February 2016
Pucon, Villa Rica and Salto del Laja


We crossed to Chile, once again! I have to say that all the driving and crossing has been very good for us, hassle free...which is different to what all people say about boundaries crossing...

It was really hot and naively we decided to drive all along the coast... us and millions of Chileans that are taking holidays! I can't remember seeing so many people together stuck next to each other... absolutely impossible to walk/lay/stay on any beach... It was a pity but continue driving.....until we got to this "deserted" beach (later found out that it is prohibited to swim there, very dangerous, hence the no people. Just happy to walk on the beach... saw a small group looking at the sea and a big rock very closed to the shore.. a sea lion colony!!! Unbelievable! But the biggest, anxious and cutest surprise was that a baby seal was on the shore, it was lost and hurt and he couldn't got back to his home. We were all watching in desperation, without knowing how to help as every time he will try to break the surf he will be pull out again by the big waves. This trying exercise took about 40 minutes and we were all prepared just to see him dying... but he kept trying and trying and finally he made it!!!! Big applauses and smiles all around.

And the funniest and cutest thing just happen....looking for a place to sleep in Chanco, a sleepy town, very small. Just across the police station- one of our “preferred town places to sleep”, the noise coming was so big that we left our car at night just to satisfy our curiosity. And in a corner, an open place; lots of people sitting on long wooden seats in a square shape. Two guys screaming numbers, over the top music. A bingo! The prices: a bag of pasta; a detergent box, a few coca-cola, a combo of deodorant-shampoo. We stayed there a while, standing and looking; really enjoying the moment. The easy laugh, a healthy enjoyment; the simplicity of all

We were forced to deviate and stayed in Constitucion. Our SalSolcito is broken just after being repaired in Bariloche. Too long, tedious and frustrated story to tell. It remains me of all the horror stories people tell about mechanics. But getting to know Consitucion was marvelous. We walked and walked and walked; and we found a beautiful coast with cliffs, furious ocean, and incredible huge rocks on the cost. A place where all the birds come to sing. A tragic story... we took a bus to go back to the mechanic; the driver seeing that we were visitors took a detour and went up and up in between the mountains, so narrow little streets... and stop just right there where we could see the whole peninsula... where the Tsunami in 2010 destroyed the city and took more the 360 lives.

With our car still broken we finally met our friend Rodolfo and all the upsets suddenly were washed away.

February, 2016
Bariloche

A great reunion. Bubbles and "pan dulce", celebrating all that is good in life. Making plans for the just near future.

We spent sunny days in beautiful Bari. Going down on a bicycle path; drinking coffee on a beach; and conquering another mountain! Hecti and I trek to The Frey, 9 km of hard work.... sleeping in the refuge. I am glad that we are in good shape; my legs are looking so strong!

We headed then to the 7 Lakes, this beautiful road that takes you into lakes and forest and more lakes... I am sure here to say that Bariloche is so incredible pretty during summer! As we slept again in nature, going though Lanin National Park just to wake up on the side of the Lanin volcano and being privilege to be at the source of the river.... We took time just there, as we watched and learned about flying fishing

And just like that, trying to find a place to park to go for trekking. He passed by with his daughter in a tricycle and offer to leave SalSolcito in his home. Mates (argentina tea) after we were in a trek with her; being taken to a "locals" spot, waterfalls and all. A great conversation about childhood, hopes and plans... suddenly found myself in her kitchen, a "hairdresser" salon...cut and color included!

3 days in Lago Puelo was just what we needed! 37 degrees and a gorgeous beach on a lake...the mountains as background and a beautiful sunset...

I said "beautiful places are everywhere, but what makes them special are the people we meet"...when he asked me which were our favourite spots so far. And I didn't lie just a bit! The peaceful days at the lago Puelo become suddenly so much better after spending a great day with him and his kids. An offer to join them for a BBQ (never to be refused!) and Hecti teaching the young one not to be afraid of the water plus basic skills of swimming. It was a perfect day :)

11 to 30 Janaury

Calafate. And so after so many years of planning and talking we finally welcomed Clau to our home. Always a party, a joy when we are together! We travelled for 3 weeks, crossing Chile/Argentina a few times but mostly spending our time on beautiful south Chile.

The highlights: taking Clau to the Perito Moreno and walked all the pasarelas; Hecti cooking lamb and going for a swim on the Lake Buenos Aires, close to Los Antiguos. Taking the ferry from Chile Chico to Puerto Ibañez and arriving of all days on the National Rodeo Day. We had a blast here!.Trekking to Cerro Castillo that we just discovered on route, besides a small lake and with great panoramic views. The greatest walk ever on "The bosque encantado", in the Parque National Queulat. Impossible to describe just to say that it really looked like a children's fairytale... never seen such different and awesome plants and trees... the walk going through a huge raft; difficult enough to be helped by a young and kind couple... and finished after a high hike with a bang in a form of a lagoon created by a glacier, shape like a cone with beautiful icebergs that Clau and Hecti dare to "stand and surf".... freezing cold!

