Back in Argentina, we're getting hitched!

We finished what we had wanted to see in the Southern Patagonia Chile. Sure, there's lots more we could do, but where do you stop? (I know, never!)

We decided to skip going back to Coyhaique for the parcel we'd had sent to the post office, it was just cheap parts and we can get them later... And we crossed the border at Futalufu back into Argentina. 

We first visited the welsh community of Trevelin, and a lovely working flour mill based on original plans from a very long time ago. Then we went to Esquel. 

Esquel is a sizeable town, I'd read a population estimate of 30,000 and another of 40,000, so it's big enough for all the services. Most importantly, we thought we could buy flight tickets there from a local travel agent. 

Why? Well buying them locally supports local small town business and by utilising the exchange rates of the 'dolar blue', we figured we'd save some money (basically, the dolar blue is where you can sell USD for about 30-35% more pesos than the official exchange rate because Argentines want USD but their governments puts a lot of restrictions on them buying them... So they buy them unofficially and pay more.)

But, our plan didn't work. The Argentine government puts a surcharge of 35% on Argentine residents purchases of international air tickets and anything else they buy overseas or online from overseas (banks add on the tax to savings accounts withdrawals from foreign ATMs and credit card statements where purchases have been made overseas). There's a lot more to it, but I'm not the one to explain it. 

As foreigners trying to buy return tickets from Brazil to Australia, we definitely aren't subject to paying this tax, however the travel agents had no way of putting through the transaction without it. We tried 2 without success. 

In the end, we bought the tickets online, directly from Delta. They were 35% cheaper.... And we didn't need to go through the whole thing of converting dollars to pesos. 

The reason why we are going to Australia? We're going to get married! When H asked me, I was totally shocked and surprised, but I eventually said I would. 

This doesn't mean we are 'settling down' .... Nope, it means we are keeping on travelling, together.