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Bev Brooks

Bev Brooks

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    • Bev BrooksReizigerArgentina Antarctica & Chile

      Woohoo we have a car

      24 december 2017, Argentinië ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

      Today the car arrives and sets us free. Ok so the car is manual and it is left hand drive. First problem is finding reverse and then managing the hill out of the resort. You have no idea how many time my left hand went to change gears, oops, right hand needs to do that.

      First port of call the supermarket and just like home it is packed with everyone trying to buy up big for Christmas. The supermarket is not as big as home, the fruit and vege is limited but we manage to decipher most things and pick up enough for the next few days. A good shop with 3 bottle of wine and 2 bubbles as well as a huge chicken and snitzel as well as veggies, herbs etc come to approx $160aus.

      Quickly back to room, unpack, lunch and hit the road. We drive around the lake for approx 70ks stopping at camping sites to admire the view. It is a good learning exercise for me to learn more about the car, manual left hand drive etc.

      We stop to pick some wild flowers in the national park before heading home. The wild lupine are beautiful.      Meer informatie

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    • Bev BrooksReizigerArgentina Antarctica & Chile

      Birthday

      23 december 2017, Argentinië ⋅ 🌙 12 °C

      Once again I find myself in another foreign country on my birthday. This year I wake up in a dingy smelly damp hostel where breakfast is sugar coated cornflakes and dishwater coffee. Not a good start.

      Quickly into town for a real coffee and to see what the town has to offer. Bariloche is a beautiful town situated on a lake, it is very hilly I soon find out. Quickly I decide to check out of the hostel and move to my timeshare booking for the week -Hotel Del Lago. OMG things could not have changed so quickly.

      Now we are right on the lake, heated pool, 2 rooms with a kitchen. Mel and I have hi 5's when we realise we can cook Christmas dinner.

      Time to get organised for the week:
      1. car hire $1000peso a day done.
      2. First bday drink a raspberry margarita
      3. Bday ice cream
      4. Retail therapy
      5. Grocery shopping including champagne.

      An easy dinner drinking bubbles and watching the sun go down. How life can change so quickly in 1 day.      Meer informatie

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    • Bev BrooksReizigerArgentina Antarctica & Chile

      24 hours on a bus

      22 december 2017, Argentinië ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

      Oh how do you prepare for a 24 hour bus ride - drink wine of course. On our way to the wine bar we find another Antarctica adventurer in Matt. Off we head for a couple which quickly becomes 4 large glasses of red and a lovely meat platter.

      On to the bus a little pissed - it is chockers. 8pm we head off luckily i think i sleep well dozed at least. Hope i don't snore but good chance I did.

      We transfer to another bus at 7am. This one is a lot smaller no luxury here once again is full. The bus station has nothing open so no food no snacks. Naively we a pretty sure we will stop in a couple of hours to buy food.

      WRONG 2 hours passes a movie goes on 3 then 4 in fact 5 hours before the bus stops on the side of the road. There is nothing why are we stopping - i look out and see rhe driver with food oh we are saved. 2 cold epanades chocolate and a juice. Saved on we go.

      At the 7 hour mark we stop a a servo toilet stop and able ro buy some snacks. Its another 6 hours before we stop again. Oh my sore tired butt. Only 2 hours to go.

      We finally pull into Bariloche at 8pm. only a short walk the driver shows us. Yep doesnt look far at except it all uphill. Most streets have stairs and we have heavy luggage. We give it a goosld shot but give up and hail a taxi.

      Arriving at the air bnb quickly dissolves into disappointment this is a hostel and not a very good one. Oh well only 1 night. The shower does not drain the bathroom smells. yuk

      The shopping centre next door has a food court so dinner and a wine is the order of the day.      Meer informatie

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    • Bev BrooksReizigerArgentina Antarctica & Chile

      Last day in El Chalten

      21 december 2017, Argentinië ⋅ ⛅ 1 °C

      We catch the bus tonight at 8pm heading for Bariloche.

      We wake up to see fresh snow on the hills - I new it was cold but didn't think it had got that cold overnight.

