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23.12.2018: Flight to Buenos Aires via Madrid. Well we did have an unexpected stop in Madrid due to fog in Madrid. While we did see the plane to Buenos Aires at the gate boarding was complete and we were not getting on. One night in Bangk… aeh Madrid, somewhere around the airport was not to bad. And a little more space for the 11 hrs flight to Buenos Aires did not hurt. We arrived on Christmas Eve in Buenos Aires and after moving in our hostel we were looking for something to eat. That turned out to be a bit difficult, after all it was Christmas Eve. We found a little Venezuelan sandwich shop, they were partying themselves, but did let us participate. After initially saying yes to the question whether or not we are “gringos” i was able to rectify this after the third beer or so. Yet again another marvelous Christmas travelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a few days walking and sightseeing through Buenos Aires we left for Cordoba to meet with Fabricio. Even though Cordoba is not necessarily a place to visit, visiting Fabricio and a few other colleagues from Argentina was definitely amazing. Home cooked Asado and the discussions outside of work is always time well spent. After spending New Years Eve in Cordoba on 1st of January to Ushuaia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.leifericcson.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/DSC02314-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNew Year new location. Ushuaia the soutern most city in Argentina, well to be honest as far as cities go it is the southern most city – period. Tiera del Fuego, Fin del mundo all words associated with that place … Patagonia. Being greeted with Sun, Rain, Clouds – Ushuaia did not dissapoint. Being there in summer with the sun seeting somewhen around midnight was really great. The next day we took a walk from Ushuaia to the Tierra del Fuego national park and walked along the eastside of Lago Roca and of course we set one foot into Chile. Anyway on that day I discovered that i really hate to loose my stuff (a cup both stephan and me bought on our very first trip in Bangkok) so i went skinny dipping in Lago Roca at about 10\u00b0C air temperature and however cooler the water of the lake has been. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was not the only hike we did, one right behind Ushuaia onto Glaciar Martial and another one to up to Glaciar Vinciguerra. Overall Ushuaia gave us a perfect introduction into Patagonia and to some extend i did fall in love with this place. The landscape, the loneliness you can find some times, is just amazing. Punto Arenas is a lovely little town, but besides enjoying the amenities we only visited the Monumento Natural Los Pinguinos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While in Ushuaia we saw the Arctic expedition boats and just for fun looked what such a cruise might cost, they are expensive. Anyway on we went and in a cafe in Punto Arenas we stumpled upon an advertisement for the ferry from Puerto Natales to Puerto Montt. After a short deliberation we booked passage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Puerto Natales, again a small town in Tiera del Fuego was the starting point for a day trip to the torres del Paine national park. As all the other tourists we first went up to the base of the three peaks. It was rather crowded put on our way down we decided to turn right and walk off the path everyone else took – still on official paths though – and all of sudden we were alone. Nice blue white skies with no rain in sight this was definitely a wonderful day trip. After a few more days and hikes in and around Puerto Natales we went on the ferry that took us to Puerto Montt in roughly 3,5 days – if memory serves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thus far we have seen mountains and forests and water, but we have not been on the water, so the ferry was a welcome change. Even though it was a four person cabin, we were lucky enough to not have to share, except with the two of us, so luxury on the boat. While we moved through the canals neither of us had any issue with seasickness. Three meals a day, and not much to do except being on deck and enjoying the scenery was a well received change of pace. After while sitting on deck and enjoying the scenery my thoughts just went everywhere, not focusing at all not thinking anything productive or maybe even not thinking at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPuerto Montt, yet another nice town in Chilean Patagonia, the stay there was quite enjoyable, especially after the boat ride where at least on the day we sailed – don\u00b4t know if it is still sailing if you are on a boat with diesel engines – over the open ocean we experienced a bit of seasickness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While in Puerto Montt i had a phonecall with my boss in the project back at work, and during that call i was asked whether or not i could go to India. With Stefan working at the same company it was definitely easier to make it happen,as i would not have gone, if we could not go together, as afterall we had planned a three months trip.
Anyway after a second beer we agreed to cut the trip short and go to India to work. Aside the fact that India was another sort of adventure to embark on, it as well provided us the opportunity to rethink our strategy for Southamerica. Back in Puerto Natales we looked into renting a car, but it was not as easy as we thought and quite expensive. But more about that in Southamerica Part II.
After agreeing to go to India, the internal processes kicked in, but they do take time so we moved forward with our trip.
Based on the recommendation from Fabricio we moved to San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina. Yet again beautiful landscape which we explored hiking. Afterwards we moved to El Bolson. We did stay about 5km outside to south in a place that had multiple huts and we rented one of those for 5 days. Own BBQ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sleep – Eat – Read – Hike – Eat some more – REPEAT<\/p>\n\n\n\n
San Martin de los Andes was a two day hiking stop. And yet again while sitting on the bus driving through the Andes we had the wish to just disembark and stay at that place. However without knowledge when the next bus might come by and without any food or tent it was just simply not possible. Our stay in San Martin was hiking and receiving our visas for India. Next stop Neuquen. This was planned to be only a weekend intervall, and it was the first city where temperatures rose over 30\u00b0C. City life, and they do have a nice river there that you can swim in. Which both of us enjoyed quite a lot. Come Monday we did get the go to go to India, and off we went. Closing a three month trip after 6 weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First time booking a plane ticket on an airport counter was interesting. It was all on the hush hush but in the end we did get back to Germany, and 4 days later we were on the way to the other side of the planet. Different story though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n