It’s been raining hard all day and the wind seems like it’s going to blow this entire village away. We’ve only been here two days, but I’ve been amazed by the wind. Its stronger than any other wind I’ve experienced and its been going for two days. I’ve spoken to a couple other travelers who also say its unlike any wind they’ve seen. I guess we’re experiencing the infamous November winds of Patagonia. Looking outside, every now and then I’ll see someone struggling to walk against the wind. All the trees and even the grass around here grows at a slant. The buildings shake. I don’t know if I can say the hottest, or coldest, or nicest, or worst place I’ve ever been off the top of my head, but I will always be able to say definitely that El Chalten is the windiest place I have ever been.

We did have to venture outside briefly today, to switch hotels. I guess I should start from the beginning. We’re realizing that Patagonia is incredibly expensive. Perhaps the most expensive place we’ve been in the past year, bar Japan. In Trelew, we got a private room with a shared bathroom at the cheapest place in town ($25). In El Calafate, we stayed in 4-bed dorms for $15 a bed. We paid the same last night, here in El Chalten, but cannot take it anymore. A private room with a shared bathroom is going to run us $50, but I cannot take any more nights in dorm rooms. Its expensive, for us, considering that our daily budget for accommodation, food, transportation, etc. is only $40 a day, but it is what it is. At least, the park is free and we have no transportation costs since all the trailheads begin in town. But at the same time, it seems pretty steep considering where we’ve been. For $15 in Asia, we’d get an awesome double room with bathroom, AC, TV, maids, and everything. Even five dollars would get us a nice double room is most places. And we’ve never even paid $50 for a room, anywhere. So to spend so much money and get a small room with two twin beds, no bathroom, and plenty of noise is somewhat discouraging. I really don’t mean to complain, especially since we’re travelling voluntarily and with the state of the world and everything, but just thought I’d share that Patagonia is ridiculously expensive. But it is what it is and at least tonight, we’ll have our own room.