16 July, 2009

Vagando por la Patagonia / Meandering through Patagonia

Últimamente he tenido dificultades para pasar mis pensamientos al papel. No era la escasez de noticias, porque he tenido una sucesión de viajes por la Patagonia. Pero por lo que fuera, quizás me había entorpecido debido a la distancia del tiempo, he sido negligente con mi escritura.

Lago Argentino / Lake Argentino

Por una region tan grande como la Patagonia, mis visitas recientes solo me dejaron deseando más, sintiendo que yo solamente leí los preestrenos de un libro que quizás nunca podré terminar.

La última vez que estuve en la Patagonia en 2001, pasé la mayoría del tiempo en el lado Chileno de los Andes. Mientras el viento cortante de agosto penetraba el mejor equipo de alpinismo tenía, pasé casi una semana haciendo trekking con otros viajeros.

Este junio fue mi segunda vez en El Calafate. Con la excepción de unas de nubes en el cielo de otoño, el vuelo de Aerolineas Argentinas desde Buenos Aires aterrizó en medio de un día despejadísimo.

La Ruta 40 en la Patagonia / Route 40 in the Patagonia

Aunque ya había visto el Glaciar Perito Moreno hacía siete años, estaba exactamente tan hipnotizado esta vez, como la primera. Algunos sitios tienen ese efecto conmigo, las siluetas de los edificios de Manhattan, Sierra Nevada en California, las cimas de los Andes, las cataratas de Iguazú, y el Pacífico, etc. Sin embargo, lo que realmente quería hacer era dejar la comodidad del hostel y salir hacia las montañas con mi mochila.

Como una dama gris que no podia detener sus lágrimas, el cielo de Río Negro llovió durante mi toda estancia en Bariloche. Entonces, en vez de lo que ví en las fotos de los lagos turquesa y verde, el Lago Nahuel Huapi y sus lagos hermanos fueron simplemente una reflexión de un cielo malhumorado. Repelido por la tormenta después de tanto días debajo de la lluvia, me retiré a la compaña de otros viajeros.

Lago Nahuel Huapi cerca de Bariloche / Lake Nahuel Huapi near Bariloche


* * *

Lately I have been finding it difficult to put my thoughts down in ink. It's not for a lack of material, for I have had a series of travels through the Patagonia. But for whatever reason, perhaps the distance of time had dulled my mind, I have been neglectful about my writing.

For a region as large as the Patagonia, my recent visits only left me desiring for more, feeling like I only read the previews to a book I might never finish.

The last time I was in the Patagonia in 2001, I passed most of my time on the Chilean side of the Andes. While the biting August wind penetrated the best mountaineering equipment I had to offer, I spent almost a whole week trekking with other travelers.

El Glaciar Perito Moreno / Perito Moreno Glacier

This June was my second time in El Calafate. With the exception of a few puffs of clouds in the autumn sky, The Aerolineas Argentinas flight from Buenos Aires landed amidst a spectacularly clear day.

Although I have seen the Perito Moreno Glacier seven years before, I was just as mesmerized by it this time. Some sights just have that effect on me, the Manhattan skyline, the Sierra Nevadas in California, the peaks of the Andes, the Iguazú Falls, and the Pacific Ocean, etc. However, what I really wanted to do was to leave the comfort of the heated hostel and step into the mountains with my rucksack.

Like a gray lady who couldn't stop her tears, the Río Negro provincial sky rained during my entire sojourn in Bariloche. Instead of the torquoise and green colored lakes of photos I saw, Lake Nahuel Huapi and her sister were a mere reflection of the moody sky. Beaten back by the storm after a day of hiking in the rain, I retreated to the fellowship of other travelers.



Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi / Nahuel Huapi National Park

6 comments:

Marcos said...

i feel the same way about patagonia. excellent spanish btw... (i like how you used "despejadisimo" a veritable argentinism.

Lets get ze beeers this week. im sorry rugby stopped cause of the influenza.

Baino said...

Oh Ted, I daren't show my friend these photos she'll have a caniption. We've been talking about Patagonia for ever and I know of some cabins (read luxury accommodation) on the lake in Bariloche that I'm just bursting to stay in. She's the 'poo in a hole' type, I prefer my creature comforts so whether we'll get it off the ground who knows . . .meanwhile, I continue to travel vicariously. Thanks. (Hope your mum had a good time while she visited)

NB said...

I really like your blog. It's very informative for someone who might go to Argentina. I'd actually like to ask you some questions, if that is not too intrusive, about Argentina, Daniela Wasser, etc. Is there any way to reach you? I'm also reachable at frododpdx@gmail.com.

Gracias!

TCL said...

@ NB - happy to help out someone from PDX. Just shoot your questions over and I'll be happy to answer them to the best of my ability. BTW - tried your gmail account and got kicked back.

Cheers,

David T. Macknet said...

Dude, glad you're having fun, and are in Argentina. A few years, maybe I'll join you there.

Paddy in BA (Quickroute) said...

It's hard to keep up the enthusiasm to write - I try to do mine on long bus journeys on a tiny phone keyboard . Keep it up though as it's a record of your travels and experiences that'll fade over time