LivingInPatagonia.com

Raising the Moral

Written by Shanie

I came across this article today and thought it worthy of sharing.

First off, I thought that the author, Brandon Sack did an excellent job of writing it.

But secondly, and more importantly, I think he verbalizes a distinct truth about the demonstrating in Argentina…a nation okay with people speaking out for their rights and the rights of human kind. Which is something he feels is strongly lacking in the United States (and I must agree).

There has been some talk on travel boards about how people feel they maybe shouldn’t travel to Argentina because of what was going on with the farmer’s strikes. I feel this is losing the focus. Traveling to another country is about opening yourself up to learning about another culture. Argentina looks at demonstrating as a healthy must within their society. The public demonstrations have been (except for a few flukes: ie the top of a light post falling,hitting and killing someone, and police pushing the head cheese of one of the four farmer’s unions while trying to break up a road block) peaceful. The passionate Argentines are actually a great group of people to watch and learn from when they are speaking out for something they believe in.

Our first trip to Argentina was our honeymoon. It was 2002 and the country was still in turmoil from the array of problems caused by a run through of four presidents in about as many months and the devaluation of the peso.

The last few days of the trip was in Buenos Aires. We were walking down Florida, doing some shopping. All of a sudden people started cheering, throwing colored paper out windows, clapping, whistling, hugging each other, drivers honking horns. The million-plus people walking and driving the Florida shopping district were all acting as if they had just found out their collective dream had been fulfilled.

We walked into a store to find out what was going on.

The store clerk explained to us that the people of the country had decided to, twice a week at a pre-determined time, clap, cheer, and make some noise to help boost the moral of the country and show the government that the people would persevere.

I love that. What a great reason to demonstrate. I bet there were some people after Hurricane Katrina that could of used that type of support.

The Patagonian Choique

Written by Shanie

The Choique bird (or Lesser-Rhea in English) is an interesting creature. It resembles an ostrich, although it is smaller in stature, has brown coloring, small feathers along its skinny neck, and (interestingly enough) has three toes to its foot, instead of two. Another difference, is that its colorful cousin couldn’t handle the Patagonia weather. But the Choique can. It lives in the high Andean plains and vast Patagonian grassland.

Its round frame stuck on yellowish, toothpick legs is, on average, 37 inches tall. The coloring is very dull and basic with the brown feathers being highlighted with a tinge of white on the back end of the animal. The chest and abdomen area are drenched in white plumage.

It is a very social bird. Traveling in packs of 30 to 40, the Choique works together to protect their young. The males are known to have multiple partners during breeding season, putting all of the eggs in one basket (30 - 50 per nest). The male incubates the eggs for about 40 days. The young hang with their parents for up to three years.

Choique’s are not able to fly because of their minuscule wings. Instead, they can run up to 40 mph.

Phrase of the Week

estoy en tema:I am on topic. One would use this phrase to say “I am working on it” or “I know what’s going on”.  

Hiking Pictorial

Written by Shanie

Since we have been getting some requests as of late asking for more pictures, I thought I would do a pictorial post on our hike tonight.

We decided to wander up our favorite trail, what we call the Gnar Gnar trail. We wrote about our nine-hour loop combining Gnar Gnar and Lopez a while back. This is a well-thought out path that maneuvers through rock cliffs, bamboo forests and waterfalls. Who says that Argentines don’t have foresight?

Whoever built the Gnar Gnar trail is an expert at connecting the dots.

So on to the hike…

Dulce, our young wonder-dog (she’s taking after her older brother very well) waiting patiently at a Cairn.

The sun falling south behind the ominous Andes…

The wispy clouds and furling smoke moving towards a rosy end…

Suerte enjoying the fresh air and views. Cerro Tronador in the background starting to be bathed by a pink hue…

A little rose water with that bath, perhaps?

A little closer look at the fresh snow and cotton candy pink of Tronador…

After a nice meditation break, we decide it is time to make our way down with the impending twilight…

Moving our way through the off-width climbing section…Dulce patiently waiting her turn.

A quick look back at the atardecer washing the mountains in orange light…

It’s hard not to stop and stare…

Bergen’s a happy pup…

So are the sunset gods…

As well they should be…their painting magic that they drape the Patagonian sky with at sunset is magnificent.

We sure do appreciate it.

Catedral Closed Until More Snow Falls

Written by Jamie

Cerro Catedral was forced to close their slopes to skiers until more snow falls.

Last night it rained pretty hard and felt warm. Waking up today and looking at the peaks across the lake, it was pretty obvious it has rained to the top of the peaks.

So, we are in a holding pattern in these parts until we receive more snow. The forecast calls for some heavy precipitation from Thursday onwards.

Picture of the Week

Sunset over Lago Gutierrez

Phrase of the Week

que garrón:aargh! What a pain, etc.

This was just used by our Argentine neighbor to explain some construction going on in her house.

Since we skipped our Wednesday PotW for the ski resort opening, here you have it, fresh off the press.

Another Side of Winter in Bariloche

Written by Jamie

We always post beautiful pictures of this part of the world, that’s easy. I was downtown and came across this one-piece snow suit rental shop.

I wonder if they use the same disinfectant they use on bowling shoes?

Cerro Catedral Season Begins

Written by Jamie

Well, after several false starts, the 2008 lift served ski season has begun in Bariloche. The snow conditions were pretty good on the upper third of the mountain.

Even though the ski resort is open I would still call it “low tide”. The mountains can still use some more snow. I think a nice storm ought to do the trick.

The other highlight besides skiing again was being treated to some friendly condors buzzing us on the ridge line. Shanie and I agreed, they are the coolest birds ever. Whenever they fly over head, we feel very lucky.

This Afternoon at Bahia Lopez

I was looking at this week’s blog entry and noticed is needed some more pictures.