South America II

[Holmes]

23 + gay + aussie accent.

Yeah, I'd hit it without thinking twice.

[Platypus]

Been in Mendoza for most of a week, and done almost nothing. It's uncomfortably hot, expensive, and dirty. I also have really bad hayfever. It seems I'm destined to dislike Mendoza forever.

[Platypus]

Valparaiso is still the most beautiful town on earth.

[Platypus]

After Santiago, I went back to the pool in Santiago for a couple of days, then down to Osorno.

Osorno calls itself the land of milk and meat, but despite having 75x the population of King Island, it's slightly more boring. Plus, the town is covered in volcanic ash. Plus, all the national parks were closed. Finally, only saw one genuinely cute guy.

Now, i'm in Bariloche, Argentina. The border crossing was ridiculous, nobody got their bags scanned, we had to compell the bus driver to stop to get out passports stamped. Me and the other 5 Aussies that happened to be on the bus, that is. Still, the scenery was absolutely beautiful.

As is Bariloche. There's still a bit of snow on some of the high peaks on the other side of the lake, and even in the middle of summer i'm rugged up. Still, i love it, and could happily stay for weeks if there was less of the bloody volcanic ash.

Tomorrow will be occupied by a boat trip out to Puerto Blest, 1.5 hours down the lake via a couple of waterfalls, and then a short hike to a particularly blue lake for lunch, before reversing the trip. I'm paying almost $70 so it better be 4-star plus.

Next stop is Puerto Madryn.

[Platypus]

Puerto Blest was worth it.

Bariloche is great. I had the fortune to stay at an excellent hostel 100m from the center of town, and 30m from the second best bar in town (40m from the best).

I also headed to the hippyish town of El Bolson, two hours down the road, which was nice enough.

I skipped Puerto Madryn and instead went from Bariloche to Mar del Plata by bus, via Buenos Aires. Left Bariloche on Saturday morning, around 7, got in to Mar del Plata Sunday arvo, around 4. The Pampas are incredibly boring.

Mar del Plata was nice, in the hostel everyone was Argentinean except one Swiss guy, which tested out my Spanish a bit, but was good.

Now back in Buenos Aires for a little bit of craziness before even more craziness in Uruguay next week - Carnivale!

[Platypus]

Buenos Aires was alright, stayed in a gay hostel in San Telmo, 20m from Plaza Dorrego, which was odd. I then went up to Iguazu - three days in the pool, one at the amazing falls - and then hopped from bus to bus down to Montevideo, for carnivale. Which is amazing.

A few more days in Uruguay and then back to Bs As for just a few days before heading up towards the northwest of Argentina via Cordoba

[Yelnoc]

Are you and Peeperkorn going to meet up?

[ilikeverin]

Buenos Aires was alright, stayed in a gay hostel in San Telmo, 20m from Plaza Dorrego, which was odd.

A gay hostel?  What?

[Platypus]

Didn't get a chance to meet up with Peeperkorn, but I have time to meet with Edu again if he's free.

Gay hostel is really more a gay hotel with two 4-bed dorm rooms. 20m from Plaza Dorrego.

Most of the guys are 40-something couples, but there's a bit of talent.

[Platypus]

Now in Bolivia.

Now suffering from food poisoning.

Now hit the wall re:travels.

[ilikeverin]

Well done on the goatee!

[Platypus]

Bolivia is determined to make me ill. Nice enough though.

[Smid]

Haven't been commenting, but have been enjoying your updates. Glad you're having a good time! Railway Club's a bit lonesome without you.

[Platypus]

Back in Santiago, less than two weeks left.

I managed to argue in Spanish with a Spaniard for 45 minutes yesterday, about the Basque country, and so I think I can claim at least a little bit that the official reason for the trip (to get my Spanish nearing fluency) has been successful enough

[Nutmeg]

Bolivia is determined to make me ill.

Rite of passage for Bolivia.