Hi Everyone,
A quick hi from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. My mom and I are here for Chirstmas, (yes in the desert), and it is the hottest Christmas ever. I´ll update with travel details later.
Enjoy the holidays,
Oliver
Friday, December 25, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
El Bolson, Puerto Natales (Torres Del Paine), Calafate (Perito Moreno Glacier), and El Chalten (Fitz Roy Range)
Hello friends,
I´ve clearly been a little busy, well in retrospect maybe distracted is a better word, in the past month. After my last entry, I went to stay at a farm in El Bolson, Argentina for 3 weeks. Starting November 4th, I was on the farm that was 30 minutes outside of the town via truck. Coincidentally, the farm was located at the intersection of two rivers, and we had to cross a river (via truck, although this time much more deep waters), just like the last farm. That was about all that this farm had in common with the last, for this farm was owned by a family from the US. The farm was gorgeous, situated on rolling grassy hills with forest behind the property. (and of course a view of the mountains) Unfortunately, I got sick for the first week I was at the farm, but luckily I was in one place, relaxed, and did not have to work. After my unexpected sickness, I started working in the garden, composting, learning about Bio-intensive techniques (A special system for farming) Depending on the weather, the jobs would vary, but I did about step in the bio-intensive method, so now I have a good idea of what has to be done. From making compost, sewing seeds, changing crates, transferring plants, weeding, planting the starters (in triangles only), and preparing the garden beds. Its a long process trust me. I planted corn, potatoes, tomatoes, beets, onions, chives, tobacco, lamb´s ear, and things I do not even remember.
During all this gardening, I would sometimes work with animals. Herding sheep, watching births, and feeding were some of the jobs. Two weeks in my stay, all the sheep started giving birth, and I was able to watch that process a number of times. Unfortunately one of the mom sheep died after birth, leaving two orphan lambs, so I took them into my house for a week and fed them, via baby bottle, ever four to six hours (even in the middle of the night). After a number of days, the lambs started to recognize my scent, and would follow me around the house, front yard, and it was pretty spectacular. There names were Pigsy (named by a fellow volunteer from Australia named Adam) and Monkey (who I named). The other wwoofers (volunteers) were great, one girl from New York, and Adam and Tania, a young couple from Australia. We spent a good amount of the time together, for the family lived in a separate house.
The farm was really fancy because they had a running lodge for tourists to stay and take courses on different farm related procedures. They were just starting up and gave there first workshop on the bio-intensive method during my stay. One day I went to a neighboring farm owned by an older couple from Austria, and there I learned how to make cheese, milk a cow, and clean and prepare wool for making duvets. My day there was pretty awesome, especially cause our common language was Spanish, and not English. I learned a ton of things during my stay, and ended up making my own bread (whole wheat), yogurt, and other foods. I experimented with a ton of food, and it was really a great learning experience. I left the farm on November 27 for Bariloche, then for Osorno, Chile because my visa was going to expire.
I spent a night in Osorno, Chile, and bought a ticket for Punta Arenas, Chile (Far south Patagonia). I met a girl on the bus from Germany, and we ended up talking for a while. She had a friend in Puerto Natales, from Germany, who had a boyfriend who was a local. I decided to go with her to Puerto Natales the same night I arrive Punta Arenas because I really wanted to go to Torres Del Paine National Park. Getting in late, the family of the boyfriend offered to let me stay at their house in town. I ended up spending a ton of time with them, they me a bike, fed me, and they were amazing. They didn´t even know me, but were so incredibly open and generous it was amazing. They lent me some gear for Torres Del Paine, and so I left for four days to the park.
Even driving to the park was spectacular, I even took a picture from the bus, which I don´t normally do. I´m not going into all the details, just because I could write forever, but it was amazing. The blue lakes, the huge sheer peeks of rock, the flowers, grass, hills, mountains, snow, everything. I will upload a picture, or two when I can. I spent 3 nights in the park, hiking all day, and camping in the free campsites. The last night was next to a glacier, it was that amazing. I will remember the park forever, and would love to go back one day. It was unreal hiking alone, listening to the wind, and just enjoying the moment. It was like nothing I had ever done before. After the park, I headed back to PN and stayed with the family for two nights before I left for El Calafate. The family was waiting with open arms and I will be forever grateful. Maybe they will come to Seattle some day.
I went back to Argentina to El Calafate, and went to see the Perito Moreno Glacier the next day. I went in a taxi with some people I met in the hostel, at 6 am, so there were very little people in the park, and it was the cheapest option. The glacier was amazing, huge, and blue. And the day was gorgeous, so I was incredibly lucky. The next day I left for El Chalten, Argentina, where the famous Fitz Roy Range is located.
Located in a national park (on the edge) one can just walk two blocks from the center of the town and the trail begins. It was amazing. The weather, once again, was also unpredictably beautiful, like as if luck had been following me the whole way in Patagonia. (well for life in general I guess, right?) I spent 5 days in the park, not worrying about time, people or anything. The days were shorting for trekking, and I spent a lot of time reading in my hammock or looking at the amazing scenery. That place was amazing, in par with Torres Del Paine, and I will remember every bit of beauty that I saw. The glaciers, the mountains, stone peeks, trees, rivers, everything, amazing. Sometimes I would go find a boulder, and do some rock climbing, it was just that easy.
Now, I am going to have to wrap this up, which leads me to my next adventure. My mom comes today, she is flying into Mendoza (where I took 3 days of buses to get to), and I have to pick her up from the airport. I am pretty excited to see her come, and am happy to share my trip with her. We will probably hang out for a day or two here, I have a friend who wants to take me (and mom) rock climbing, and then we are headed for Chile, then Peru. I will update as time allows, which is not often. But things are better told face to face.
