April 11-13: Travel

It was very sad to leave Argentina. I love it - the people, the land, (the wine, the cost), everything. I could live there.

Spent few days travelling. Bus from Mendoza to Santiago, Chile. Stayed in Bella Vista in Santiago - I think I could live in Chile too. Flew to Lima. Still don´t think there is much to do in Lima but they do have a fancy mall built into a cliff overlooking the ocean that is pretty cool. Flew to Cusco.

April 9-10: Mendoza

Recovered in Mendoza, not only from the hike but from a head/chest cold. Treated myself to my own room in the center of town with a balcony overlooking the street. Mendoza is the perfect size town and is not completely overrun by tourist. Though I imagine its excruciatingly hot in the summer.

If I would have had more time I would have loved to hung around and do some hiking in Umpsalta near Mendoza. Its a beautiful area where lots of scenes from Seven Years in Tibet were filmed.

April 6 - 8: Parque Aconcagua

Happy birthday to me! Thirty-two! I´m convinced its going to be one of the best years ever. As a kid, I loved going with my dad when he went to play softball, and he was always lucky # 32.

I may be a little old though, I passed up fried chicken, cake, wine and the clubs, to go hiking and camping at Parque Aconcagua for my bday. Well, I guess ´just dinner´ on Thursday (April 5) lasted until 3am so I did get my bday drink and sang to.

Parque Aconcagua is home to the highest peak in the Americas - 6,962 meters (I´ve given up converting to feet). Did the 3-day trek to the base camp to enjoy the views. The area is much different from Patagonia - its desert here with little vegetation and the peaks are much higher.

April 4 - 5: Mendoza

Mendoza is in the heart of wine country. Took a wine/bike tour, which was great, though you have to wonder how wise it is to have all these buzzed tourists riding rickety bikes down narrow country roads. I met more than one person who had taken a tumble.

April 2 - 3: Buenos Aires

Huge, alive city. Stayed in San Telmo, went shopping at the Plaza Galleria, saw some street tango. If it wasn´t so hot and humid, I might have stayed longer

March 28 - April 1: El Calafate

El Calafate is another small, tourist town in beautiful Patagonia. Went to see the Perito Moreno glacier which is over 100 feet high. Saw two huge chunks break off and fall away into the lake. (In the past, people have died from the flying ice so they only let you get so close now). Took a boat up to the stable face of the glacier. Pretty impressive.

March 20 - 27: El Chalten, Argentina

El Chalten is 4 hours on dirt roads from nowhere. Horses wander the 3 dusty streets. The grocery store sells 10 items. And it absolutely beautiful! It reminds me of Colorado (most mountain areas do) except there are these crazy glaciated peaks.

Trekked to Laguna Torre, de Los Tres, Lago Electrico, and Laguna Torre, which was the best since I was about the only one out there. I realized this may have been the first time I´ve ever been camping by myself, without other people or Caleb (I miss my baby). The area is much quieter and drier than Torres del Paine, but the wind was fierce. I think even my eyes got windburnt.

March 16 - 19: Puerto Natales, Chile

Recovery days. Involved lots of Chilean wine, chocolate and ice cream.