Thursday, April 2, 2020
Punta del Este, Uruguay
Punta del Este is reminiscent of Ft Lauderdale or even Palm Beach. Unfortunately, I did not see much because the airports were closing due to COVID-19, and I basically had to evacuate. The US Embassy in Montevideo was very helpful in finding me a flight to Panama -> DEN. It was one of the last flights. I left my truck in the hands of Wave Logistics, who will ship it to a yet-to-be-determined port in the US. (Update: It arrived at the Port of Houston, Texas in late May, 2020).
GPS Devices
I primarily relied upon Google Maps running on an old iPhone 6 the entire trip. Another app that was a good backup to have was Sygic. It allows you to download maps of each country, eliminating the need for a cell connection. A couple of times when I didn't have a cell connection, I was happy to have it. It is a paid app. About $20 if memory serves. You can also download predefined areas in Google Maps, but in much smaller areas than an entire country.
A 3rd app that was useful for hikes near the Cotopaxi Volcano and the mountains above Quito was maps.me. Free, with ads.
Apple Maps only gave navigation directions as far south as Mexico. Beyond Mexico, the correct map would display, but it wouldn't give directions. I don't think I ever used it the entire trip.
I purchased a Garmin Drive Smart 51GPS that was advertised as having maps for Mexico. In 2 trips to Mexico, I found it to have incomplete data both in terms of gas stations, etc, and actual towns on the map. Don't bother with it.
A 3rd app that was useful for hikes near the Cotopaxi Volcano and the mountains above Quito was maps.me. Free, with ads.
Apple Maps only gave navigation directions as far south as Mexico. Beyond Mexico, the correct map would display, but it wouldn't give directions. I don't think I ever used it the entire trip.
I purchased a Garmin Drive Smart 51GPS that was advertised as having maps for Mexico. In 2 trips to Mexico, I found it to have incomplete data both in terms of gas stations, etc, and actual towns on the map. Don't bother with it.
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Argentina/Uruguay Border
Crossed the border from Gualeguaychú Argentina on Mar 15, one day before it closed due to COVID-19.
8Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Perito Moreno Glacier
The Perito Moreno Glacier in Southern Patagonia is the world's 3rd largest reserve of fresh water.
"Despite that most of the innumerable glaciers worldwide are retreating as a result of global warming and climate change, one of the few unusual glaciers that maintains a state of equilibrium is the Perito Moreno glacier because it continues to accumulate mass at a rate similar to that of its loss. The reason remains debated by glaciologists."
Glacier fed water in Patagonia has a special greenish-blue color due to minerals.
See video for a "calving" that I was able to capture.
"Despite that most of the innumerable glaciers worldwide are retreating as a result of global warming and climate change, one of the few unusual glaciers that maintains a state of equilibrium is the Perito Moreno glacier because it continues to accumulate mass at a rate similar to that of its loss. The reason remains debated by glaciologists."
Glacier fed water in Patagonia has a special greenish-blue color due to minerals.
See video for a "calving" that I was able to capture.
Saturday, March 7, 2020
Northern Patagonia Lake Region
From Puerto Montt, Chile, to San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina. The latter is a ski resort. Reminiscent of Lake Tahoe. Not Latin feeling at all. Seems like the wealthier countries like Chile and Argentina have the easiest border crossings.
Before crossing over to Bariloche, I stayed one night at the Playa Maqui Lodge, at the shore of Lake Llanquihue in Chile. Beautiful historic home run by one of the family's German descendants.
Argentine ATMs will only dispense roughly the equivalent of $40 USD at one time. The restrictions are apparently to curb inflation, which is rampant. I've read that you can use your credit card to buy chips at a casino, and then immediately cash them in. I tried that at a casino in Bariloche, and was told they only accept debit cards, which I don't like using except at ATMs.
A fellow overlander said that one can ask a gas station attendant to charge you double the actual gas charge on your credit card when you're filling up, and give you the difference in cash. That actually worked, to my surprise. But getting about $30 in cash every time I fill up isn't very efficient.
Before crossing over to Bariloche, I stayed one night at the Playa Maqui Lodge, at the shore of Lake Llanquihue in Chile. Beautiful historic home run by one of the family's German descendants.
Argentine ATMs will only dispense roughly the equivalent of $40 USD at one time. The restrictions are apparently to curb inflation, which is rampant. I've read that you can use your credit card to buy chips at a casino, and then immediately cash them in. I tried that at a casino in Bariloche, and was told they only accept debit cards, which I don't like using except at ATMs.
A fellow overlander said that one can ask a gas station attendant to charge you double the actual gas charge on your credit card when you're filling up, and give you the difference in cash. That actually worked, to my surprise. But getting about $30 in cash every time I fill up isn't very efficient.
