December 6, 2025 by Richard
The journey home was a breeze, a stark, welcome contrast to the stress and queues of the outward leg. This was the easy part, a long exhale after over a month of wonders.
Our farewell to Patagonia began under fitting skies. On Thursday, 4th December, the las Lengas minibus collected us outside the Hosteria Confin Patagonico at 9am. A grey ceiling hung low, with a light drizzle falling, a perfect mirror for our reluctant hearts. But after twenty minutes driving east, the landscape and our spirits shifted. The rain ceased as the vast pampas and steppes unfurled. Skies cleared, and the sun broke through, glinting off the astonishing turquoise waters of Lago Viedma streaming past our windows. I never tire of this familiar road to El Calafate airport. The sheer, arid vastness of...
November 1, 2025 by Richard
If you’ve been following this TravelLog, you’d be forgiven for thinking we’re two joy-sucking vampires who hate fun, sunlight, and functional transportation. The journey had been a masterclass in frustration, requiring the patience of a saint and the resilience of a Nokia 3310. But then we flew into El Calafate, and the travel gods finally decided to stop using us as their personal punchbag. Being a small municipal airport, we collected our bags in roughly 20 minutes a timespan so brief I almost forgot how to scowl. Even others on our flight noticeably relaxed. Immediately, we were met by our...
November 1, 2025 by Richard
After a tough, frustrating 45 hours of difficult travelling, the final 3 hours were unmitigated bliss! The gods were smiling down on us as we approached El Chalten and the magnificent Mt Fitzroy welcomed us. Not the best image as shot from a mini bus travelling at 95kph, constantly hit by crosswinds and a dirty windscreen. Will write more about this magical 3 hour journey tomorrow but beer and pizza await.
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October 31, 2025 by Richard
A 45 second video summary of a 13 hour night flight from Madrid to Buenos Aires. The first time I've had my safety demonstration done, not by the plane stewards, but in this case, by the Argentine football team. Unique thinking from Aerolineas Argentina!
October 31, 2025 by Kiersten
I'm British. Queuing is supposed to be in my blood, a national sport I'm meant to excel at. But it turns out, I absolutely hate it. What I truly love is the alternative I'm experiencing right now: being in a car with a driver who’s a straight-up reject from Wacky Races, charging across Buenos Aires at a quarter to six in the morning. This isn't a commute; it's a rally stage. Our mission: make it to the next airport. And as I type this, hurtling past sleepy buildings, I've never felt more alive. This is the antidote to the soul-crushing...
October 30, 2025 by Richard
Well, that was stressful. From arrival at the airport to sitting down with a well deserved beer took 2.5 hours! Long queues at checkin/bag drop, security and passport control. Making me think seriously about doing any more long haul travelling. P.S Bet I'm thinking differently in a months time. Maybe I'm not just fickle, I'm a really grumpy old man too 🤣
October 30, 2025 by Kiersten
There’s a certain magic that settles in once you’re finally on your way. The frantic energy of the last few weeks begins to dissolve, replaced by the gentle hum of the engine and the promise of adventure. For us, that moment came three and a half hours into the bus journey to Madrid airport. The world outside blurs, and you’re left in a bubble of transition. You miss an announcement or don't quite understand one, and it doesn’t matter. You find yourself wondering, will the bus stop along the way? and silently hoping it doesn't. It has a toilet and...
October 30, 2025 by Richard
It's always quite a sad moment when we go on our travels to leave home and our dogs. Even more so when it's an extended trip. Do they sense it will be a lengthy parting or is it just us assuming so? So we left home at first light and are thankful to our neighbour for driving us to Granada bus station for the 9am bus to Madrid airport. Bus travel has come on a lot. Leather seats, headrest tablets, adjustable seats, lots of storage options, free WiFi etc. Time for a 5 hour chill out now after all the...
October 24, 2025 by Richard
The week before an extended trip is always fraught with packing chaos. What to take, what to travel with etc. Made even more complex because our trip is to the other side of the world In a land of ice and snow. Will come after just emerging from a Spanish summer! We have 23kg hold luggage, 8kg cabin luggage together with a 3kg personal bag. How on earth is all this mountain gear going to fit in?
October 22, 2025 by Richard
Spent a few hours today thinking about a tent for Patagonia. Don't need expedition tent as only out for 3 days max at a time. Given ferocity of weather in Patagonia it needs to be very strong to withstand the winds. It's a weight x comfort x performance equation. Eventually settled for the single skin Crux Raid X1. A little small for two but very strong, stable, tough & relatively easy to put up in blizzards. Plus, only 1.5kg (3.3lbs) to carry arouK
October 20, 2025 by Richard
At the end of October 2025 my wife and I head back to the town of El Chalten in Patagonia. Its a place we have visited on six previous occasions. This time however we shall not be venturing onto the vast expanse of the southern Patagonian icecap. Instead, we shall be enjoying the delights of the town of El Chalten and reporting back about the hiking, backpacking, stunning landscapes and amazing wildlife in the vicinity. Its a long journey there from our home in southern Spain. We leave the city of Granada early on 30th October and head via Madrid...
