Ruta 40... the worst road in the Americas... no tarmac, or asphalt as they say here. Well, there were brief moment of some tarmac! Ruta 40 (Route 40) takes you from El Calafate to Bariloche. I however was in El Chalten and would start my journey there, whilst Esquel is 4 hours south of Bariloche, I stop at Esquel. Mind you, I stop at the roundabout a few kilometers out of the town, as the bus will not take you into Esquel! The trip is a 2 day journey and a ...

El Chalten... few hours from El Calafate and we arrive in the young town that is celebrating its 25th birthday this year! Built by the Argentinians, in a hurry, before Chile claimed it! It lays at the foot of Fitz Roy Mountain and is set in the national park. A small town, though a bit bigger than imagined. Away from civilisation, but has by now most amenities! A cashpoint was installed in the last year, though whether it works is hit and miss, whilst the bu...

South Patagonia - El Calafate! Another overnight bus, Cama style this time, from Puerto Madryn, heading south via Rio Gallegos, my southernmost destination on the globe, we arrive at El Calafate. The journey covered kilometres of barren landscape, whilst now and again there would be slight changes to scenery. Cama = a sleeper style seat, though not fully flat with a few more home comforts, including a pillow and blanket, compared to Semi Cama my usual method o...

Puerto Madryn (Porth Madryn in Welsh), the destination of the Welsh on 28 July 1865 and where I was to land following a 20hour bus journey from Buenos Aires on 8 March 2010! I have now landed in Welsh Patagonia... well part of it! A harbour/seaside town, where the air was a little cooler and the town a lot smaller than the dizzy heights of BA city. The journey by bus, was my first glimpse of what people refer to as the barren land and endless nothingness of wh...

Buenos Aires... the Kissing Policemen... final enstalment from Tango city! Its now 21 March, but returning to update my blog slowly, given the opportunity to use a PC (thats free and available!)! So I am back to early March and my last few days in Buenos Aires! They were to be a testing few days.... but also had a wonderful time dancing and eating more steak! Wednesday 3 March... a day I would rather forget.. well not completely! I met up with Kim and Lucy H ...