Mount Fitzroy sits between Chile and Argentina at 3,375 meters high. It is dominant in the landscape, except we couldn't see it because it was cloudy. In fact it wasn't just cloudy on one particular day we had sun, rain and snow! Chalten is an indigenous name meaning smoking mountain because there is cloud on … Continue reading Argentina 9 – Chasing Mount Fitzroy
Category: Travelling
Argentina 7 – Butch Cassidy
From the relative flat of Trelew and Peninsula Valdez we flew south and inland to what appeared to be a hilly and even more desolate version of what we had just left. It took an hour and a half to pick up our pre-booked hire car at the tiny airport outside El Calafate. Even then … Continue reading Argentina 7 – Butch Cassidy
Argentina 6 – A different kind of Wales
I've already mentioned that there is Welsh colony here so perhaps I better explain a bit more. In 1865 a hundred and fifty Welsh travelled to the Chubut region of Argentina to avoid persecution from the British Government who wanted everyone to speak English and to change what were considered their non conformist Christian beliefs. … Continue reading Argentina 6 – A different kind of Wales
Argentina – 5 – Punta Tombo and Other Creatures Of Patagonian Steppe
Well I'm writing these last few posts from home. I am that far behind but I'm determined to get it written down. After Peninsula Valdez we drove to the dusty little town of Trelew where we stayed, from there we drove an hour to Punta Tombo. Nature Trek (yes I was checking out their packages … Continue reading Argentina – 5 – Punta Tombo and Other Creatures Of Patagonian Steppe
Argentina 4 – Peninsula Valdez – Penguins and More!
Can it get more exciting! Oh yes it can! Over the next few days and lots of driving along the straight dusty roads. We changed our accommodation from the tumble weed farm to a quirky hippy village Puerto Pirimides to reduce the amount of time spent driving. It's the only village on the Peninsula. Not … Continue reading Argentina 4 – Peninsula Valdez – Penguins and More!
Argentina 3 – The Rights and Wrongs
The Peninsula Valdez and the mainland were originally inhabited by the Tehuelche people, hunter gatherers. In 1779 the Spanish arrived but on the peninsula their stay was short lived, about 30 years. I have seen some references to hostilities with the Tehuleche (this would need to be confirmed). Anyway the next Europeans who founded a … Continue reading Argentina 3 – The Rights and Wrongs
Bolivia 17 – Santa Cruz – Boom then Bust
Our flight over the Andes We had a lovely hotel in Santa Cruz and on the first day back just went lounged about and watched movies on the TV that amazingly had Netflix. We needed the rest. More importantly we needed the laundry as our clothes were almost walking around by themselves, mine were anyway. … Continue reading Bolivia 17 – Santa Cruz – Boom then Bust
Bolivia 16 – Madidi
This part of our trip was one of my favourites. There are a lot of pictures and videos in this blog, I just found everything fascinating! The river ride was a bit nerve wracking as the water was racing and in some places appeared to be boiling. I'm glad we didn't have seven hours of … Continue reading Bolivia 16 – Madidi
Bolivia 15 – Faulty Towers and into the Madidi National Park
Our next trip was into the Madidi National Park. This is a huge area of protected land from the Amazon Basin right up to the Andes. Although it's protected and managed by indigenous peoples its under threat from mining (there is gold in them there hills) and various other land grabs. As we arrived back … Continue reading Bolivia 15 – Faulty Towers and into the Madidi National Park
Bolivia 14 – Rurrenebaque and The Pampas
I'm getting very behind with the blog and Jayne tells me she's going to give me detention! Best get on with it then! We had a very early morning taxi up to La Paz again to catch a 6 am plane to Rurrenebaque into the Amazon Basin. We went from reasonable temperatures in Senda Verde … Continue reading Bolivia 14 – Rurrenebaque and The Pampas
The Travelling Bee 