Country bumpkin seeks sophisticate's advice

I've been daydreamin' and mentioning same to my wonderful bride to the point
that she has picked up on my urge and 'more or less' authorized a trip to
Patagonia ( will have to be next season ... about a year from now ).

I'm a bumpkin and don't really know how all you world traveler types
organize and manage the various essentials of such trips. I ain't been on
a airplane in close to twenty years, for instance.

So, when you guys go to Alaska or Pango Pango or etc ... do you take all
your camping equipment with you, or buy most stuff when you get there ( I'm
thinking so far of about a month to six weeks of DIY fishing, mainly camping
but with enough hotel time to not go nuts, or start attracting condors
FWIW, I've researched the DIY thing enough to feel confident that it's fully
possible ... I will probably pay for access to a place or two, but not
guides and lodges )

Larry L ( who is still at the daydream stage but feels good about his
chances of pullin' this one off ) ( and who thinks this place needs a
boost that isn't from caffeine ;-)

"Larry L" wrote in message
...
I've been daydreamin' and mentioning same to my wonderful bride to the
point that she has picked up on my urge and 'more or less' authorized a
trip to Patagonia ( will have to be next season ... about a year from
now ).

I'm a bumpkin and don't really know how all you world traveler types
organize and manage the various essentials of such trips. I ain't been
on a airplane in close to twenty years, for instance.

So, when you guys go to Alaska or Pango Pango or etc ... do you take all
your camping equipment with you, or buy most stuff when you get there (
I'm thinking so far of about a month to six weeks of DIY fishing, mainly
camping but with enough hotel time to not go nuts, or start attracting
condors FWIW, I've researched the DIY thing enough to feel confident that
it's fully possible ... I will probably pay for access to a place or two,
but not guides and lodges )

Larry L ( who is still at the daydream stage but feels good about his
chances of pullin' this one off ) ( and who thinks this place needs a
boost that isn't from caffeine ;-)


If you were planning on camping I would look at renting a camper. May be
called a caravan if like Europe. It can be cold and rainy in Patagonia from
what I have seen. Not been to the south of Chile, just Santiago and to the
North. You may look in to B&B's. They are cheaper than most hotels after
you leave the USA. At least in Europe where we have traveled a fair bit.
Staying at small hotels / B&B's will also get you in touch with the people
and they may give you points on where to fish. Food is good there. They
do love meat. Been a few years, but I think the big meat sandwich is a
"Lomita". Get a good phrase book for Spanish as well as guide book. Look
at the Moon, Frommers, etc. get one you like the layout of. They speak
mostly Spanish and German. Especially outside the cities. There are
Internet Cafes everywhere these days, so you can keep in touch with home via
email for little cost. Contact your bank and credit card companies before
going and inform them of the time you will be gone and where you will be.
Otherwise, you might find out your cards do not work. Credit card companies
tag a 1-3% kicker on international transactions. So find you what your
company charges and go with the cheaper on. ATM's are the best for getting
cash. Best exchange rate, and low ATM fee if any from the out of country
bank. I had them raise my daily limit, so needed less trips to the ATM.
Make sure you have a 4 digit PIN number. Do not know of any 6 digits
anymore, but at one time Wells Fargo did. Check with an international
travel doctor specialist if there are any special shots you need. I do
recommend a Hepatitis shot. My doctor said that if you have to go to a
doctor down there, there is a possibility of blood on a gurney, etc. Take
some Cipro in case of a bad bug. ATTN: Do not take dairy after the Cipro
regimen. Kills the good bacteria also, and since the upper intestine
handles dairy and the bacteria are gone, the lower intestine gets to do the
job and it has a field day with dairy. You will need lots of TP in that
case. Been there, found out later about the dairy problems.

"Calif Bill" wrote


tons of good stuff snipped


Thanks Bill .... I noticed you over on a travel forum and thought maybe you
were planning a trip south ?

"Larry L" wrote in message
...

"Calif Bill" wrote


tons of good stuff snipped


Thanks Bill .... I noticed you over on a travel forum and thought maybe
you
were planning a trip south ?





Costa Rica.

Calif Bill wrote:
"Larry L" wrote in message
...

I've been daydreamin' and mentioning same to my wonderful bride to the
point that she has picked up on my urge and 'more or less' authorized a
trip to Patagonia ( will have to be next season ... about a year from
now ).

I'm a bumpkin and don't really know how all you world traveler types
organize and manage the various essentials of such trips. I ain't been
on a airplane in close to twenty years, for instance.

So, when you guys go to Alaska or Pango Pango or etc ... do you take all
your camping equipment with you, or buy most stuff when you get there (
I'm thinking so far of about a month to six weeks of DIY fishing, mainly
camping but with enough hotel time to not go nuts, or start attracting
condors FWIW, I've researched the DIY thing enough to feel confident that
it's fully possible ... I will probably pay for access to a place or two,
but not guides and lodges )

Larry L ( who is still at the daydream stage but feels good about his
chances of pullin' this one off ) ( and who thinks this place needs a
boost that isn't from caffeine ;-)



