Here are some more likely clueless observations
– in Chile, people will give you directions even if they don’t have the slightest idea where something is. And even if they do know, they will wildly underestimate the time it takes, number of blocks or kilometers. The signs often indicate the time needed oddly. For example, they would say “1hour” for something that easily takes at least 2. Argentinos so far seem to be more accurate
– both countries are super clean. Very rare to find garbage lying around.
– In both places the frequent service inaptitude is tolerated very well. People don’t seem to mind substandard or slow service. Sure, it takes patience to be here after living in the States but you just learn to tune stuff out and think of other things while you wait and wait…
I just got back from a very lovely if very snowy 20km hike to Laguna Torre, a lake formed by yet another glacier – my 13th glacier on this trip. Or 14th? Beautiful sharp-edged gothic-cathedral-like mountains surround the glacial lake. The clouds and fog obscured the view of the gorgeous granite spires in the back but there were plentiful opportunities for adventurous bushwacking for better and better views of the lake, glacier and the mountains around.
Tomorrow, the day should be much clearer and drier so I will hike to Fitz Roy, the most imposing of the granite massifs likely in all of Argentina. It’s a long hike with a ton of elevation gain, particularly in the last 2km. But the views are more than worth it.
The day after, I will do another long hike to the mirador (lookout point) of Loma del Pliegue Tumbado.
Vagabonding Zwindling 