El Chaltén

Su 12.23.12

• here we go Day 3!
• really loving the view from our hotel each morning:

• [BTW...if you're wondering...we went through a tourist agent in Buenos Aires to organize our trip to Patagonia...excursions, flights, hotels, etc.
• a conjunction of tourist agencies (in BA, El Calafate, and Bariloche) arranged to have us picked up each day]
• today we had a driver take us a few hours north to do some hiking in El Chaltén

pit stop on our drive...pointing to where we are

• stopped along the way from some wildlife/scenery photos...
• can you spot the animal that closely resembles an ostrich? (the rhea):

• El Chaltén is the place where you can either hike Fitz Roy, or get some views of Fitz Roy 
• we attempted the views...with some good hiking mixed in there

• view from above of the little city, El Chaltén...                        a hiker/backpacker/climber's dream

lovebirds

• after lunching on empanadas near a lake, some pesky sprinkles got us moving along again
• the turn around point of our hike was good for glacier spotting...

• can't tell you how amazing it was to get away from the big city, inhale fresh air, and take in incredible views

name the character from that Christmas movie! hint: The Grinch

• we loved you El Chaltén!  thanks for a great day!

• now let me tell you quick about tonight's dinner
• heard good things about this sort of hippy-like restaurant in El Calafate, Pura Vida Resto Bar...pretty eager to try it
• of course, they don't accept reservations, but when calling the guy's like...just come early, tranquilo chicos (~relax...ok buddy)
• we arrived earlier than Argentine standards, but not early enough...the guy said it'd be at least an hour way
• so we cozied up first with cups of coffee in the waiting area, chatting and playing games on the ipad and such
• then after almost an hour we moved on to some local brews
• then I think somewhere around the 1.5-2 hour mark, we were seated...hooray!
• and let me tell you, the food was actually worth that dreadfully long wait!
• check out these stews! yes, one is inside a pumpkin...it was super delicious...and the bread wasn't so bad either...
• due to the notoriously large portions, we chose three stews to pass around and share

• you're real lucky, Pura Vida, that your food is so good...not sure that I've ever waited almost two hours for food...I usually cave much earlier