NYE in GNP (Glaciar National Park)

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  El Chalten, Patagonia, Argentina
Thursday, January 1, 2009

We rang in the 2009 in the smallest town of our trip, El Chalten.  Even though our hostel didn't have the best pricing or service, they definitely knew how to throw a good New Years bash.  All you can eat BBQ and drink for $20, a DJ, plus more Salsa dancing than we thought humanly possible (Argentina knows how to party, no doubt).  
While in South America Arik has taken to making up fake, and usually absurd, personas.  Most people get it and enjoy it, but some poor souls don't.    In Peru he was a Polish Socialist Oil Baron who frequently shouted "long live Krakow".  In Mendoza he was a wine critic from New Jersey, which always made the tour guides flinch.  But for New Years in El Chalten he was a native of Antarctica (mother was a penguin and his father was a Ukrainian scientist).    The DJ and crowd in El Chalten loved it; but one sad German guest asked what it was like to live in Antarctica...ha!  Tut mir leid...
2008 was a big year for us Broadbents. There was lots of stress, uncertainty, challenges, and changes.  We definitely didn't foresee ending the year while traveling in Patagonia, but we are so happy and thankful to be here.
Even with all the excitement of the trip there are times when we are homesick for friends, family, and the familiar.  For us the homesickness talks seem to revolve around food (big surprise, right) and start when we're hungry on a trek, or cooking up slop in a hostal.  The usual day dreams of home include:
Jack Daniels Chicken Burger from Cactus Club
Boston Pizza Perogie Pizzaz
Warm bread-loaf from the Keg
DQ Cheese Burgers (Charis)
Tim Hortons donuts, BELT, Sandwiches, and Chili
Dominoes Pep and Bacon
Joey's Bombay Butter Chicken with a Bellini
Wednesday Wings at Whiskys
Real American Breakfasts, we're talking real bacon, hash browns, sausage, maybe some Eggs Benny, and waffles....mmm.

The Beginning

Officially we have been traveling for 113 days, with 200+ to go.  We've climbed mountains, swam with alligators, learned a new language, met people from all over the world, chilled with penguins, sandboarded the world's largest dune, ate a beaver, witnessed nature, wrestled a cobra, and studied ancient civilizations.  In this short time we've definitely learned to better appreciate old Abe Lincoln's philosophy that, "in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
We feel as if we've lived a decade of adventures so far, with only a fraction of our trip complete.
We don't know how 2009 will top 2008, but with some amazing stops, and some big decisions about life coming up it we're not sure how it won't!

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Arik, Aussie, and the MC	All that was left...	Cheers	2009 Baby!!
Argentinian Family from our Table	Arik Getting some Lessons	Great Party	Route 40 Just Outside of Town

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