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Other entries in Río Gallegos

And Zen Bad Cama

It was 2pm on Sunday when Ben left the comfort of his hostel. Despite having all morning to prepare he failed to buy any provisions for the journey ahead. He had even been their while the germans bought stereotypically bought bread ham and cheese, but had decided to wait until he wouldnt be able to do it. And so he began his longest bus journey on Semi Cama seats with no food and no friends. At first it seemed to go rather well. He had two seats to himself and a nice view of the TV. He took the time to brush up on his Spanish and enjoy his own company. It was at an unknown bus stop that his luck changed, on came mother and baby and a big fat argentean snoring Joe that sat at seats either side of him. It was irritation sandwich and he was the unwilling filling. He did however manage to get some sleep and was annoyed at teh enforced change of bus at Ridivaria at 6am Monday morning. Two hours later he was back on the road on a thankfully empty bus. He woke up for lunch which would have to be the chocolates he bought in Bariloche.

It was then he saw the Patagonain landscape. It was a Thomas Hardy moment, with the natural landscape echoing his emotional condition. The sky was neither grey nor clear, but in some sort of temporal prugatory, deciding whether to darken and crack with rain, or to tidy itself and invite the sun for tea. Ben was equally in a limbo, physically waiting to arrive, with excitcement and trepidation. The baron plains reflected and unusual calm within him.The boldness of the horizon, his reasserted confidence that things will be alright, founded only on experience.

Ben had too much time on his hands.

Still thoughts like these, and picturing Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid occupied, a few hours.

It was 7.00pm on Monday when he arrived at Rio Gallegos. Instead of picking up his bag he headed straight for ticket office. (He had heard people talk of heading to calafate and didnt want it to be sold out.) It was lucky he did for as he finished the final chocoalte he overheard some distraut americans who were stuck there for the night. At 8.30 he boarded teh bus to calafate, which was by far the most uncomfortable of the three. However at 1.30am on tuesday he arrived at his destination -  El Calafate

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