The strong wind seems to be constant in El Calafate. It feels as if it could lift you and everything else with you. I took a taxi to Glaciarium, the new museum of patagonian ice. The taxi driver (who I doubt was old enough to have a driving license), had the back of his seat in sleeping, not driving, position, answered his mobile phone, left the wheel to change gear with his other hand, and drove at about 100Kms/hr while it seemed that the car would take off with that wind.
Glaciarium looks like a centre for studying UFOs in the middle of nowhere. It´s impressive, lots of new technology (too much, maybe, too expensive and fancy) and amazing things one can learn about ice and glaciars. I was the only visitor this morning. I felt utterly crazy when trying to walk the 50 metres from the point where the taxi left me to the museum entrance in the middle of the rain and the wind.
El Calafate lives of tourism. In the main street you just see agencies, souvenir and handicraft shops, cafés, restaurants, banks and... the casino. More apartments and hotels are being built, its airport will soon be twice its actual size, more tourists will arrive, more people will make their living of it. Nevertheless, for the time being, numbers seem to be under control. Nowhere, so far, have a felt like being part if a huge crowd, as it happens in other places.
Whenever I am leaving a place, I find myself taking a good look at it, trying to lock it in my memory for ever. Or trying to take in as many images as possible, until next time...
Two and a half hours of delay at the airport resulted in changing planes in less than five minutes in Buenos Aires (they closed the airplane door behind me) and arriving in Salta with no luggage. But just from what I saw on my way to the hotel from the airport, I know I´ve arrived to my destination. Who cares if I have not got a pyjama for tonight. I am too happy to be here. Finally.
Glaciarium looks like a centre for studying UFOs in the middle of nowhere. It´s impressive, lots of new technology (too much, maybe, too expensive and fancy) and amazing things one can learn about ice and glaciars. I was the only visitor this morning. I felt utterly crazy when trying to walk the 50 metres from the point where the taxi left me to the museum entrance in the middle of the rain and the wind.
El Calafate lives of tourism. In the main street you just see agencies, souvenir and handicraft shops, cafés, restaurants, banks and... the casino. More apartments and hotels are being built, its airport will soon be twice its actual size, more tourists will arrive, more people will make their living of it. Nevertheless, for the time being, numbers seem to be under control. Nowhere, so far, have a felt like being part if a huge crowd, as it happens in other places.
Whenever I am leaving a place, I find myself taking a good look at it, trying to lock it in my memory for ever. Or trying to take in as many images as possible, until next time...
Two and a half hours of delay at the airport resulted in changing planes in less than five minutes in Buenos Aires (they closed the airplane door behind me) and arriving in Salta with no luggage. But just from what I saw on my way to the hotel from the airport, I know I´ve arrived to my destination. Who cares if I have not got a pyjama for tonight. I am too happy to be here. Finally.
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