If you were planning on camping I would look at renting a camper. May be
called a caravan if like Europe. It can be cold and rainy in Patagonia from
what I have seen. Not been to the south of Chile, just Santiago and to the
North. You may look in to B&B's. They are cheaper than most hotels after
you leave the USA. At least in Europe where we have traveled a fair bit.
Staying at small hotels / B&B's will also get you in touch with the people
and they may give you points on where to fish. Food is good there. They
do love meat. Been a few years, but I think the big meat sandwich is a
"Lomita". Get a good phrase book for Spanish as well as guide book. Look
at the Moon, Frommers, etc. get one you like the layout of. They speak
mostly Spanish and German. Especially outside the cities. There are
Internet Cafes everywhere these days, so you can keep in touch with home via
email for little cost. Contact your bank and credit card companies before
going and inform them of the time you will be gone and where you will be.
Otherwise, you might find out your cards do not work. Credit card companies
tag a 1-3% kicker on international transactions. So find you what your
company charges and go with the cheaper on. ATM's are the best for getting
cash. Best exchange rate, and low ATM fee if any from the out of country
bank. I had them raise my daily limit, so needed less trips to the ATM.
Make sure you have a 4 digit PIN number. Do not know of any 6 digits
anymore, but at one time Wells Fargo did. Check with an international
travel doctor specialist if there are any special shots you need. I do
recommend a Hepatitis shot. My doctor said that if you have to go to a
doctor down there, there is a possibility of blood on a gurney, etc. Take
some Cipro in case of a bad bug. ATTN: Do not take dairy after the Cipro
regimen. Kills the good bacteria also, and since the upper intestine
handles dairy and the bacteria are gone, the lower intestine gets to do the
job and it has a field day with dairy. You will need lots of TP in that
case. Been there, found out later about the dairy problems.




--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

Calif Bill wrote:
"Larry L" wrote in message
...

I've been daydreamin' and mentioning same to my wonderful bride to the
point that she has picked up on my urge and 'more or less' authorized a
trip to Patagonia ( will have to be next season ... about a year from
now ).

I'm a bumpkin and don't really know how all you world traveler types
organize and manage the various essentials of such trips. I ain't been
on a airplane in close to twenty years, for instance.

So, when you guys go to Alaska or Pango Pango or etc ... do you take all
your camping equipment with you, or buy most stuff when you get there (
I'm thinking so far of about a month to six weeks of DIY fishing, mainly
camping but with enough hotel time to not go nuts, or start attracting
condors FWIW, I've researched the DIY thing enough to feel confident that
it's fully possible ... I will probably pay for access to a place or two,
but not guides and lodges )

Larry L ( who is still at the daydream stage but feels good about his
chances of pullin' this one off ) ( and who thinks this place needs a
boost that isn't from caffeine ;-)

(Sorry about that null post.)

The only advice I can give you , Larry, which I'm pretty sure you won't
follow, is don't go alone.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

"rw" wrote


The only advice I can give you , Larry, which I'm pretty sure you won't
follow, is don't go alone.

--


Do you speak Spanish? What month do you want to go? G



I admit that a 'buddy' or two would make sense, decrease some costs via
sharing, and increase the sense of security. But I don't know anybody that
fishes, let alone somebody that would want to do I trip like I imagine.

I find it hard to believe that a personals ad on the web would yield results
less dangerous than 'alone' G Let's see ... "Old man, known on ROFF,
that wants to fish in Patagonia seeks same to share vehicle expenses."
Nope, doesn't inspire faith and confidence in the outcome ( I HAVE shared a
lodge rental with a stranger for 3 days via a roff ( or some web thing) post
many years ago ... I still have nightmares ;-)


MY main worry about 'alone' is that I'm very nearly deaf and don't speak
Spanish .. a "must communicate" situation could be tough.

Actually one reason I want to do this is because it scares me. "Old"
is proving to bring lots of undesirable things with it ( a specialist told
this morning to "live with" my knee and ankle, they can't do anything more )
, weak knees, weak eyes, weak memory, weak ... oh **** the list gets too
long. But, THE single thing it has brought, so far, that I dislike most is
increased timidity and desire for the always false "sense of security"
I find myself avoiding things, and places because they may be a bit 'scary'
and I hate that in myself ... only way to fight it is to go regardless.
What the ****, if I get trapped under a monster trout that flops on me as I
try to release him G and slowly die in the wilderness of Patagonia it
won't be a tragic case of dying young or dying on the assembly line trying
to make 40 years for the extra retirement benefits.

On Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:27:04 GMT, "Larry L"
wrote:

I will probably pay for access to a place or two, but not
guides and lodges )

I don't know of any outfitters in Chile/Argintina. I'm sure there are
some. That would be my first stop. If you had to bring all your
camping gear on the plane, you'd pay a small fortune in overweight
charges. I believe there are places in both countries where you can
pay to fish. I googled all this a year or so ago.

I'm heading down to Chile in another six weeks or so to a lodge run by
a friend from Maine. I'll ask him about any do-it-yourself
adventures.

Dave

Don't mean to pull an MC here, but forgot something:

You will need a passport, of course, but not a visa. Be prepared to
pay $100 U.S. when you enter the country. The nearest fair size town
to Patagonia is Coyhaique right at the foot of the Andes, and near
lots of rivers. You should be able rent a car/truck there, and there
are hotels available. You will probably fly into Balmaceda which is
serviced by jets out of Santiago de Chile.

Good luck in you plans.

Dave

"Dave LaCourse" wrote


Good luck in you plans.



Got the passport already .... Coyhaique is one place on my list already,
too. Not much of Chile is technically in 'Patagonia' as I understand it
.... i.e. Patagonia is the steppes beween the Andes and the ATLANTIC ....
only a small section of the Andes jog west enough to have such an area in
Chile ( or the border jogs east? ) ... I mention this only because I found
it very interesting when I read it, I had used Andes and Patagonia
interchangably and ah, incorrectly ... Patagonia derives from the name of
the peoples that lived on those steppes