On to Patagonia

Our new adventure was almost over before it began.

We made it down the highway just 15' before we came across a tire - burning protest taking place on the major thoroughfare south out of BsAs.  To us it looked quite serious but apparently these protests are treated as more of an inconvenience here.  

While quietly planning an exit strategy if the bus was attacked, we were entertained by the exit strategies the cars used.  Cars were 3 abreast coming down the on ramp as the police engrossed themselves in casual discussion on the roadside.  Were they not aware that there was a very un-peaceful protest 300m meters up the road?    This was not the first time we experienced this apathy.   A seemingly huge police presence but little in the way of police enforcement…  This presence extended to their part time gigs at the numerous kiosks, bookstores, and even Starbucks in the city.  Still not too far removed from their military roots.  On the positive our bus driver recognized the need to exit and managed to skillfully guide the double - decker bus through some very narrow side streets to by pass the mess.  Hopefully all the mirrors were still intact.

We set into a review of Spanish as we left the concrete jungle behind and entered the Pampas.  Perched on the top deck of our bus we drank in the bright sun as the prairie unfolded around us.  A movie with Spanish subtitles provided additional practice and the hours snuck away.  

I felt especially nostalgic, as our drive was similar to speeding down the Trans-Canada from Brandon to Winnipeg in late August.  Dust filled the horizon from dozens of combines bringing in what appeared to be a good harvest.  Dad would have enjoyed the scene at one roundabout where combines filled all four fields surrounding the road. 

Following an entertaining ‘bus bingo’ where we were challenged to quickly recall our Spanish numbers we tucked in to a lovely roast beef dinner – yes on the bus! -  as we passed a huge brushfire that filled the sky and lapped up dangerously close to the roadside.  Amazingly numerous people stopped by the roadside to take in the view with their cars parked 20’ from the flames.

We settled into a restful nights sleep as our bus speed into the Patagonia along the RN3.  We will follow this highway all the way to Ushuaia at the tip of Argentina.