Well, we dutifully set off to visit the Valdes peninsula with its teeming wildlife population .... first, Valdes is BIG ... 300km to drive right round .... second, I think that all the wildlife had been warned that we were coming! Five llamas, a couple of rheas (sort of stunted ostrich), one pink (very pink!) flamingo, and a few seals ..... I've seen more activity in our back garden when Alexa tries to chase the cats! To be fair, it was winter, and bitterly cold with a biting wind. The sort of weather when only stupid humans go out .. and sensible wildlife keeps warm. There were a few sheep as well, but each time we tried to take a photo of them, they ran off .... we have several great pics of sheep's backsides (OK if you like that sort of thing)!
After a couple more days watching whales in Puerto Madryn, we drove down the coast to Trelew. This is a Welsh village that was founded by a group of Welsh immigrants way back. Not a tea-shop in sight! Scandal! ... Why anybody would want to start a settlement in the wilds of Southern Patagonia I don't know ... very bare and pretty cold! Maybe they were trying to get to Ireland and got lost! Most normal people would start a settlement in th Bahamas, or Hawaii! There is a little village called Puerto Rawson nearby where you can rent a boat to go "dolphin watching. The only place that was offering trips had a notice in the window .... "Dolphin watching 09:30 tomorrow". Great! ...... except that "tomorrow" in Spanish is "manana" ... and we all know what that means. Anyway, on leaving the village we drove along the beach road ... and guess what! Yes! .... dolphins playing in the surf just 20 metres from the beach! So we saw our dolphins after all.
We had a great campsite nearby with a dining room all to ourselves .. complete with real wood-burning stove in the corner. The only snag was that after about one hour, you couldnt see across the room for smoke .... well, its the thought that counts.
Next came the big drive West ... leaving the east coast for the Andes (a hint, fill up with petrol before you start, and whenever can .... there are stretches of over 700km with no service stations!) Fairly boring drive; vast open flat expanses of pampas, but more than rewarded by our first glimpse of the snow-capped Andes. We stayed in Esquel, then drove north to Bariloche; one of the main Argentine ski centers. The scenery is spectacular; beautiful snow-capped mountains with lakes nestling in little hidden valleys. The area has a very strong Swiss/German influence; thousands of little log-cabin chalets (mainly for tourists). Very picturesque. We found a campsite by a lake, and then drove up to the main ski station, Cerro Catedral, hired some gear, and set off up the mountainside. lots of runs, all levels, no queues! Great fun! The station is modern, very well-equipped, bustling, and cheap (at least by European standards); 10 euros per day to hire boots, planks to stand on, and stick thingies.
Next issue will be on the Lakes area, and our drive north to warmer climes ..... Watch this space!
(PS, sorry about the formatting, the internet connections over here are just slightly erratic!!!!)
4 commentaires:
Salut des Maillard aux WW's
We had not taken the time to have a good look at your site since your departure. Woah! It is like reading the National Geographic. Even better than falling asleep in front of Thalassa on a Friday evening....
It is so good to see you there in the middle of those fantastic sceneries.
Ann - You should remember to bend your knees a bit more on your skis!
Enjoy! and let us share!
Kisses from the Maillard about to depart to the Ocean for a fortnight of vacations. (have a look in your dictionary in case you do not remember what it means) We shall have the waves but I am not so sure about the whales.
Love
Le Club des 5
Dear friends, July 8, 2007
Nice account of your journey again! We were in Le Lavandu with the caravan, did not see any dolfins or whales ....., however, only Jelly-fish! Funny to read your blog that you enjoyed your skiing in about - 5° with about 30° over here. We will continue to follow your experiences by Google on Earth.
Love HaJa.
un bonjour de Sardan,
Nous suivons vos pérégrinations avec une traduction un peu difficile mais on comprend l'essentiel.....
John tu as oublié ton bonnet de ski, on te l'améne.
Great work.
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