Different kind of breakfast this morning, it was like a piece of cheesecake, a fruit, a yougurt and juice. Was okay, but not what I would prefer to have for breakfast in the morning.
I worked on the photo’s all morning as it was pouring down rain all morning. I started to laugh when I thought about a conversation I had with the owner of El Sendero the day I arrived. When I returned with the cash to pay him, he told me that any time I needed anything or whenever I wanted the room cleaned was to let him know. I said I wouldn't need the room done for some time, but that I may need some more shampoo. He looked at me and said, "I don't think you need that much shampoo." [For those that don't know me, let's just say I have short hair on the top of my head] HAHAHA ... did that ever catch me off guard. Funny guy. LOL
Later in the afternoon, I headed out to buy some groceries. Andrea and Chiara were doing the Torres hike today and I volunteered to cook supper for tonight. Not sure what I was going to cook, I had to check out the supermarket. I went to one supermarket and they had great looking meat, but did not have many vegetables. I headed up to the Unimark and purchased some groceries along with some Austral Patagonia Lager beer.
I worked my way back to the other supermarket to buy some pork chops and a young lad of about 18 years of age passed by me on his bike on the sidewalk. A short distance ahead a white truck started to back out of his driveway between two buildings. For me it looked like slow motion, but the truck backing out was moving fairly fast and hit the lad on the bike and sent him up in the air and landed about three feet from the truck onto the side of the road. The young lad was grabbing his wrist and screaming in pain. I went up to him to make certain he did not try to stand. A lady who was just behind me came over and started to talk to him. Eventually a small crowd of about 9 people came over. The truck driver had already pulled his truck back into the driveway and was talking to the lad. The driver started to help the young lad up and one lady raised her voice and gestured not to pick him up. The truck driver did not seem to listen and with one arm of the young lad over his shoulder, he put him in his truck to take him to the hospital (I assume). I was not much help, but could see that the lad was in a lot of pain. I was quite shaken up by this.
I stopped and got the pork chops, but completely forgot to get a receipt as I couldn't get that young lad out of my mind.
Well, it is time to get cooking … we shall see how it turns out. LOL
Andrea and Chiara arrived a few minutes early which was perfect as the food was ready. I prepared a pork chop with a garden salad and rolls … also some beer. This cost just over 10, 000.00 Chilean Pecos. I learned that this is the first time that Chiara and Andrea have had cucumber in a salad. After the meal they asked how much they owed me and I asked just for 3,000.00 Pecos each. They tried to give me more money, but that was not acceptable to me. They certainly were very thankful and as I explained I know what the hike was like and especially how you feel after the hike. They did have a long day.
One thing they mentioned is that taking the bus for a day hike to the park is not a very good idea. You get at the park at approximately 9:00am and have to wait in a line for approximately one hour to purchase a park pass and then have to pay 3, 000.00 Pecos to take a shuttle to the parking lot which got them started close to 10:00am. They informed me that they continually had to look at their watch and determine when they had to turn around to get back in time to catch the shuttle back to the bus. They hiked up to the same place I did and did not have time to do the last section. They indicated that it rained all morning, but the sun came out in the afternoon.
January 17, 2018
Today, I slept in for a lot longer than usual. I got up in time to join Andrea and Chiara for breakfast.
We chatted for a while and they went back to their room to pack up and be prepared for their departure of 2:00pm. At about 1pm, Andrea prepared a pasta dish. There were no spices of any sort for him to use, but again the food was wonderful. As I had said then, you know a great chef when they can prepare such a fine meal with very little.
We said our goodbye’s as they headed off to catch the bus to El Calafate. I wish them safe travels … until we meet again.