1-6-07, Puerto Madryn

It’s frustrating traveling in the high season. I don’t feel like Argentina is the bargain I originally thought it was. Things are way more expensive than our Lonely Planet suggests, and it was published only 2 years ago. Will and his wife confirmed that every time they come back (several times a year) things are noticeably more. As we head down the coast and spring turns to summer we are finding hotels full, and prices exorbitant. I say exorbitant, but that’s coming after 3 months of traveling in Central and South America. We are still getting steak dinners for $10each and hotel rooms for $30, dirt cheap by North American standards, but our daily budget is $50. We’ve been able to make it nearly everywhere except Mexico, Costa Rica, and Peru (Peru gas was $4/gallon). We’ve spent plenty of time driving around looking for a decent hotel only to be turned away “no vacancy.”

That’s my gripe. I’ve got to just except this portion of the trip is going to be over budget… that is unless we can go back to camping?? Amie??? ;-)

The good points of Argentina are still good. I’m still not tired of steak. Amie still loves the ice cream. Gas is like $1.50/gallon. We get props here big time, or in other words much love for moto-travellers, or saying it yet another way, we get tons of respect our way… Almost at every stop some old man wants to shake my hand and inquire about our trip. Its great.

We both feel ill so we’re taking it easy today. We slept in. We had a nap. We got enough energy to ride across town to check out an EcoCenter, kinda like the Long Marine Lab in santa cruz. There was some neat exhibits on dolphins, Penguins, Patagonia, and Peninsula Valedz.

Gas is cheap, its about $1.60/gallon

The beach scene in Puerto Madryn

Amie sweetens it up

Cars like this make me feel right at home

Hello everyone!

Look out Amie! Its about to eat your head!

What? Amie's the only one who gets to eat ice cream?