The drive continues

After our stop, we continued to drive along route 40 towards El Calafate arriving there at about 12.30pm.  We were too early to check in to our hostel (we had upgraded to a private room), so we waited in reception taking advantage of the free WiFi until we could get our key at just after 2pm.

Once we had dumped our stuff and dropped off our laundry, we walked into town to have a late lunch/early dinner.  All of these Patagonian towns look very similar with lots of expensive designer shops and bijou restaurants.  The difference here was that it was much warmer than we have been used to over the past few days!

We went to Tablita parilla restaurant as recommended in my Lonely Planet guidebook.  We thought we should have steak seeing as we are in Argentina.  Mark had rib eye and I had rump.  We shared a salad and a portion of homemade chips.  It was all absolutely delicious, but expensive at US$100.  We can't afford to eat like that every day!

Argentina is generally very expensive.  The economy and political situation are both in a mess.  I really don't know how local people are coping.

After lunch, we walked back to the hostel and spent the evening doing posts.  We also used the strong WiFi to watch the final ever episode of Gavin and Stacey which was shown in the UK on Christmas Day.  It was so good!!  Great writing and the perfect end to a story that started 17 years ago!Read more