5000 Millas: Los Mejores Momentos

So I had kind of decided that I wasn't going to write about my summer trek around the Southern Cone--Argentina and Chile--since it was a vacation, and thus didn't have much to do with my work or the contents of this blog. Still, since I consider myself lucky to have been able to go on such a journey, I thought I would share the best moments with my readers. If anything, it's an illustration of the "other half" of Argentina, the half that is unfortunately inaccessible to many Argentinians themselves. In truth, the best part of the entire trip was the end, when I could share it with others who may never see the beauties of their own country.

Outline of the trip on Google Maps. All the photos at Picasa.

The Top 5's from every stop along the way:

Cordoba:
The first stop on the journey after an overnight bus from Salta, waiting for my connection to Bariloche.

1. This Gothic cathedral

2. The "shadows" of buildings on the sidewalks

3. This modern building complex

4. The convent

5. Going to 3 masses in 3 hours

Bariloche:
Arrived the next day for a 3 day stay in the Lake Region of northern Patagonia.

1. The view from the ski lift at Cerro Catedral

2. Biking around the Circuito Chico

3. Hanging out with people from the hostel (met someone from Napa who went to UPenn)
4. Hitchiking instead of paying 18 pesos for a bus
5. Missing my free excursion, then going on it the next day

Chile/Navimag:
4 day boat trip down the western Patagonian coast through the Magellanic channels

1. Meeting Emily and Julian, exchange students at the end of their term
2. Seeing Pier XI, a HUGE glacier

3. Seeing this ghost ship, intentionally grounded over 50 years ago

4. Endless days with 11PM sunsets

5. Another great CouchSurfing experience in Puerto Montt

El Chalten and Calafate:
Met up with my Dad to do some backpacking in southern Patagonia

1. Seeing the Perito Moreno glacier

2. Successfully climbing a small mountain near Fitz Roy

3. Finally seeing Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre after 3 days of cloud cover

4. The color of the lakes

5. The veggie pizza in El Chaltén after a rough downclimb

Torres del Paine:
Went BACK to Chile on a bus to do more intense backpacking

1. Trekking in less than 2 days what normal people do in 4

2. Sunrise at the Torres

3. The boat ride into the park

4. Teaching my Dad to count in Spanish
5. Staying at a hospedaje in Puerto Natales

Tierra del Fuego/Ushuaia:
Went down to the Argentinian part of the so-called "end of the world" by bus (14 hours).

1. The 360° view from the mountain we climbed

2. Crossing the straight of Magellan

3. "Christmas" dinner in Ushuaia, even though I couldn't keep it down
4. Lazing around all day in the hostel
5. The clouds from the plane ride out

Buenos Aires:
Went to BA to visit the Gambettas and show my Mom around

1. Spending Christmas with my Mom and the Gambettas, even though I kind of messed it up
2. Seeing the Recoleta Cemetery again, which never gets old

3. Staying at the Hotel Savoy

4. Seeing a tango show I actually liked ("Café Los Angelitos")
5. Walking around San Telmo on a Saturday afternoon

Iguazu:
The obligatory visit to the amazing waterfalls, which we made at my insistence by bus :)

1. Seeing--and getting soaked by--the falls, which were twice as strong it seemed

2. Going on that crazy boat ride again

3. New Year's Eve at the hostel
4. Reading Steinbeck's "The Pearl" by the pool
5. Meeting more new people

Salta and Cachi/Cafayate:
Showing my Mom around my home turf, and exploring new places too

1. Seeing my Mom interact with my 2nd family, even though they hardly understood each other.
2. The view along the road to Cachi

3. The boutique hotel in Cafayate

4. The ruins at Quilmes

5. The amazing beauty that surrounds Cafayate