Bariloche

2-17-07
On the bus back from Bariloche. I spent too much time not doing things in Bariloche. It is an amazing place, city set in the foothills of the andes. Tons of lakes. I went on some great hikes. I wish I would have been able to do more. There was so much to do in that area. Well, I am going to be returning with m program in a couple weeks, hopefully I get to see the volcano. It was not as serene as Chalten, the woods have more life in them. They are many birds. I saw 2 parakeets. For my birthday, I went on a long hike through woods next to a river with rona, and it was great. The trees were old and the way they creaked made it sound like an old wooden door that was opening. I got cool gifts from Rona and Marina on my bday, went out for a nice dinner courtesy of my parents. Its sad that I wasn't with my family and all of my friends for my birthday, but spending my birthday hiking through the Andes is probably the second best thing I could think of to do for my birthday. I am going back to Buenos Aires now. Happy to be getting settled soon. Patagonia was awesome.

El Calafate and Chalten

2-9-08
Went to see Perito Moreno yesterday. Huge! It was about 55m tall. On the way to the glacier our guide started to talk about how some of the mountains were private property. Thats a comical idea...something that huge being owned by someone. It was amazing watching the chunks of ice fall into the glacial lake. Pieces that look no bigger than a penny would fall, but by there thunderous sound you could tell that even the smallest of these chunks would make would crush a person into nonexistence, like matter and anti matter coming together. There are many things in this world that are much bigger than us, and its our job to enjoy them without inhibiting others from doing the same.
Trying to capture this on camera conflicts with my desire to just sit and enjoy the moment. I wanted to sit and wait to get a piece falling into the water, but that takes away from me being there. It's a conundrum. Sometimes, or a lot of the times, it would be better to just to sit back and live in the moment. So thats what I did. I also took a lot of pictures.
2-10-08
Ice trekking on from the secluded town of Chalten on the glacier Torre. We zip lined over a river, hiked for about 4 hours around a glacial lake. The only way to describe the scenery here was perfect nature. Green all around. Tree's bark has fallen off and looks like they have been in a fire. A rabbit. Glacial river. Glacial Lake. The water in these lakes just seems more pure and more serene. Path through woods. Green. Mountains. Mountains. Mountains. A more tranquil place, i could not imagine. Untouched, the way things were meant to be. Here man adapted to nature, instead of the other way around. It's the kind of place that makes you want to be a better person. I want to get in better shape so I can observe this land without feeling tired. I want to help more people because this land wants me to. A feeling of nature's adrenaline is shooting through my veins. So lucky to be here. Perfect.

Puerto Madryn

Feb 4
A beautiful small town that next to the ocean that in 15 years, sadly, is going to be built up and touristy. Sad for me, not for the residents. The first day that we arrived, we fell asleep on the beach for an hour and all got sunburnt. The atlantic ocean, however, was great. A little cold, but great. I love the sea. We went to an eco-center to learn about the marine animals that were there. A poem that Pablo Neruda wrote about the albatross was there, its awesome. Read it.
Feb 5
We went to Penisula Valdes, an nature reserve with a private guide and Brazilian named Bruno. Bruno was coming around patagonia and doing the circuit in the opposite direction. He was interesting and opinionated, but fine for a day of travel. Animals I saw were: sea lions, guanacos, sheep, patagonian foxes, armadillos, Magellanic penguins and elephant seals. All the area is almost desert like, no trees and little vegetation because of the lack of rain and the great winds.
Feb 6
Went on a 34km bike ride with Rona along the coast. Great. The road to turned to gravel about 4 km into the ride. Not little rocks with a hard surface underneath, but all little rocks. It was tough biking. There was a mini vacant sand dune that did not compare to michigan, but it was still cool. We wondered how long it would take our footprints to disapear from the sand. Ah time. Continuing on, to my left there was the sea and to my right there was a tundra-like field. And trash. Makes you think "The U.S. has much more waste, we are just better at hiding it." I guess that counts for something though. Taking the bus further south, the hills start rolling and it reminds me of eastern Washington the way the Cascades make it so treeless.
On the bus, we watch terrible movies. I hate ben stiller, I have seen everyone of his movies except zoolander here. But we do get to watch 80's music videos in between. If you like great things from the 80's do yourself a favor and watch Bonnie Tyler's music video for total eclipse of the heart. The end is amazing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55nTwg5NIPM

Buenos Aires

Jan 30
Arrival in buenos aires. Get off the plane, my suitcase lock doesn't work, its stuck. Oh wait, I just need marina's strength to open it. Thinking of all those stories you hear about airport sequestrations(I have resolved to start using spanish cognates more in english) and thieves. Get to taxi. get ripped off by the taxi, but arriving at the hostel alright. Walked around, stumbled upon a park that is infested with cats. Why are there tons of cats in every direction you look? Met a girl at the hostel who had been traveling throughout South America and is leaving tomorrow. Seems fitting that our first day here is her last...passing the torch.
New day. Met my host mother to store my stuff. She seems open and warm. Rona and I go exploring to the aeroparque in order to find plane tickets. We get lost for a while, but it was fun. I didn't eat anything that day until 5 or 6 at night, so I was starving. I bought a chicken sandwich and ate it on the way home. While waiting for the bus and ravishing my sandwich, a boy no older than me was pulling a cart down the street with many belongings and 3 kids all under the age of 5. Poor. One in particular stared into my greedy eyes and I into her envious eyes. I knew that the hunger that I felt was nothing compared to what this girl ad already felt in her life. I felt no compassion at the time. What can you do? You can't give everyone who is hungry your sandwich, but I could have given it to this girl. I feel guilty and I don't. This is what I came to see and feel.