It is probably misleading to label this blog as Comodoro Rivadavia as this city in Patagonia was really meant to be a transit point for me to Ushuaia. Based on initial schedules, my stay in this oil refinery boomtown should last only for 4 hours. Read on to understand why it became a 17-hour stay.

After I ventured into the Andean north (Jujuy & Salta), the question was on how to traverse 5000kms across the world's 8th largest country to reach the "End of the World". The solution turned out to be easier than expected; saw a small sign at the bus station denoting the service to Ushuaia. Realised that the entire journey would take 66 (yes, no typo here) hours! Did not really have a choice (flying was out of my budget) and I dutifully paid the bus fare (AR$537/S$255.71).

The route would be pretty straightforward. Heading south along RN9, it would make short stops at Tucuman (where the Argentine independence was announced in 1816) and Santiago Del Estero. After reaching Córdoba, the bus would bypass Buenos Aires/Rosario via RN36/35/251 to get to San Antonio Oeste. From this point onwards, it would go south all the way to Ushuaia along RN3. Of course, this includes a "short" stop at Comodoro Rivadavia and a quick ferry-trip across the Straits of Magellan into Tierra del Fuego and Ushuaia.

It all went pretty well until the bus got into Vicuña Mackenna (in Córdoba province) where there was a manifestación (a demostration/strike). From what I understood from fellow passengers, the farmers were basically unhappy with increases in export taxes for their produces. Anyway, they blocked entrances to major highways with their lorries or tractors. Our bus driver tried to get us back on track by negotiating with some of the demonstrators but to no avail; we had to turn back (at least they were not violent). I fell asleep while waiting but woke up at 1am realising that the bus was finally moving (yeah!). The rest of the journey was pretty uneventful; I had missed my connecting bus to Ushuaia anyway. The bus finally drove into Comodoro Rivadavia 25 hours later.

I got down from the bus drowsily; wondering how does Comodoro Rivadavia looks like at 3am. I would have to find something to do while waiting for my next bus at 8.30pm. At least I finished "Motorcycle Diaries" written by Ernesto Guevara, better known at "Che".