some nice buildings, El Calafate didn't strike us for any other reason than its high prices, although we know it to be the gateway to some of the greatest natural splendor on earth.
El Chalten is very remote, so much so, it lacks a paved road, or even an ATM or bank. I can't even imagine how far away the nearest one might be, 3 hour at the very least.
As we pulled closer and closer to El Chalten, Mt Fitz Roy, the iconical image of the Patagonia clothing company was striking in the distance, getting closer and closer as we neared. It was just as breathtaking as the images I have adored for so long. As we pulled in, It was after 10 pm and dark out, reminding us how long a day it had been getting here.
The town was so quaint and small, that its city lights literally looked like fireflies in the dark as we pulled nearer.
The mountains are much closer than I thought they would be, and the town seems to have a natural charm. Our hostel is huge and welcoming, and comfortable enough in its first impression. It has been a long day - but the views of the mountains are encouraging me for the next phase of this trip. I am glad to no longer be in Buenos Aires. El Chalten is about as much of a contrast as can be found to the noise and crowding of the big city.
posted by Samantha Farbman at 6:53 AM
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