I hope life is great with everyone,
Oliver
PS: Enjoy the Holidays and drink an eggnog for me!
I´ve clearly been a little busy, well in retrospect maybe distracted is a better word, in the past month. After my last entry, I went to stay at a farm in El Bolson, Argentina for 3 weeks. Starting November 4th, I was on the farm that was 30 minutes outside of the town via truck. Coincidentally, the farm was located at the intersection of two rivers, and we had to cross a river (via truck, although this time much more deep waters), just like the last farm. That was about all that this farm had in common with the last, for this farm was owned by a family from the US. The farm was gorgeous, situated on rolling grassy hills with forest behind the property. (and of course a view of the mountains) Unfortunately, I got sick for the first week I was at the farm, but luckily I was in one place, relaxed, and did not have to work. After my unexpected sickness, I started working in the garden, composting, learning about Bio-intensive techniques (A special system for farming) Depending on the weather, the jobs would vary, but I did about step in the bio-intensive method, so now I have a good idea of what has to be done. From making compost, sewing seeds, changing crates, transferring plants, weeding, planting the starters (in triangles only), and preparing the garden beds. Its a long process trust me. I planted corn, potatoes, tomatoes, beets, onions, chives, tobacco, lamb´s ear, and things I do not even remember.
During all this gardening, I would sometimes work with animals. Herding sheep, watching births, and feeding were some of the jobs. Two weeks in my stay, all the sheep started giving birth, and I was able to watch that process a number of times. Unfortunately one of the mom sheep died after birth, leaving two orphan lambs, so I took them into my house for a week and fed them, via baby bottle, ever four to six hours (even in the middle of the night). After a number of days, the lambs started to recognize my scent, and would follow me around the house, front yard, and it was pretty spectacular. There names were Pigsy (named by a fellow volunteer from Australia named Adam) and Monkey (who I named). The other wwoofers (volunteers) were great, one girl from New York, and Adam and Tania, a young couple from Australia. We spent a good amount of the time together, for the family lived in a separate house.
The farm was really fancy because they had a running lodge for tourists to stay and take courses on different farm related procedures. They were just starting up and gave there first workshop on the bio-intensive method during my stay. One day I went to a neighboring farm owned by an older couple from Austria, and there I learned how to make cheese, milk a cow, and clean and prepare wool for making duvets. My day there was pretty awesome, especially cause our common language was Spanish, and not English. I learned a ton of things during my stay, and ended up making my own bread (whole wheat), yogurt, and other foods. I experimented with a ton of food, and it was really a great learning experience. I left the farm on November 27 for Bariloche, then for Osorno, Chile because my visa was going to expire.
I spent a night in Osorno, Chile, and bought a ticket for Punta Arenas, Chile (Far south Patagonia). I met a girl on the bus from Germany, and we ended up talking for a while. She had a friend in Puerto Natales, from Germany, who had a boyfriend who was a local. I decided to go with her to Puerto Natales the same night I arrive Punta Arenas because I really wanted to go to Torres Del Paine National Park. Getting in late, the family of the boyfriend offered to let me stay at their house in town. I ended up spending a ton of time with them, they me a bike, fed me, and they were amazing. They didn´t even know me, but were so incredibly open and generous it was amazing. They lent me some gear for Torres Del Paine, and so I left for four days to the park.
Even driving to the park was spectacular, I even took a picture from the bus, which I don´t normally do. I´m not going into all the details, just because I could write forever, but it was amazing. The blue lakes, the huge sheer peeks of rock, the flowers, grass, hills, mountains, snow, everything. I will upload a picture, or two when I can. I spent 3 nights in the park, hiking all day, and camping in the free campsites. The last night was next to a glacier, it was that amazing. I will remember the park forever, and would love to go back one day. It was unreal hiking alone, listening to the wind, and just enjoying the moment. It was like nothing I had ever done before. After the park, I headed back to PN and stayed with the family for two nights before I left for El Calafate. The family was waiting with open arms and I will be forever grateful. Maybe they will come to Seattle some day.
I went back to Argentina to El Calafate, and went to see the Perito Moreno Glacier the next day. I went in a taxi with some people I met in the hostel, at 6 am, so there were very little people in the park, and it was the cheapest option. The glacier was amazing, huge, and blue. And the day was gorgeous, so I was incredibly lucky. The next day I left for El Chalten, Argentina, where the famous Fitz Roy Range is located.
Located in a national park (on the edge) one can just walk two blocks from the center of the town and the trail begins. It was amazing. The weather, once again, was also unpredictably beautiful, like as if luck had been following me the whole way in Patagonia. (well for life in general I guess, right?) I spent 5 days in the park, not worrying about time, people or anything. The days were shorting for trekking, and I spent a lot of time reading in my hammock or looking at the amazing scenery. That place was amazing, in par with Torres Del Paine, and I will remember every bit of beauty that I saw. The glaciers, the mountains, stone peeks, trees, rivers, everything, amazing. Sometimes I would go find a boulder, and do some rock climbing, it was just that easy.
Now, I am going to have to wrap this up, which leads me to my next adventure. My mom comes today, she is flying into Mendoza (where I took 3 days of buses to get to), and I have to pick her up from the airport. I am pretty excited to see her come, and am happy to share my trip with her. We will probably hang out for a day or two here, I have a friend who wants to take me (and mom) rock climbing, and then we are headed for Chile, then Peru. I will update as time allows, which is not often. But things are better told face to face.
I hope life is great with everyone,
Oliver
PS: Enjoy the Holidays and drink an eggnog for me!
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