THIRTY hours. That's how many hours I was held prisoner on the bus (busES to be precise) as I made my way up to Puerto Madryn. The route took me from El Chalten to El Calafate (3 hours), where I transferred to a bus for Rio Gallegos (5-6 hours). During my 2 hour wait there, I left my bags at the luggage storage for 4ARP and walked across the street to the wonderful Carrefour. Best way to kill time, checking out some local snacks and drinks to take with me for my next bus ride. Which would be about 17 hours. Yes, I paid extra for the cama seat. This bus was supposed to take me all the way to Puerto Madryn, but that didn't happen. I had to change to another bus at Trelew. Too many hours on the bus. TIRED.
Those 30 hours took me from the freezing cold glaciers to the balmy beaches. Time to get the tank tops out again! Yipeeeeeeeeee : )
But before that, I had to get to my hostel. Too cheap to pay for a cab, I walked the 20-25 min (was farther than I thought) in my long sleeved shirt and long pants. Oh, and don't forget that 15kg backpack, my constant companion.
My hostel was great! Clean & friendly, the two most important qualities I look for. And right near the beach, too (not that I ever go to the beach).
Here, I ran into one of the guys (well, more like grandpa) that I had the potluck Xmas dinner back in Valparaiso, Chile with. What a coincidence!!!
After a quick shower and a change into summer clothes, I walked into the nearest air-conditioned café I could find. I was absolutely starving and in need of some decent food! A ham sandwich, fresh squeezed OJ, and coffee did the trick.
Once re-energized, I just wandered along the beach and around the city – really, not too exciting. A nice little crafts market in the plaza was all I could find of interest.
So why did I come here??? Because Puerto Madryn is the main gateway to Peninsula Valdes. And what's in Peninsula Valdes??? Animals. Even though it was too late for the whale season (just ended in December), and too early for the orcas-feeding-on-seals season (April), I still had this strong urge to see the place. Lame, I know...
Since it's difficult to get there on your own without a rental car, I joined a local tour for the following day. The full day tour took me to the visitors' center (display on the different animals and plant life in the region) and several viewpoints along the coast for 150ARP. For an extra fee, I could've taken a boat ride to see the seals, but I didn't bother with that part.
Peninsula Valdes was certainly not the most beautiful or amazing place I've been to so far, but it was enjoyable enough.
The rugged coastline was so.....natural. (For the lack of better words. Sorry!)
And I just NEVER get sick and tired of seeing animals! I loved this lonesome penguin. Felt for him/her. Kind of understood the creature, being on its own near the cliff and staring out to sea. Peaceful or suicidal?!?!?! 
My favorite were these elephant seals. Rather hard to see in the photo because I couldn't get too close to them (need to stay on paths in the park), but they were basically live blobs of fat rolling around. If I recall correctly, the ones here were all males chilling out until the mating season began.
And then there was the armadillo. Cute. Never knew that they were hairy. 
With the tour to the Peninsula done, there was no reason for me to stay in Puerto Madryn. One option was to dive with the seals the next day. The photos and video clips I'd seen from Kevin, a guy I'd met back on New Years in Puerto Varas, Chile looked fun and fantastic! But then again, the water was supposedly very cold and wavy. Not only that, the tour cost around US$100!!! So...I passed on that idea.
Still, I didn't feel like moving on. Felt a bit worn out, and wasn't in the mood for another long, overnight bus.
Decision – bum around for a couple of days.
Aside from heading over to the oceanographic museum in the other side of the city, I didn't do anything noteworthy. Just had some tasty seafood (rare in Argentina where meat is the norm), read a lot, played solitaire, and chatted with the other hostel guests.
BTW, the oceanographic museum is worth going to for one thing – the giant squid.
This would be the last stop on my tour through Patagonia. After some one-person debates in my head, I decided to skip Bariloche. It's supposed to be this beautiful Swiss-like lakes/mountains region that most tourists go to, but honestly...it I wanted to see Swiss nature, I'd rather go to Switzerland. Plus, the pictures I've seen of the place soooo reminded me of Oregon. No thanks.
Those 30 hours took me from the freezing cold glaciers to the balmy beaches. Time to get the tank tops out again! Yipeeeeeeeeee : )
But before that, I had to get to my hostel. Too cheap to pay for a cab, I walked the 20-25 min (was farther than I thought) in my long sleeved shirt and long pants. Oh, and don't forget that 15kg backpack, my constant companion.
My hostel was great! Clean & friendly, the two most important qualities I look for. And right near the beach, too (not that I ever go to the beach).
Here, I ran into one of the guys (well, more like grandpa) that I had the potluck Xmas dinner back in Valparaiso, Chile with. What a coincidence!!!
After a quick shower and a change into summer clothes, I walked into the nearest air-conditioned café I could find. I was absolutely starving and in need of some decent food! A ham sandwich, fresh squeezed OJ, and coffee did the trick.
Once re-energized, I just wandered along the beach and around the city – really, not too exciting. A nice little crafts market in the plaza was all I could find of interest.
So why did I come here??? Because Puerto Madryn is the main gateway to Peninsula Valdes. And what's in Peninsula Valdes??? Animals. Even though it was too late for the whale season (just ended in December), and too early for the orcas-feeding-on-seals season (April), I still had this strong urge to see the place. Lame, I know...
Since it's difficult to get there on your own without a rental car, I joined a local tour for the following day. The full day tour took me to the visitors' center (display on the different animals and plant life in the region) and several viewpoints along the coast for 150ARP. For an extra fee, I could've taken a boat ride to see the seals, but I didn't bother with that part.
Peninsula Valdes was certainly not the most beautiful or amazing place I've been to so far, but it was enjoyable enough.
The rugged coastline was so.....natural. (For the lack of better words. Sorry!)
And I just NEVER get sick and tired of seeing animals! I loved this lonesome penguin. Felt for him/her. Kind of understood the creature, being on its own near the cliff and staring out to sea. Peaceful or suicidal?!?!?! My favorite were these elephant seals. Rather hard to see in the photo because I couldn't get too close to them (need to stay on paths in the park), but they were basically live blobs of fat rolling around. If I recall correctly, the ones here were all males chilling out until the mating season began.And then there was the armadillo. Cute. Never knew that they were hairy. With the tour to the Peninsula done, there was no reason for me to stay in Puerto Madryn. One option was to dive with the seals the next day. The photos and video clips I'd seen from Kevin, a guy I'd met back on New Years in Puerto Varas, Chile looked fun and fantastic! But then again, the water was supposedly very cold and wavy. Not only that, the tour cost around US$100!!! So...I passed on that idea.Still, I didn't feel like moving on. Felt a bit worn out, and wasn't in the mood for another long, overnight bus.
Decision – bum around for a couple of days.
Aside from heading over to the oceanographic museum in the other side of the city, I didn't do anything noteworthy. Just had some tasty seafood (rare in Argentina where meat is the norm), read a lot, played solitaire, and chatted with the other hostel guests.
BTW, the oceanographic museum is worth going to for one thing – the giant squid.
This would be the last stop on my tour through Patagonia. After some one-person debates in my head, I decided to skip Bariloche. It's supposed to be this beautiful Swiss-like lakes/mountains region that most tourists go to, but honestly...it I wanted to see Swiss nature, I'd rather go to Switzerland. Plus, the pictures I've seen of the place soooo reminded me of Oregon. No thanks.
Although the St. Bernards (yup, the dog) and chocolates were very appealing...
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