June 19th - Bus Journey

Somehow, whenever I find myself in a bus journey and as the bus starts moving and I utter a small prayer for a safe arrival, and as I see the landscapes changing in front of my eyes, I always tend to feel complete… whole. Like this is where I’m supposed to be. Moving, always moving… always in the process of being in the journey.

Today, I witnessed plain fields, rocky mountains, glacial peaks, my first guanaco, a bird which resembles an ostrich and all that along with my mp3 player on, I couldn't help smiling.

El Calafate – at first glance. Beautiful. Small wooden houses lined up one after the other. The shops are wooden as well. From a top view, you can see the lake and the glacial peaks. The town is full of trees. It’s winter and it’s cold. And the town is deserted after 5pm (that’s around the time I reached). I couldn't find a place to eat, and had to make do with a small sandwich.

I first entered the hostel I'm staying at, and like in the horror movies, the door creaked as I opened it and entered an empty hall, an empty reception. I went at the desk and rang the bell. Nothing. I waited and after sometime shouted “Hola!”. Nothing. Very very spooky. I walked around and there were a few room doors opened. I shouted again "Hola!". Nothing. I went back at the reception and rang the bell once again. Still nothing. I finally went out. It seems the hostel has two blocks, and in the winter season only one block is opened.

I can’t believe I’m in Patagonia.