The story of these photos was always special. I traveled with Jose’s family to Patagonia in late January. It was such a breathtaking landscape; I went crazy. I had never seen anything like it. Not only the stark vegetation, but the sky, Lake Argentina, the wildlife, the quaint little town of El Calafate. Wherever I looked, there seemed to be a “once-in-a-lifetime” something, right in front of me. I took what seemed to be a million photos, and then I got back home and the anxiety of making selects got the best of me. I postponed it until about two weeks ago, when I finally felt so guilty that I sat down and forced myself to edit my photos. Then, a few days ago, I dropped my external hard drive and (for now) lost ALL of my raw files. THANK GOD I had just uploaded these images a few days before that incident because, again, it was such a special trip. I would have never forgiven myself had I lost all these images. Now they have taken on an even greater value. Alas, they don’t do Patagonia justice—just goes to show you, ain’t nothing like real life. All I can say is, if you ever get the chance to go, do it. This is coming from me: the city girl. It’s worth the haul, the data back-up and the 5 hour edit, but most of all, the memories. More posts soon.
Traveling To Patagonia, Part 1: El Calafate
June 22, 2017
IN Travel
![Maristella in the otherworldly landscape of El Calafate](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-88.jpg)
![Patagonian landscape with Lake Argentina in the distance](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-11.jpg)
A bright blue sky and Lake Argentina in the distance contrasts with the stark Patagonia vegetation consisting mostly of Mata Negra bushes.
![Flying over Lake Argentina in El Calafate](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-3.jpg)
![El Calafate airport](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-4.jpg)
Landing in El Calafate felt like landing on the moon. From the first moment I set my eyes on that landscape, I was in awe.
![Hotel Design Suites El Calafate](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-7.jpg)
![Room in Hotel Design Suites El Calafate](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-8.jpg)
![Bed in Hotel Design Suites El Calafate](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-9.jpg)
Our hotel, the Design Suites, in El Calafate.
![Hotel Design Suites El Calafate](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-83.jpg)
![Hotel Design Suites El Calafate](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-86.jpg)
![Hotel Design Suites El Calafate](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-84.jpg)
![Wildflowers in El Calafate, Patagonia](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-85.jpg)
![Garden roses in Patagonia](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-76.jpg)
![Maristella wears a black parka and skinny jeans with pink Acne boots](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-89.jpg)
![Maristella wears a fur trimmed hooded parka, black skinny jeans and Acne Telde boots in pink](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-90.jpg)
The earth seems barren in Patagonia, but there are actually very specific plants that thrive in this extreme South American climate.
![Souvenir stickers and maps in El Calafate, Argentina](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-79.jpg)
![Old Fiat car in Argentina](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-45.jpg)
![Patagonian Chocolate flavored ice cream from Ovejitas in El Calafate](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-82.jpg)
Ovejitas de la Patagonia serves the most decadent and delicious ice cream. The Patagonian Chocolate flavor is a must.
![Maristella wears a faux fur trimmed hooded Parka by Armani EA7](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-97.jpg)
![Maristella wears a black hooded parka from Armani, Calvin Klein skinny jeans and Acne pink Telde boots](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-92.jpg)
![Maristella wears a faux fur trimmed black Parka](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-94.jpg)
![Maristella in the stark Patagonian landscape](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-93.jpg)
![Garden roses in Patagonia](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-78.jpg)
![Pink and peach Garden roses in Patagonia](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-77.jpg)
![Maristella's Patagonian travel style](https://aconstellationjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/aconstellation-patagonia-96.jpg)