Torres del Payne:


It is really difficult to describe our experience here. Left our home to board a boat that took us to the other side of the forest to start our walk. Full of energy and some trepidation...we heard about this trek for a while. Armed with a backpack - courtesy of our young Australian friends- 1 tent, 2 sleeping bags, a little gas cooker and some clothes, we ventured into the walks. OMG! We did trekking for 4 days- 3 nights, so demanding, up and down and up and up...really tortoise territory. We really thought that we wouldn't make it. 6 to 7 hours walk every day, sleeping in a tent....it was like being young again :) On day 3 we were rewarded by a magnificent surprise: kayak on the glacier. We will never forget that. A very crispy and blue sky day, so cold and so beautiful. The icebergs floating around, and up there really close to us the glacier...

It all started at the border as we entered Argentina from Chile in Tierra del Fuego. It was very late and soon after we did our papers "the officials" were in our home, chatting, asking questions....she in particular, of the pretty eyes, wanted to know more and more. Two days later, as we left for the national park, a letter on our windscreen with an invite. Next we drove off from Ushuaia to her parents estancia where they were waiting for us with "mate" and "torta frita". A beautiful house next to a rustic restaurant. In no time, the house was full of children and sons and daughters. A yummy BBQ, fresh salad from the vegi garden (I picked the oh so flavor! radish) and lots and lots of stories and laughs. Horses and a dream of building more; the rodeo and the golf. Ready to leave in the morning but the "cordero a la estaca" has been on the fire since 8:00 am! Is Sunday and all the family is helping in the big restaurant ...as we were too! Over rewarded by an amazing lunch, seating on the table at the "corner for the friends" space...

What an incredible place, such generous hosts! They have created the most beautiful and caring family....we really hope that one day we can give back so much love :)

It started as a joke, really. On the national park sitting next to a BBQ, they asked very politely if they could use it. "Is for rent, or better I will exchange it for food". Soon after, the two families were sitting with us and sharing their lunch! Quick chatting, as if we knew each other for ages.....their stories of hard work and discrimination for their skin color; so upsetting...but she laughed so big showing how great of a woman she is...a walk in the late afternoon and more food. And then; in the morning, stopping at the bakery were the bride to be works, a bag full of goodies! Bread, biscuits, sandwiches, alfajores.....how not to be grateful and so emotional?

Tierra Del Fuego
28 December

Long and treacherous, but much better than we thought! The road to Ushuaia is something that we did not want to put SalSolcito through. But she managed with full wings and colors (like my hair that is blue now to match the glaciers!) And we are so happy to be here just in time for New Years Eve as we wanted for so long...


Parked in the bay, next to a few German trucks- we laughed thinking of our delicate frenchi motorhome near the robust Germans- we were tucked in as it is really cold, but so pretty surrounded by snowy mountains!.

30 December

The end of the world. Literally. Where the ruta 3 finishes, at Lapataia. We did such a pretty trekking today, from Ensenada Zaratiegui, alongside the Beagle Channel. Green forest, emerald water, mountains...and a sudden "margarita" path! Picked a small bunch and celebrated her birthday, her life...missing her so so much!


Starving after such a long walk and after we had our passports stamp by the "official post office- end of the world- we drove a bit up and spent the night on a valley, between the lake and the bay; a fresh stream going through.... life is very very good!

31 December

Another magnificent walk! And this time we got to the border with Chile... and to the end of Ruta 3! At night, a bit sore, had a drink with a group of motorhomers and went to sleep after a midnight cheers and a yummy strawberry, cream and "dulce de leche" liquor desert!




1 January 2016

What an incredible year we had!!! We started 2015 in Morocco with Ani y Uli and travelled extensively. At one point, Hecti flew to Argentina to visit his mum and I went to UK to be with Jane and Edu. Reunited, we crossed then to Portugal spending a lot of time on its coastal line. Entered Spain and flying to Fiji for Daiana's wedding. Enjoyed a lot being with the kids and dad, Ines, Clau, Claudi and Tito. Back to Spain and meeting Rolf and Karina for the north cost of France. Driving to Belgium and then Germany. Finally, have a ball in the Baltic countries - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. A great adventure to Russia and Finland by ferry. Back to Europe and off to Poland and the Nordic walk competition....to Hamburg to take SalSolcito to the port. In Argentina, we celebrated Julian and Anna wedding and my dad 80th birthday before going to Uruguay to pick up our home and start our America dream. And today, while I am having breakfast in the most beautiful place on earth- Tierra del Fuego- the sun has just come out! Happy 2016!!!!