Ruta 40 (Route 40) is Argentina’s version of the America’s Route 66. Five thousand kilometers long, it runs from north to south along the Andes and for the most part is unpaved. People usually travel this road by four-by-four, if at all, but lacking the finances to hire one myself I booked a ticket on the one bus that travels this road. The surprisingly comfortable Chaltentravel bus shuttled myself and a group of other keen backpackers down through Patagonia to the tip of the continent. It took two full days of driving along the bumpy road and we stopped along the way at a ‘hotel’ in the middle of nowhere for some sleep and a shower.
Although for the most part the scenery was very dull and drab with very little change on the flat, arid landcape, there were occasional beautiful places, especially when we came near the national parks in the south. Despite the tedium of ten or eleven hours a day on the bus, it was really nice to actually read a whole book (for the first time I can remember) and get a grasp of the grand scale of the country I am in.
Occasionally there were views like this.
But mostly it just looked like this.
Typical Route 40 traffic (when there was any).
On of the very few small towns along the way. We stopped to fill up from the single petrol pump available.
The sturdy and surprisinly comfortable bus that delivered me safely to Patagonia after two days.
On the twenty-five hour bus journey north from Santiago, Chile to the Atacama desert we passed through miles and miles and miles of nothingness (see above). Once again a reminder of the scale of this huge continent and a reminder of how far I am from the Emerald Isle.
The glacier.
The view.
Me posing fearlessly over a (tiny) crevice 
Our team passing one of the many many trecherous areas. At anytime anyone of us or all of us could have slipped to a horrible death. But we didn't.
Trying to look cool.
There were some nice moments when the sun came out and we could take the waterproofs off, and of course it was great to be outdoors getting some exercise after all the steak-eating and partying in Buenos Aires.
Although for the most part the scenery was very dull and drab with very little change on the flat, arid landcape, there were occasional beautiful places, especially when we came near the national parks in the south. Despite the tedium of ten or eleven hours a day on the bus, it was really nice to actually read a whole book (for the first time I can remember) and get a grasp of the grand scale of the country I am in.
Occasionally there were views like this.
But mostly it just looked like this.
Typical Route 40 traffic (when there was any).
On of the very few small towns along the way. We stopped to fill up from the single petrol pump available.
The sturdy and surprisinly comfortable bus that delivered me safely to Patagonia after two days.
Went hiking in Bariloche, a town in Argentina's Lake District at the base of the Andes. A really spectacular place with amazing views of mountains and lakes all around. Some of the mountains and lakes.
My new pose 'Where's the birdie?'
Spent today hiking outside Bariloche. Stunning place and brilliant weather. Will put more snaps up later.
La Boca is a neighborhood in Buenos Aires, home of Boca Juniors football team, colourful houses and a bad reputation for being a bit dangerous. I have a friend here doing some volunteer work with a community group in La Boca and he very kindly showed us around yesterday, introduced us to some locals and told us about the area. The football stadium and coloured houses (originally done using left over ship paint from the docks) were impressive, but once away from the tourist street it was quite slummy and I wouldn't want to be there late at night.
