Argentinian loop

Hey everybody!

As per usual i will begin with an apology for how long it has been since i last wrote! this time it really has been ages!! well that just means i have been having fun, which i have! WE have! Thats right finally I am travelling with Lindo! ill take you back to the beginning.... (this is going to be a LONG post, sorry!!)

So i left you in montevideo and since then i caught the ferry across to B.A. Not wanting to see the city without linden i kept a low profile and chilled out a fair bit. Then I moved into the apartment that I rented for linden and i to stay in for a week! it was awesome! Middle of the night I went out and picked her up and it was so awesome seeing her again! I was speechless for like 10 minutes!!

So ill skim that week in B.A. We visted the Zoo, a park full of feral cats, ate amazing food (including the best steak i have ever had in my life) and just wandered the city exploring. On saturday we decided to head out to Gualeguaychi to see the biggest Carnaval celebration in Argentina! it was awesome!

We chilled down by the river in the very cool town which was overflowing before we got an empanada dinner and hit the carnaval. sneaking in vodka and boozing while we danced and watched was awesome! The girls were all hot and wearing almost nothing so it was fairy enjoyable (dont worry ladies the guys were all fit and semi-naked too).

Finally after hours we collapsed boozily into the bus which took us back to B.A. A days rest before catching the bus to Tandil. Known for cheese. and thats what we got. cheese and wine and it was awesome! I could say a lot more but this blog is already gunna be huge! So basically we had a wicked picnic in a great park and it rained all over us!

The we bussed to Puerto Madryn. Here Linden got her money belt stolen from the hostel. luckily i found it in the bin down the road with the cards in so we didnt have to cancel the cards and the hostel was new and fearing a bad review they reimbursed the money (i have a feeling it was the staff who stole it anyway) sop it all worked out. Then we hired a crappy grey VW golf (Phil) and drove out to the penninsula valdes. it was so cool. we saw sea lions, elephant seals, penguins, armadillos (one cheeky little one nibbled our toes and fingers) but we didnt see an orca (killer whale) eat a cute baby seal like we hoped! We did get chased by a hilarious lama though!

So it was overnight to El Calafate where we saw the fastest moving glacier in the world... i think... something like that. my spanish and listening skills are both lacking. anyway it was freaking sweet! and we did a boat trip down to look closer. have soooo many photos, it was amazing! Then back in town we went for a big walk with a beautiful huskie (Maya) for a sunset before sharing the mixed grill platter thing at the nicest restaraunt in town. haha backpacking huh?

Bussed it to El Chalten before hitting the mountains for a 3 day hike! it was awesome! we glacier after glacier (and their lakes) and the way the sunsets and sunrises make them glow. We even hiked the fairly intense walk up the hill in the dark for the view of Cerro Fitz Roy in the sunset (below) and the other part i cant remember the name of (below that).

Fitz Roy

Other one

So after our awesome 3 day hike we got stuckin the town for another day before doing a 30 hour hit up to El Bolson on a normal bus. NORMAL, so uncomfortable. AND we had the front seat meaning no leg room. AND the front was walled up so we couldnt even see out. just staring at a wall for 30 hours. At least there was a TV.... WHICH THEY NEVER PLAYED ANYTHING ON!!! sigh... im putting it behind me.

El Bolson was a beautiful town where we pretty much went to eat chocolate and icecream... which we did. then on to Bariloche the next day for a repeat of that. A quick excursion out to see the lakes district via local bus and a chairlift before the overnight bus to Mendoza.

Mendoza is a beautiful town. and the wine capital of Argentina, so that was our first point of call. is that a saying or did i make that up? anyway, so we caught the local bus to the district and hired bikes. Then we spent Valentines day riding around wineries and country-side tasting awesome wines. it really was great! And i guess that brings us up to today.

Today we have just gotten home from white (well brown really) water rafting. Neither of us have ever been but it was heaps of fun. If you look at the photo below I am on the far side in the front and that is linden behind me hitting me in the head with her paddle. it was so much fun. tiring as hell but awesome! i think i might be hooked!

So now we are catching the overnight bus back to Buenos Aires before we fly out to London. Sorry that it was so much at once and it was also a little vague but it was a lot to get through!

I hope you are all doing well back home! monkey, plum, sam and jus who all got home safe and house warmings and what not that filters through to me. Im always really happy to hear what you guys are up to. You too mum and dad, i love getting your Sunday email update.

Lots of love to you all.
Tim (and Linden)