El Perro Negro

Grumpy old mountain man living in Spain

Tag: travel

Climbing the Duna de Bolonia

Climbing the Duna de Bolonia

A windy walk up the remarkable natural sand dune of the Duna de Bolonia, Spain

Travel

What did the Romans ever do for us?

What did the Romans ever do for us?

Well, for a start they constructed the city of Baelo Claudia. "Where's that?" you all ask!

Travel

The Straight of Gibraltar

The Straight of Gibraltar

Strong feelings looking out to Africa over the Straight of Gibraltar

Travel

The Return Journey, A Patagonian Farewell

The Return Journey, A Patagonian Farewell

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.

Patagonia, Patagonia Diaries, Travel

The Finest Journey of All (How We Stopped Being Grumpy Gits)

The Finest Journey of All (How We Stopped Being Grumpy Gits)

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 frus...

Patagonia, Patagonia Diaries, Travel

The Final 3 Hours of Travelling

The Final 3 Hours of Travelling

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 welco...

Patagonia, Patagonia Diaries, Travel

Everything interesting that happened in 13 hours

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 foo...

Patagonia, Patagonia Diaries, Travel

Queues, queues and wacky races

Queues, queues and wacky races

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: bei...

Patagonia, Patagonia Diaries, Travel

Madrid Airport

Madrid Airport

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 serious...

Patagonia, Patagonia Diaries, Travel

The Great Unraveling - From Pre-Trip Chaos to the Joy of the Unknown

The Great Unraveling - From Pre-Trip Chaos to the Joy of the Unknown

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 advent...

Patagonia, Patagonia Diaries, Travel

Starting the Journey

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? S...

Patagonia, Patagonia Diaries, Travel

Packing Chaos

Packing Chaos

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...

Patagonia, Patagonia Diaries, Travel

The Important Choice of Tent

The Important Choice of Tent

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 withs...

Patagonia, Patagonia Diaries, Travel

Our Forthcoming Trip To Patagonia

Our Forthcoming Trip To Patagonia

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 v...

Patagonia, Patagonia Diaries, Travel

Wanderings on and off the Alta Via 2 trek in the Italian Dolomites

Wanderings on and off the Alta Via 2 trek in the Italian Dolomites

One week traditional hut to hut trekking on the Alta Via 2 and one completely different week "making it up as we went along" heading south at a lower level

Trekking, Dolomites, Expeditions, Travel