      We venture out heading for waffles for breakfast then the aim is to do some shopping. I have very little cash left and unfortunately must of the craft shops do not take visa, so no shopping for me.

      It's a lazy day preparing for the bus trip. Some pics of around town.

      Will hit the cute wine bar at 5pm for a couple to help me sleep on the bus.      Meer informatie

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    • Bev BrooksReizigerArgentina Antarctica & Chile

      Veging around town

      20 december 2017, Argentinië ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

      The weather has turned bad again today, not much to do except ponder around town. I have a massage in the local spa which is great and generally don't do much at all. I learn the spa has been open 6 years and is gradually being accepted by the locals. They have certainly put a large capital investment into it.

      We do find a little pace to chill for a few hours, as always the pies of wine are huge - certainly don't need more than a glass.

      In the evening we catch up with some of the crew from the boat who are in town. We have a few happy hour drinks and some food, I have to say I am not happy with the food options at all. The nachos are just chips and plastic cheese with a little guacamole. Salad comprise of mainly lettuce and carrot certainly nothing to rave about.

      Mel and I then head to a wine bar Mel spied in the afternoon. Finally a decent wine bar with lots of options. Hopefully we will get back tomorrow. I'm starting to run out of cash so only bars who take visa for me for the next few days.      Meer informatie

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    • Bev BrooksReizigerArgentina Antarctica & Chile

      Coming back down

      19 december 2017, Argentinië ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

      Mel came back from the sunrise shoot around 7 telling me it was starting to rain. Straight into action we were bringing down the tent to get on our way. Into our wet gear and we were off. It was not going to be the best day today, many hikers were coming up I doubt they will see the mountain today.

      Off we went, physiologically it is so much easier heading home, I had land marks I could tick off as we went. The wind had reduced but the rain in your face didn't help. The mountains were in total cloud was we left for home. It was a slow trek for me, luckily Mel took the tent off me for the last 4K as it would have been near impossible to traverse the downhill with the additional weight. We walked our own race down taking whatever time we needed.

      I was quite slow stopping to take some pictures and watch the occasional wood pecker along the way. It took me about 2.5 hours to get back to town. I am pleased that I may not be as unfit as I feel. But I know I need to get my fitness back to 2018 for sure.

      First stop in town was my favourite coffee house where now I am well known. The lady speaks no english and me no Spanish but we manage. Even when I cannot into the belt on my pants- I have to ask her assistance to unto me. Was a laugh. A couple of coffee and a nice cake on the house spurred me onto the hostel.

      After eating for an hour it was time to head to the spa, I got a 4 treatment session 2.5 hours for approx $100.
      . Firstly a leg wrap where the boots compress tightly then reduce
      . Next the stones run up and down your spine oh so good, quite hard but amazing
      . Next to the massage chair where your arms, legs and back are all being massaged at the same time and with different intensity.
      . Lastly into the jucuzzi for a soak watching the amazing photos taken around the region.
      . I even got a great shower and hair wash before heading back to the hostel.      Meer informatie

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    • Bev BrooksReizigerArgentina Antarctica & Chile

      El Chalten Hiking

      18 december 2017, Argentinië ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

      Today we decided to head to the mountains. First stop is to rent gear 2 sleeping bags and mats and 1 2 man tent. The tent is much heavier and larger than expected this is not going to be fun. We head off around 11 after stopping for a coffee hit.

      The start of the trek is at the end of the town, the up we go. The first 4ks is to Lake Capri, this took about 2 hours. Absolutely stunning scenery, the sun is shining it is a glorious day. I am pleased with me effort so far as I am not as fit as a I should be and have not hiked all year. Mel carried the tent this far now it is my turn. I manage to attach it to my day back, but now I stick out both sides and are severely lop sided.

      The next 4K to Poincinot is relatively flat but quite exposed. The wind is howling around us and more than once it pushed me sideways. There are many small bridges to cross and I'm sure the wind is waiting for me to cross these as several times I need to stop and hang on fearing I would be blown into the small streams.

