Life in Northern Patagonia: Palena

It is slow. Days start around 2PM (for me). And rainy all day. There is no bar. But at least we are eating about 40 plums a day EACH. That means Sarah is eating 40 plums and I am eating about 40 too. 

from our backyard plum tree

So our Foundation house is the nightly hang out spot. We sit around our breakfast nook, drink wine and play a card game that I barely understand in English or Spanish, called truco. It has been raining continuously which means I only went outside yesterday for 10 minutes to collect more yellow plums from our backyard plum tree. 

our only source of heat in the house

Sarah learned how to start a fire in our homestead stove, aka home heating system. She also is catching on to cutting kindling from our supply of firewood. Left to fend for ourselves, I feel like we are in a comedy movie. Urban mountain girls head to the chilly and rainy Northern Patagonia to learn to garden and survive without running paths, coffee or restaurants.

Ironically enough, I love it. The slow, chilly start to the day is brightened by 360 degrees of mountains, fresh plums and thigh-sized zucchini waiting to be picked, chopped and eaten. Plus, our Palena friends stop by with wine, play cards and critique our strange vegetarian cooking methods.

see that blue dot? That's where I am today. 

Heading this way? Bring your rain gear, a good book, some American playing cards to teach these folks some Euchre and be ready to survive off of no fresh vegetables or fruit, and drink Nescafe. The beauty and fishing will trump any reason to not get on a bus, then a ferry and take a small van to get here. Or, be glamorous and come in on a helicopter.