Finding Patagonia. Or finding oneself?
Well, to make things clear – I didn't find myself in South America in a spiritual way (to each their own). What I did find is an incredible continent, with a region – Patagonia – that's so mysterious, vast and hard to explain. I mean, there's not even a clear definition of where Patagonia begins. And while you climb up glaciers, ride buses for 25hours and find love in Alfajores and Maté – all on your own – you also learn a lot about yourself too.
28-05-2023, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
This is where it ends. Seems like a good place to start.
I've been very south, much in America. Very much at the end of the world. I've been very high up on mountains, high on endorphins, adrenaline, maté and cachaça. In the very depths of incredible cities, in their restaurants, dance floors and culture. In the depths of jungles, bays and local history. I've been very much on the hunt for breathtaking views, ...
... unbelievable stories and alfajores - and found plenty of them, more than I could ever imagine. I've been in busses for a very long time (150 hours) and hiked until my shoes gave up (about 200 kilometres)*. The best thing: very wonderful people crossed my path (many several times) - travelled together with me, shared their adventures with me and sometimes got drunk with me. What can I say. It was very great. Very.
What stays?
A lot of pictures. Many stories. New friends. Several ideas. An eternal grateful feeling.
What's my highlight?
As I've been joking frequently with my friends, our whole trips are one big highlight. So I can't and won't choose a darling. However, I realized that there were some things, that I couldn't (or wouldn't) have planned in advance. So here's a shortlist of some unplanned, odd, random and/or fun happenings:
- Picking up and befriending with hitch-hiker's on the way to the end of the world (and consequently also hitch-hiking for the first time)
- Hiking through the snow and with only a phone torch through the night to see the sunrise at the Torres del Paine
- Getting addicted to maté (carrying my own set with me all the time now)
- Celebrating my birthday twice in Patagonia with Argentinian steaks and great company
- Having a cat trapped in our hotel room (see last video)- Being locked out my Bed and Breakfast and thus having to climb a 3 metre high, spiky fence at 1am
- Boiling in 45°C hot water in my 'private' hot springs resort
- Climbing ice walls on a glacier on a Vulcano
- (Unsuccessfully) dancing the waltz in Montevideo in the middle of the night
- Raving to Bonobo in Buenos Aires
- Hearing 'Fürstenfeld' by 'STS' in a German town in the depths of Brazil
- Having my own tree house in a tropical paradise
- Swimming with glowing plankton
Ending such a long journey is always bittersweet. But I have a feeling that the next months back home in Europe will be just as exciting. And, I'm afraid that the next big trip won't be too far in the future.
Cheers,
Michael aka Miguel, Mike, MayCool, El Pescador
PS: Friendly reminder from our friends from Argentina: ''Las Malvinas son Argentinas!!!!'
