Iguazu part 2, Argentina

Not in a hurry to jump into the 18-hr bus back to Buenos Aires, I assembled a quick travel plan for my 2nd day in puerto iguazu: the hito tres fronterras mirodor, the bird shelter guira oga, and the Wanda mines.

My morning walk from the town center to the hito tres fronterras mirodor was pleasant. Local people use the same route for exercise. Here the rivers intersect to form the natural borders of Argentina, brazil, and Paraguay.

the guira oga is a rehabilitation center for endangered species, abandoned house pets, trafficked animals, injured animals, etc. So they can return to the nature later. Unfortunately, some of them may be too injured to return back to the nature thus become permanent residents of the center. The center breeds rats, chickens, worms to be food of the animals. This place reminds me of the wildlife center in Alaska which performs the same functions yet with much larger animals.

As to the Wanda mines, I waited over 40 minutes for the bus, then decided to give up because it was so hot to wait without any shad.

Iguazu falls, Argentina

The Iguaçu Falls are situated near the border of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, and is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage. It took me 6 hours to finish the Observation platforms of the Garganta del Diablo, the upper level, the lower level, and a 7 km round trip trail to a fall/swimming pool. I saw a lot of birds, butterflies, giant ants, wild flowers, and other animals. Unfortunately, the water Level was too high to run ferry to Isla San Martin. I had a great time walking in 94f, which should feel better than the winter back home in DC.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

I used the cheapest way (2 pesos, otherwise shuttle starting from 65 pesos) to get from the airport into downtown by taking the number 8 bus for 2 hrs (free city tour).

I walked around the Plaza de Mayo to take photos and find an ATM. The Plaza de Mayo has hosted most significant historical events, Presidents and their speech (in the balcony of the Casa Rosada), revolutions, protests, labor, social protests, rebellions, drops, coups, the announcement of war with England, Eva Peron, the bombing of 1995 and an endless number of crucial events for Argentina.

Left the Andes and heading to Buenos Aires

I walked through el calafata for the last time prior to my flight to Buenos Aires as my last tribute to the Andes mountain range which I travelled from north in Colombia to south in Argentina for three months. Last time Aerolineas airline gave me a window seat without any window. This time I had a window yet the lake views rather than the mountain views. I took a few photos during the flights.

Argentina is a big country that covers many different landscapes. I choose to visit iguazu falls for the weather. Maybe I will visit Ushuaia one day on the way to antatica (highly unlikely, because I do not like cold weather).

I escaped to cold and wind in 60s to the heat and sun in 90s, while my hometown DC is in the 60s as well. I am trying to make the best out of my last week on south America.

Way back to el Calafate, argentina

I seized my last day in chile to try dome white wine and walk around the town of puerto Natales near the port.

I passed the border without any problem this time, yet the bus arrived after midnight. There are many beautiful landscapes in-between the two towns.

When walking out the bus, I felt some pain inside my right ear while hopping down hill to the hostel. While waiting to skype with s friend in DC about my left knee, I checked in the hostel, brushed my teeth, and took some medication for the ear infection.

Thanks to I-pod touch that I had vedio call with my friend to show the problem on my left knee and then he showed me how to massage it. Hope I will feel better tomorrow to fly into Buenos Aires and bus to Iguazu falls.

Way to Puerto Natales Chile

Puerto Natales is the gateway to Trekking in Torres del Payne National Park. It has a few trekking shops and supermarkets.

However, I was almost sent back to Argentina by the Chilean customs due to their confusion of Taiwan (republic of china) vs. China (people of republic of china). It took them over half an hour to look at the Internet, their manuals, calls to other offices and head quarter. I almost decided to take the next bus back to Argentina rather than hiding up my fellow passengers.

Anyway, they finally figured out that they can let me in to continue my 90 days visa.

I run around the town to listen to a hiking briefing, rent a tent and a stove, and get 5-day food supplies. I have not backpacker since college and the trail is windy, so I am quite nervous. On top of these factors, I could not find any hiking partner, so I will have to find one or more on the trail tomorrow.

