Rising to another fine day it’s a relaxed pack up. The communal toilets have the caretakers, a family camped outside the entrance in their tent and they are busy ensuring the facilities are clean and operating. My guess is they have adopted the task as a source of income. They are genial and happy people and doing a great service to the park users.
Daniel and Gisela popped over and we exchanged photos and tips on why we need to return to continue our exploration of Argentina. They are a lovey couple and we enjoyed their company immensely. Daniel, not being an English speaker contributing by understanding the threads of conversation and Gisela keeping him in the loop.
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After saying our goodbye’s we headed for our first Brazilian supermarket. “Very different”, Jen said. More like Pack & Save in NZ, where items are displayed in bulk. I like Brazil. There is something different about it. Less formality perhaps? Certainly the people seem relaxed and jovial. I like it a lot. The interaction yesterday at the service station with three young female attendants, was priceless.
Destination, Porto Alegre.
Our original plan was to head more north to Santa Maria but after discussions, decided to drive east to Porto Alegre on the Atlantic coast nearly 400k’s away, then make our way up the coast towards the big cities. I’m not sure that I’m excited about that..:)
The road is a very mixed bag. From badly broken seal, to brand new, but I fear, laid on top of the previous damage, to be replicated in a short time. The traffic from the coast is constant most of the cars with Argentine number plates and deck chairs strapped to the roof, Heading back home after the holidays and trucks, trucks trucks! I hope it’s a good sign and the beaches and camp sites will be less congested. Poki, dealing with the trucks with ease. She’s going beautifully.
A camp for the night.
Jen is, as always, planning ahead and on iOverlander has found a place to camp for the night, 40k’s short of Porto Alegre. It’s in a resident’s yard and when we arrive, there is nobody home. Due to a very sloping section, I have doubts about it’s suitability. However Raphael arrived and we found a suitable site in the back yard. It’s a little rustic but quiet and peaceful and we have decided to make it our home for two nights and have a day of relaxation tomorrow. Raphael has entrusted his house to us as he is going to be away. Perfect. The weather is looking threatening though!
We’re still not sure what time it is? The sat-nav & Mac say it’s one, and phones another, with a hours difference.
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