      We make the camp site in about an hour. The tent was relatively easy to put up under the shelter of the trees. We were both quite tired so a lay down was in order. I was absolutely frozen the cold was coming up through the ground it froze me solid. I should have got up but was so scared of getting cold again I did not move until the next morning. Mel got up to take both sunset and sunrise pictures.

      The wind was howling around ist sounded like a thunderstorm but the camp was situated in such a way that it was protected form the wind. I only slept for a couple of hours and remember waking in the dead of the night. It was is dark starring at my hand trying to make it focus was impossible - all I saw was blackness.      Meer informatie

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    • Bev BrooksReizigerArgentina Antarctica & Chile

      Wind, little rain and definitely snow.

      17 december 2017, Argentinië ⋅ ⛅ 1 °C

      The plan was do to a short hike today but on waking to -1 and the wind already blowing a galas we abandoned these plans. Instead decided to wander the town. The wether got worse, the wind stronger and the mountains are covered in cloud and snow.

      I decide to get me nails done, well that was an experience- no knowledge of shallac so I leave the nails on and just get to painted that had fallen off ( choice of 6 colours lol). Toenails next - they break a pair of clippers on them, so it just a manicure and scrub. I would rate this experience about the same in most Asian countries- not good.      Meer informatie

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    • Bev BrooksReizigerArgentina Antarctica & Chile

      El Chalten

      16 december 2017, Argentinië ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

      Today we woke in El Calafate but will fall asleep in EL Chalten.

      After a late breakfast we wandered around the outskirts of town. It is lovely to see the homes painted on such vivid colours - green, red, purple etc. The roofs are steeply sloped and most gardens have beautiful flowers imcluding lots of lavender which i brush against constantly.

      At midday we are picked up and transported to the bus station via going all over town picking up others. We reach our 2 storey bus- very comfortable, only about 1/2 full so we spread out.

      What a magnificent view - this first hour is snow capped mountains with vivid green glacial lakes. Then onto the desert tundra with rock covered mountains. I feel im in cowboy country waiting for them to come riding over the ridge.

       The road is well maintained with very little traffic. We travelled the famous Ruta 40.

      Half way we stop at La Leona for a break it must be close to Butch Cassidy and Sundance territory as there are wanted posters on the walls. I totally forgot they were outlaws in this part of the world. Hmm slightly confused as to why these would be here as they only got to Bolivia, but hey I'll go with it.

      Onward to El Chalten tundra and snow covered mountains for the rest of the trip. 3 hours in total, very comfortable and would recommend this form of travel.

      We arrive in El Chalten right on time at 4pm a short walk and we arrive at our hostel. It is pretty basic but we have our own bathroom and it is close to town.

      In most small towns the toilets do not flush correctly so you must put toilet paper in bin not flush - I continually forget. Bad me.

      A walk around town finds lots of bars and camping shops. Not sure what the main pastime here is certainly a toss up between drinking and hiking. Happy hours are between 4 &7 and again 10 & 12. 2 GTs for 120 peso approx $9 - we will take that.

      Back to the hostel with wine and cheese to finish the night off.      Meer informatie

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    • Bev BrooksReizigerArgentina Antarctica & Chile
      Watching world go by
      Anyone for socks

      The next Adventure

      15 december 2017, Argentinië ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

      Its as early wake up today to the sounds of "Somewhere over the Rainbow". An early breakfast , Internet, some quick good byes to new friends. Lots of hugs from all the staff before catching the bus to the airport.

      We have wifi , all conversation stops while we all catch up on facebook, and emails from home.

      Ushuaia is a duty free town - as my ipad decided to stop working it was a good opportunity to purchase a new one. At least now i can do my posts and continue to manage my photos. It's scary how much we miss our technology tools.

      The flight for El Calafate leaves on time. On arrival we catch the bus to our accomodation on the other side of town.

      Time to catch up on blogs and pictures before venturing into town for an early dinner. We had dinner in a nice library bar watching the world go by. Once again I was given the same lesson I've Learnt many times - don't order lots of dishes, we ordered 4 dishes , 2 of which were sides and could only finish 2 dishes. cost us a fortune and returned 2 full plates. I love the wine pours - nothing like home all full close to brim here. This is very pretty arty looking town.      Meer informatie

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