Setting out from Bariloche yesterday I still had a long journey ahead of me. I was still closer to El Calafate than to Buenos Aires despite the two-night hitchhiking journey. Cheers to Leo for hosting me for a couple of nights in a place with a fabulous lakeside setting. After some mate, Leo would give me a lift to the outskirts of town where I began my nearly 1,600 km trek to the capital. The setting along the way is absolutely wonderful and the lilacs are in full bloom.
Before long I'd end up in the small town of Villa la Angostura. If it weren't for the Spanish signs I'd swear I was in, perhaps, the northern part of NZ's South Island. Kayaking, fishing, hiking, and all sorts of other activities are on offer here; it's just too bad I don't have time to spend a few days here.
Distances are vast in Argentina! This ain't Honduras or the Dominican Republic...
Despite the brilliant weather and setting, getting lifts was rather difficult today. I'd end up in San Martin de los Andes, where two hitchhikers before me got lifts but the 4WD was too full by then. It was late afternoon and it started getting a bit chilly. Thankfully I'm well stocked with warm clothes. My fortunes would change as a man named Alfredo and his wife, Lupe, were driving to Neuquen. The landscape began to change, and the setting sun glistened off the rocky outcroppings.
In the dark, we chatted as best we could, laughing, and sipping mate. When you pull to a service station after seemingly endless time in the dark, it's a great feeling. Even better when you're able to get hot water for mate.
After quite a few hours, we'd pull into Neuquen, where Alfredo and Lupe headed home. At the train station I was, where I was thinking about crashing out there but of course it's not me, but my stuff at risk. I'd hate to wake up with no passport, money, camera, or computer. Neuquen most certainly doesn't seem like Bariloche or El Calafate; it's just not a place where oodles of backpackers and travellers would turn up, but it is a convenient transit point. Jumping online, I did find there are a few hostels in town. Unfortunately I'm out of cash so I'd have to pay with a credit card, but I went to one hostel and they didn't accept credit cards. I'd end up at Hostel Neuquen with its gorgeous owner, Rosana.
She could tell I was exhausted and made me some coffee even though it was late. What a great feeling be here! It's always amazing when you go from uncertainty to being in a nice place.
After waking up refreshed, Rosana and her daughter would have some fun with photos. They are both really gorgeous!
Whilst they don't accept credit cards at the hostel, I came up with a creative way to pay for my stay: they gave me a lift to the turnoff to Bahia Blanca and Buenos Aires, and I filled up 400 pesos worth of petrol. What a lovely place I stayed at last night. I was still more than 1,000 km from the capital but I was inching closer. A short lift would get me to the town of General Roca. Summer is in full swing in Argentina as it was hot today. All of my warm clothes today would be absolutely useless.
Another short lift would place me in the apple-growing town of Villa Regina.
There sure are some interesting towns and landscapes in Argentina, and where I passed through today felt like something out of Arizona. Having travelled from Ushuaia I've sure experienced many sights and climates that seem eerily similar to other places I've travelled. Though I could have pitched my tent on the side of the road somewhere and started out fresh, I decided I was gonna do my best to get to BA before I did. It was by no means an easy journey, and I was able to bypass Bahia Blanca, therefore avoiding being stuck in the middle of a large city.
After an all-nighter, my final lift would be in an old beat-up ute where the passenger door wouldn't latch and close properly. He'd drop me at Estacion Carlos Spegazzini where, in the heat, it was easy to catch a train to my CouchSurfing host's home.
I didn't hitchhike into Buenos Aires, but I made it close enough. Now it's time for some shut-eye...
