Idiots at the End of the Earth Ep 18 Trading names...

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jgh
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Joined: Oct 14, 2001 8:00 pm
Location: Plymouth, Minnesota zone 4

Idiots at the End of the Earth Ep 18 Trading names...

Post by jgh »

Idiots at the End of the Earth Ep 18 Trading names...

A funny thing happened on the road to El Calafate... one of those little accidental meetings that have all the hallmarks of “meant to be.”

The Idiots spent two nights at Hosteria El Pionero - an old estancia... sheep ranch... converted to a guest house near the entry gate to Torres del Paine NP. A bit remote... a bit rustic... and the coffee wasn't good... but it is hard to imagine a nicer backdrop!


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The morning they left, it was only a short drive to their first border crossing. They had a little apprehension – they don't speak Spanish, the crossing is in a remote area, and they were crossing into Argentina with a car licensed in Chile. Arriving at the Chilean post, they collected all their documents and enterred a slow, but methodical, process. There were four windows – marked 1,2,3,4..

At window number One, an officious official pondered and analyzed their passports and documents for several minutes, then with a solemn look, mechanically stamped documents multiple times... and waved them on. This is a government operation, so it was not surprising that window Two was unoccupied. They waited patiently as a line of folks formed behind them... and eventually a worker who had been standing in a back room watching the log jamb develop came to the window and repeated, as far as the Idiots could tell, the same process as Window 1... complete with multiple stamps.

Window Three went quickly... and Window Four just waved them past without stopping. Feeling quite the accomplished world travelers, the Idiots returned to their car and drove up to the gate into “no man's land”. They waited for someone to open the gate.

And they waited some more.

Other border crossers lined up behind them... and they waited some more.

Idiot He was being patient. He is pretty cautious about following rules at border crossings. Though their dentention in Hanoi in 2017 was brief, the windowless cement block room and uniforms were sobering. Idiot She was not so patient – She was ready to go. She decided travelers were supposed to open the border gate themselves. Smiling at Idiot He and two hitchhikers on the far side of the gate, She determined that the latch was not very complicated – but complained about how heavy the gate was.

And then there was the shouting... and the upset faces... and the running... and the extremely fast and energetic verbal exchange emphasizing the deep misunderstanding between the officials and Idiot She. At this point, the hitchhikers intervened and in excellent English and Spanish helped all parties separate and declare detent. Idiot She returned to her spot in the auto.

With a distinct lack of speed, a disgruntled official opened the gate. The Idiots drove through, granting all present their very best big smiles... because that's what Idiots do!

Then without consultation, Idiot He veered onto the shoulder and called to the hitchhikers to come and join them. He knew She would be onboard,,, it just seemed the right thing to do. Names and smiles were exchanged during the brief drive to the Argentinian border post. Going through “the three windows”, they were “a party of four” and were soon on their way. They were all headed to El Calafate, so Jana and David settled into the back seat for the four hour drive.

Most travelers have met people they like along the way... and, in spite of the exchange of email addresses, these “travel friendships” rarely survive time and distance. But sometimes there is magic and an enduring bond is established. Karla and Marco in Honduras... Connie and Larry in Kitty Hawk... Ann and Larry in Cambridge... Kathryn and Andy in West Virginia... these are all people the Idiots met while traveling and who – though physically distant – are always in the Idiots' hearts.

Forgive the Idiots this poor attempt to describe the magic. It really isn't so much about what is said... or even about what is done. There is something similar to falling in love that happens... like the self in each of the idividuals senses kin in the others and an unspoken, but binding, contract is made.

In his classic 1963 “black humor” novel, Cat's Cradle, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. invented a new religion – Bokononism. One of terms he invented is karass – A group of people linked in a cosmically significant manner, even when superficial linkages are not evident. People in the same karass are all engaged in a common purpose, but usually don't know it. It became clear petty quickly that Jana, David, and the Idiots are all members of the same karass.

That day, Jana and David from the Czech Republic joined the Idiot family. Though they are about half the Idiot's ages and have had totally different life paths, they were immediately sympatico. Jana – aka Jani (YAHN-ee) gave her name but said she didn't like it. Idiot She replied that She is also not fond of her name – so the two of them swapped names, leading to considerable confusion and humor. She-Jani and Jani-She... it just worked.

Over the next four hours they exchanged histories, discussed politics, told jokes, swapped travel stories... and just pretty much enjoyed their time together. Approaching El Calafate, they stopped at a panoramic overlook and raided the cooler in the trunk for a little roadside lunch.


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All too soon, it was time to part ways. The Idiots, since they had a car, had reservations at a hostal away from the tourist center of the town. S(J) & D were looking for a spot to roost closer to the action. With smiles and hugs, the Idiots dropped the them on the side of the road with no goodbyes, just “'til we meet again!”

About an hour later the Idiots sent an email - “Do you miss us yet?!”

The Idiots wanted to take the young people out for dinner, but they had already eaten so they suggested meeting for drinks. Of course, when they realized the Idiots had not eaten yet, they insisted on a streetside restaurant. The young ones are such high energy – rock and mountain climbers – that David managed to have another dinner. A guy from Poland they had met earlier in their trip came by and promptly joined the group. Beers and food and stories and street dogs... non-stop entertainment... and suddenly it was midnight and the waiter was stacking up the chairs.


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You know how you don't want to seem too needy early in a new relationship? The Idiots knew that David and Jana would almost certainly be going to the Perito Merino Glacier the next day... and so were the Idiots. But the Idiots are slow and their mornings are relaxed... and they wouldn't do much walking at the glacier... so they just dropped the youngsters off at their hostel with the possibility of seeing each other the next evening.

And, of course, they ran into each other at the first major viewpoint! The Idiots got a little jealous when their friends turned them down for a ride farther into the park... but they were already riding with another group and would have felt bad about dumping them. The Idiot egos were salved when SheJana confided that their new companions were nice – but sooo boooring compared to riding with the Idiots.

And then the Idiots ran into them again at their last viewpoint. And, of course, they got together again that night and talked until El Calafate rolled up its sidewalks. The Idiots were staying another day, the youngsters were hitchhiking on, so there was more bonding over dessert crepes and a sad parting. They have stayed in touch - the youngsters made their way to Bolivia and had amazing adventures. Perhaps the will meet again in person... the Idiots loved Prague so it would be no hardship if they visit there... and there is so much of the US that the youngsters haven't explored yet But in person or online... the connection is real.

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The following day was one of those great travel days when there is nothing on the itinerary. Leisurely breakfast followed by a little wandering... a little shopping... some ice cream...


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A beautiful raptor, the caracara... and a black-faced ibis playing hide and seek with the photographer... and the leaves of the lenga tree, the most common tree in southern Patagonia... and a tribute to Francisco “Perito” Moreno who explored much of this region in the mid-1880s and gave his name to the great glacier nearby..


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and empanadas and pilaf at La Lechuza - “The Owl”. The Idiots could only speculate on why someone would choose to wear a replica “letterman's jacket” like this...


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A good night view across Lago Argentino from the Idiots' hostal.


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And the sun also rises... great views from the breakfast room... and a mysterious Route 66 clock...


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A couple of good-bye to El Calafate shots. There is something about a bird on a wire...


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Haricotsv2
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Re: Idiots at the End of the Earth Ep 18 Trading names..

Post by Haricotsv2 »

Wow!!
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kHT
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Re: Idiots at the End of the Earth Ep 18 Trading names..

Post by kHT »

What a great adventure, plus friends for life!! :beer:
karma 'Happy Toes' (kHT)
The Goddess is Alive and Magic is Afoot!!!!
I'm just a simple housewife.
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