“The true voyage of discovery is not about seeking new landscapes, but about having new eyes.”
Marcel Proust
Going away for a long time is not a decision to be taken lightly. Everyone has a desire to leave, whether it’s out of curiosity, for work, to escape the monotony of everyday life…
Whatever the reasons, travel is an extraordinary life experience that changes you profoundly…
We decided to travel by couchsurfing and hitchhiking. We were able to meet a lot of new people and get to grips with Argentine culture more quickly. After more than three months on the road, we already have plenty of anecdotes. Like the time we asked for hospitality at the Bajo Caracolès police station. After a hard day of getting our thumbs up, we landed in this Chubut village where there was nothing to sleep in. Or that other time, when we met some French hitchhikers who had been picked up by Nestor, who had picked us up two days before them on another hitchhiking day. It’s a bonding experience!
Of course, there are many beautiful things to see in Argentina, beautiful landscapes, nature as unexplored as ever. But what’s even more beautiful is to see what Argentina has made of us.
“Travel is not only an education for the young, but also a real plus for future life.
The first point is language. You’re going to a country to share its culture, so mastering the language is essential. Before we left, we didn’t know how to speak Spanish (just the basics). As we met new people, we improved our Castilian.
The second point is resourcefulness. There’s nothing like a trip to another culture, another continent, to shake up all your habits. We started trekking when we arrived in Patagonia, although we’d never done it before. We hitchhike to travel, which is tiring and teaches us a lot about ourselves.
And finally, a new way of looking at our surroundings. Appreciating the small pleasures of everyday life, opening up to new arts, drawing inspiration from the culture of the country in which you live. Matthieu, who makes lamps, finds new inspiration by wandering around craft markets. Or on a trekking trip, we didn’t pack enough food. Every morning, we enjoyed what little we had in the face of magnificent scenery.
Places not to be missed
The places in Patagonia: the Glacier Park with its famous Perito Moreno, the mountains including Fitz Roy in El Chalten and those in Ushuaia, but also the animals like the penguins on the Peninsula Valdès.
We stayed in Chile for two weeks, and did the famous “W” in Torres del Paine, we found a real passion for trekking!
Cultural differences
The time habits are different: stores closed between 1pm and 5pm, evening meals at 10pm…, mate is THE drink, it’s a real institution here, and the ease of human contact. We quickly made several contacts, notably hitchhiking.
The human warmth and hospitality of the Argentinians enabled us to talk to many people. We shared their daily lives, their joys and their anxieties. We understand how lucky we are to live in France, especially in terms of living comfort.
We’ll come away from a period of our lives that we’ll never forget, and we’ll head off to other countries for new adventures.
Matt and Véro from Argentina Trotters