I walked around the town after finishing cooking and eating dinner. The mountain range looked great across the lake.

Hiking in Torres del Paine, Chile

Torres del Paine is a national park in the Extreme South region of Patagonian Chile. It is located in the southern tiers of the Andes and features mountains, lakes and glaciers.

My original plan to hike the W Circuit was almost destroyed by my 14 Kg backpack. I did not realize how heavy it was until I was dropped near the trailhead.

I thought that I would be the only person started from the last bud stop today since all other passengers of bud got off already. Coinstantally, my backpacker friends from DC changed their plan at the last minute and decided to start with this trail 1st. I was glad to hike with them than by myself.

We started 1st day from the Centre/Administration of the park, and hiked via Campamento Las Carretas to Refugio Paine Grande. My tent and other gears were heavy and my shoulder hurt. I had to stop a few times to rest my back. I managed to finished 17.5 km in 4.5 hrs, and re-planned for day hikes to minimize the distance to carry my tent.

I wondered in the dinning area of the Refugio and run into two friends I met twice in Salta, Argentina. We exchanged our travel experience since we met last time. We did not really talk much when in salta and seized this opportunity to share our life stories. They lived in London and started traveling together after their work contracts expired. They will start a new life when getting back to UK.

The camping area has hot shower facility, an enclosed kitchen with gas stoves, tables, chairs, and utility outlets, was really nice. The camping area was not windy but rained the 1st night. Fortunately, my rental tent with holes stays dry.

I woke up to hike by myself the 2nd day since my friends from DC left the day before to hike a bigger circuit. I hiked to Refugio Grey to see views of Grey Glacier and then back to Refugio Paine Grande (15 km), slept at Refugio Paine Grande camp site for 2nd night.

While resting my left knee at Refugio Grey, I chatted with a gentleman who happened to be a US attorney living in colorado. He kindly loaned me one of his grand new hiking stick to get back to the camp site. We chatted about our hiking plan for the park, and he suggested some trails I cam take when visit rocky mountain national park.

After I returned the stick, i was in the campsite kitchen, and someone announced a lost stick found on the trail. I recognized it was his model of stick and tried to return the second one back to him. However, I also realized later that it is a popular model and used by many people. I gave it to the Reception desk of the Refugio overnight and took it the second day for my left knee since no one claimed for it.

On my way back from Refugio Grey, I run into a young couple for the 4th (5th) time by accident. How likely for that to happen! We met at least at a bus(or airplane) ride, in el Calafate, in el chenten, now here. I lost their email address last time, so they took my email address this time.

When charging my I-pod in the kitchen cabin, I chatted with an Canadian lady about her trip, retirement life, and her 37-yr marriage. There were ups and downs but they survived together. It was a pretty even partnership. It was her husband's turn to cook dinner tonight.

I then wondered in the Refugio dinning area to find a corner to do yoga and massage my knee. I saw another gentleman who I gentleman who I had a brief conversation in the kitchen and started chatting with him and his two brothers about their travel plan and life. They travel together once a year without their spouses.

The 2nd night was more windy and rainy. I was woken up once by the wind, and once by the cold. Then I waited 45 minutes for the kitchen area to open to hide and decide what to do on my 3rd day. I feel strongly to escape back to the city for a warm bed but I want to hike two more days to see two overlooks!

Every one there had the same struggle as mine. Some groups ventured out in cold rain and wind to reach the Frances valley (beautiful view on the snow-covered summits), but came back in 1-2 hours. Before noon, a few of us decided to leave the park since the bad weather would last for today. Even if the rain stops, the wind kicks in to make the trails difficult to hike and the cloud will cover the three torres/Towers del Paine (Spanish "Paine" is the old indigenos name for the colour blue), three immense rock towers give the park its name. During the return bus ride, I could have turned to the trail of the three towers, but two hikers told me the towers were behind snow fog today and are likely stay the same way tomorrow. Considering the risk of weather, my injured left knee, and another windy and rainy camping night, I continued my bus to leave the park.

I have never injured my knee this way. I would rather save my left knee for other places during my last 10 days in south America.