Day 96: Saturday, January, 5th
El Chalten, Argentina
Stayed at Rancho Grande Hostel- night 3/3

Dear Obiwan,

Today was a needed rest day for me and I’m so grateful for it. Kelsey left early in the morning for a hike and I headed to find breakfast a few hours later. I found an adorable restaurant up the street from the hostel. The restaurant was perfect, it was warm and had lovely brown paper placemets with a beautiful map drawn if the town on it. The food was okay but the atmosphere was wonderful.

After this I went to a coffee shop. I had asked our awesome hostel workers, “where can I find good coffee, but more importantly, comfy chairs?” One of the guys took me seriously and told me he hadn’t tried out all the chairs of every coffee shop in town…wait you haven’t?! 😂

After a very cold and windy walk to the coffee shop, I was inside and man, Obi, these seats were comfortable! Also this cafe was also a hotel and an art gallery. Beautiful paintings all around and some hand made sculptures as well.

Oh look at this cool house!:

A little later Kelsey met up and told me the hike was okay, it started off sunny but then turned into windy chilly cloudy time. She said she finallyy felt the Patagonia winds, the wind was so strong they almost knocked her over! I can’t say I’m not grateful I didn’t go 😂.

Before dinner we stopped at ‘La Vinería’ which was a wine place and it was so cool! It was a wine bar but felt like a dive bar back in Philly- felt homey, warm, full of friends, and lots of flannel. I also had some meatballs here that blew my mind! So delicious!

We then had dinner at Ahonikenk, at this point I was dying from exhaustion, but I had a nice dinner with Kelsey.

But the bathroom was funny, Obi:

And then…when we returned to our room.

Um, Obi do you remember that yesterday I opened the window in our room because it was so hot at night?…and then found out the next morning that the window was broken?

Well. We got back and unlike last night (when our room was a sauna) tonight it was FREEZING. I tried to sleep but it was WILDLY WINDY and SO cold. As I was lying in my bed, freezing, I looked over at the other bunk bed and saw Kelsey and our other roommate, who was from Hawaii, just sleeping so soundly and pleasantly.

Eventually, I couldn’t handle the cold or wind anymore. I had to confess that I broke the window and ask for help! I first asked house keeping, they were very friendly…but never came back?

I then went downstairs and just confessed to the guys at reception, I told them I opened it last night and didn’t know it was broken.

He immediately said, “well yes, there’s a sign saying not to touch it!” 🤦🏻‍♀️

But he came to help and walked into the room he said, “IT’S FREEZING!” He initially was worried because he couldn’t shut it. He left and returned 5 minutes later with a trash bag and lots of tape.

He then shoved the trashbag into the cracks and then taped it over with duct tape and somehow it worked. He saved the day Obiwan! Legit IS MY HERO. He then turned the heat up full throttle. A few hours later it was an INFERNO. But, at least it wasn’t an icebox!

Here is the sign…I didn’t see it last night in the dark Obi!:

And here, look at his amazing fix!:

Day 97: Sunday, January, 6th
El Calafate, Argentina
Stay at Folk Hostel

Today we hiked to see a waterfall Obiwan! I ate at Panderia and Cafe had the ‘La Nana’ which is this delicious flakesticky sweat croissant with ham and cheese, scrambled eggs, and toast with butter :D.

After breakfast we walked the easy hike to the waterfall, which is suggested to go any day! Because the weather doesn’t effect it’s beauty!

Look how beautiful our hike was too the waterfall Obi!:

Waterfall!:

Views from the hike back:

After this we had dinner at ‘La Cereseria.’ Kelsey got some amazing stew called ‘Locro’ and I had pancetta pizza that was one of the best pizzas I’ve had in all of South America! It had SAUCE and a firm crust and yummy smoked bacon and good cheese! Then for dessert I had a delicious nut brownie with ice cream and Kelsey had wine dipped pear drenched in chocolate and cinnamon.

On our walk back to our hostel the wind was so strong and was pushing us head on! If you turned the wrong angle you could almost fall over!

We said bye to the amazing hostel worker, Ari, and walked to the bus stop, but this direction the wind helped pushed us there!

Then on our bus to El Calafate we had an amazing view of Viedma Lake and it had ice burgs, it was a beautiful bus ride Obiwan!

Well until the next adventure Obiwan,
Miss you terribly,
Love Tú Madre,
Carly