For all of us, visiting the far reaches of the Patagonian region of Argentina has been a dream come true. It’s generally in the destination top ten list of any traveler and is now one of those places that will one day require a return trip. Driving on the famed Austral is an extra bonus that few will ever know. Keep in mind though that it is a long way down and some stretches can be pretty difficult. Most roads roads aren’t paved and the barren land outside the window is exhausting.
Category Archives: South America
The Overlander’s Guide to Last Minute Press Conferences
October 13, 2008 – 7:34 pm
If you’ve got a story to tell, and you want the southern states of Argentina to be the first to know, then Esquel, Argentina should be your first stop! Speaking from experience, you’re going to want to head down to city hall (or wherever any major press conference is taking place) introduce yourself to at least one person with either a microphone, pen and paper, fancy hair do, etc. That is pretty much all it takes to get the attention of every other journalist in the vicinity. Don’t worry, they can resume their conference later.
New Photos – Volcano Chaitén
October 12, 2008 – 6:24 pm
Melissa recently wrote a more objective point of view about the devastation left behind by the Chaitén volcano. More simply and more personally, all of us agree that this is one of the most devastating things we have ever witnessed firsthand. Just looking at photos or the video we will have up soon can only paint a small picture to the feeling that comes over you when entering a town that has been abandoned for all practical purposes …
Futaleufú y Volcán Chaitén
October 11, 2008 – 11:10 am
On May 2 of this year in the early morning, Chaitén Volcano began to erupt for the first time since what is believed to be 7,400 BCE. For most of the world, this particular eruption is but a vague memory from a segment of international news, but for residents in close proximity it was and still is life altering. Surprisingly, for all of the destruction only one life has been lost …
5 days on the Austral
October 10, 2008 – 9:26 am
Many parts of the world are still left undiscovered for all practical purposes. In fact only 200,000 people live in the Southern Part of Argentina, while the country has a population of over 40 million. When living in a metropolitan center of the world it is easy to forget just how wild parts of it are. Our recent trip down the Austral Highway in Chile presented, to me at least, one of the most beautiful parts of the world. The grand connection of this highway from the populated north of Chile to the undeveloped southern section was only finished in 2000 and it only services a small total of 100,000 people. Bus service is irregular or almost non-existent, and while we were passing through it was rare to come across more than a car or two driving it all day. It is adventures like this one that really answer the regular question begged of us, “Why drive your own cars?”
Península Valdés
October 9, 2008 – 6:58 am
Well, folks, the zig-zagging of the southern cone of South America has officially begun! Saying that we have covered some serious ground since leaving Bahia Blanca, Argentina would be an understatement. Over the dizzying 1,300+ miles that we have driven in 10 days, we have toured the East coast of Argentina all the way to the West coast of Chile …
Did you know…?
September 30, 2008 – 8:58 am
Or as I like to sometimes call them, DYKs. Either way…After spending almost 6 weeks in one place there are a few things that you can’t help but notice about a culture while also picking up some random trivia along the way.
The first thing you will probably notice upon your first visit to Argentina is that it won’t take long to begin wondering why everyone in Argentina gives you funny looks when you order “Pollo†in the typical Spanish dialect pronouncing it ‘poy-yo’.
Living free again!!
September 27, 2008 – 9:08 am
Recently liberated from captivity by Argentinian customs, we are now back on the road. The last few days we have had no internet, camping at a friends farm in a town called Bahia Blanca about 700kms south of Buenos Aires …
I promise we are not stupid.
September 22, 2008 – 7:37 am
At this point it must seem like TWBR is a bunch of imbeciles. We have been stuck in Buenos for 5 weeks now trying to get the trucks …
