Southern Summer, Argentina, Chile and Y Wladfa Gymreig 16th Jan

Dipping our toes into Agentinian long distance coach travel today for the first time but by no means the last. The 300+km journey from El Calafate to Rio Gallegos is scheduled to take 4 and a half hours. Due to leave at 13.30 it doesn't arrive from RG until 13.40 but like a good Ryanair flight it's pulling out at 13.45. However its better than Ryanair in almost all respects except it doesn't fly. The seating is spacious and comfortable. Seats are bookable in advance, in fact I booked the two upstairs front seats from my desk at home the day after the Agentinian government floated the Peso on the international exchange markets and its value instantly sunk to the black market value. That was on the 17th December 2015.  I digress, so a farewell to El Calafate with some pictures.

This was the hotel, we had the room with the open window, and opposite us is this war memorial. It's getting rather shabby already, it commemorates only one war. Remember 1984?

The six little plaques are from separate authorities or institutions. I have enlarged one that makes their point quite succinctly. 

For me it just brings home the futile failure of war to solve a problem that it is the politicians job to resolve. 

Helen guarding the cases and patiently waiting for the bus that should be here.

Here you can see the double decker we will ride with for the next few hours. This Internet booking from the other side of the planet really works and we have the seats I ordered. Must try booking the Lunar Sea of Tranquility cruise next.

Come to think of it, this could be what the lunar surface is like. Mile after mile after mile of virtually nothing rather reminds me of the Australian outback. As we leave El Calafate the bus stops at a permanent police Checkpoint, like a border crossing. Everyones documents are checked then we're on our way. 

The same thing occurred as we approached Rio Gallegos. I am beginning to get that police state feeling.  A short taxi ride takes us to the Hotel Commercio which proves to be a lot smarter than I anticipated. Check out the photos, the Louis Quartoise furnishings, jacuzzi bath, (which we both enjoyed) and very spacious bedroom. 

Now let's see what Rio Gallegos has to offer us. We have until 8pm tomorrow to find out.