This Feels Like Patagonia

We arrived this morning in El Chalten, Argentina after about 2 nights and 28 hours on the bus. El Chalten is in the heart of Patagonia, and it's starting to feel like Patagonia. Until Chalten, the images of Patagonia that I had been keeping in my brain all these years were a little off base. I must admit we were both a little disappointed. It feels like Patagonia now. The combination of the relentless wind and the huge granite spires of Cerro Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre that tower over the tiny mountain village of Chalten are unmistakably Patagonia.

Before Chalten, we were in the town of El Bolson where the artistian markets and the micro-breweries reign supreme. Mountains tower over the busy tourist town while people from all over browse the jewelry, the rugs, metalwork, and endless woodwork. Some of the intricacy of the silver jewelry was really amazing, and the beer was good, too.

El Bolson has the reputation of being a hippie town, and it is. In the center of the main plaza, there was a welded contraption that you were supposed to get in and put your head under this bucket. After you did that, the giant quartz crystal was supposed to channel good energy to you or something. It was in spanish, so that is our best guess. We have a picture of Beth being channeled. She didn't seem any different when she was done. Picture to come later.

On the day we left El Bolson, we visited an organic farm outside of town. The farm is implementing the bio-intensive strategies that Beth is interested in learning. Currently living there is a Californian woman who was able to give us an interesting tour. After the tour we stayed to pick bugs off the lettuce and weed the greenhouse and a few other beds.

Again, sorry for the lack of picture. I went to plug in my camera to this computer and the lady said something in spanish and wagged her finger at me. We all know what that means. That is all for now.