Through The Enchanted Valley

Our drive back from San Martin is police free (they aren't even out stopping people on the roads today — the system defies logic).

We leave our little hosteria around 11:00 a.m. and make our way back along a different route, through more of the dramatic landscape of the Patagonian steppe.












The highlight of the trip is The Enchanted Valley, a stretch of highway that winds through a valley (duh!) lined with rock cliffs on both sides. Centuries of howling winds have carved striking natural sculptures and left tall "totem pole" like outcroppings, making it indeed appear magical.
















We also spot a few timid guanacos poking their llama-like heads and ears up along the side of the road and Jenn is able to sneak up on them for a quick photo before they scatter down the slope and trill nervously back at us.





We are very glad that we came to Patagonia. It has changed the whole feel of our Argentinian journey. Our first experience was two weeks of culturally intriguing but frenetic Buenos Aires and by the end of that two weeks, we were ready for something new. We were also doubting we could continue our travels by ourselves without the help of a guided trip.

But we persevered and Patagonia was just the ticket — stunningly beautiful landscape, panoramic vistas that go on for as far as the eye can see, glaciers, mountains and smaller towns with a more laid back feel. This was the Argentina I was hoping for and although it took some time to show itself, we are reaping the rewards now. Already we are saying, "When we come back, we'll have to go here or see more of this." That says something about how we're feeling about this experience.

Argentina is a huge country and not so easy to get around. And then there's the small matter of a language barrier. We are realizing this visit is just a taster — a sampling of South America culture and the environment. Chile has a pull for us and people have implored us to go and visit, but we've decided not to go this time. When/if we do return, we will be wiser and know what it takes to travel this continent and where exactly we want to go.

Tomorrow, we pack up our bags again and fly to Iguazu to see the majestic Iguazu Falls which everyone has told us is a "do not miss." A couple of days there and then back to Buenos Aires for our flight to... California.

Yes, we're coming back to North America.