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Ruta 40 Argentina
18th January 2010
We were happy to arrive in El Bolsón after 2 long 12 hour days on a bus heading north on the adventurous (code word for unpaved) Ruta 40.
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El Bolsón is a hippy town with a lively craft and organic food market. The delicious berries and cherries are in season. We spent a pleasant afternoon sampling the local homemade beer, lying on the grass listening to music.
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Not far our of town is el Bosque Tallado, a forest of huge sculptures carved out of trees burnt in a forest fire. We also trekked beside the Rio Azul (blue river) up to el Cajón del Azul, a narrow canyon 3 metres wide and 40 metres deep.
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To go back in time it is possible to ride la trochita (the old Patagonian Express steam train) on a 2 hour round trip from Esquel. It was from there we accessed the National Park Los Alerces, hiking above the tree line and were almost blown off a steep ridge by the strong gusts of wind.
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Before leaving we made a special trip to Trevelin, where the Welsh settled in the mid 1800´s, to sample a Welsh afternoon tea at one of the Casas de Té.
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The famous Route 40

Just a minor 1 hour delay

The view from the bus for 2 days

The church in El Bolsón

El Bolsón hippy scene

Sculptured tree in El Bosque Tallado




Rio Azul


Looking down the valley of the Rio Azul



Gaucho on the path

Argentinos love their mate

Different mate cups

Church at Esquel

The old Patagonia Express

Welsh afternoon tea, part 1

... and then there was more