Dec. 23-24
El Calefate to El Chalten, back to El Calefate, and finally to Barlioche.
On Tuesday morning I left El Calefate by bus and was supposed to travel on a two day journey to Barlioche, however there was a transfer from the first bus to a second bus two hours into the journey that I somehow missed. I witnessed the transfer take place, however I did not know until it was too late that I was supposed to participate. I ended up in El Chalten a very small village located 220km north of El Calafate. The highlight of my hour stay in El Chalten was my downfall. I am traveling with two backpacks. My main backpack that weighs about 60 pounds and I have another that I wear in front that contains my photography gear. It’s another 20 pounds easily. When I got off the bus there were 30+ mile an hour winds and I attempted to walk from the bus to the bus station/hostel a few yards away to figure out my next move. With both packs on I turned into a human wind-sail and my feet where unable to keep up with my surprised momentum and I ended up tripping over a downed tree a few feet away from the bus. I banged my shin hard enough that it tore my pants but my ego was hurt the most. Once on the ground I had to free myself from my packs in order to get up and I had a bus load of people all wide eyed in my direction. I am sure for those watching me extract myself from my gear while face down on the ground and half bent over a tree was very amusing. Once free, I chose to drag my back packs into the bus station/hostel for fear of taking flight again. I had only one option once I arrived to El Chalten and that was to return with the bus back to El Calefate since another bus would not arrive for two more days. After spending a total of 9 hours riding the bus I ended back where I started. I had enough of the bus and decided to fly to Barlioche the following day. I arrived in Barlioche Christmas Eve and the few restaurants that were open where all reserved for special Christmas Eve dinners. I ended up finding a small market and purchased a ham sand-which, some grapes, and a chocolate bar.
Feliz Navidad!
