Ruta 40 - part 1

Picked up by angry, slightly hectic woman at 6:15 in the morning. Sun still not up so we were sitting in her car, her asking us where to go (she was supposed to know), and us answering "no abla espanol". Great start for the day. Got to the place where the bus pickup was and we met with the group of other travellers who were also going to do Ruta 40. 

First stretch of the road was the 823 km from Bariloche to Perito Moreno town. Scenery and landscape was beautiful and fantastic the entire morning with the sun getting up just hitting the peaks of the mountains, then gradually rising higher and higher, clearing the mist in the valleys. 

Drove through a couple of small villages during the morning but otherwise it was just nature, nature and nature. Landscape gradually changing from mountains to hills and finally to the big open plains with canyons here and there. No people, no civilisation, no nothing. 

Stopped for lunch in small village. Had the usual empanadas, salad and pizza for lunch. Nothing else going on in town. Realised that there also was a bakery so we went there and bought 3 different cakes. How wonderful.

Drove the entire afternoon before making a final stop some 150 km from Perito Moreno. That was also where the gravel road started and our average speed dropped a bit. Arrived in Perito Moreno at 8 in the evening at the Belgrano Hotel. Looked a bit "used" but we had a room with bed, door and toilet.

What more can you ask for? Realised that Perito Moreno was nothing more than a main street so we walked up and down the main street to look for some much needed dinner. Our guide recommended the restaurant at our hotel. To us it didn't look that nice so we found "Restaurant Americano" and had some nice meat, a large beer - and ice cream for dessert.