The last week or so in my final countdown for departure has shown me a bit of turmoil. After not having heard back from the ranch in over a month to confirm that ‘todo bien’, I decided to create a plan B, C, D, and E. My Chile trip has taught me to release all expectations, plan ahead and get on with it. I invited my best friend Mark to enjoy a bit of traveling with me, and unfortunately he cannot make it – which comes as quite a bummer. I also looked into Wwoof volunteering on organic farms, going on an expedition up Aconcagua (22,300 feet), and a short “cruise” to Antarctica, but……. the ranch did finally get in contact with me, so I am back at square one. Stetson: check. Pearl Button Shirt: Check. Leather Gloves: Check. Boots: Check. Slight (fake) Southern Lilt: Check. Off I go.

(Also please note, the Estancia (ranch) is in fact in the middle of nowhere – a 6 hour horseback ride from the nearest dirt road that is another 3 hours from town. Electricity? No.  Running Water? No. Television? No. Highspeed DSL internet connection capable of uploading hi-resolution images of estancia life? Definitely not…. What I am trying to say here is that this travel blog on Argentina will be blank, yep. Nothing zilch nada….until I get back and fill in all of my stories and photos and juicy details etc.. So please, for now, just imagine and choose your own adventure.)

On New Year’s Eve 2009, Mr. Lentz will be awoken by a foreign voice from a drowsy, sleeping pill induced slumber. The stewerdess will be explaining in a bullet paced spanish how to fill out the immigration and importation card to enter the country. If Mr. Lentz is lucky enough to wake up soon enough, he will even hear a broken english version that will guide him and his blurry eyes towards completion. Yes, Mr. Lentz is embarking on a journey no less than a month into the deepest reaches of Patagonian Argentina. His plans to work on a cattle ranch and learn the way of the Gaucho will become realized (if not then at the very least he will experience the way of the Gringo.) Check back often after the 1st of January 2010 for an intravenous (I can write whatever I want people) look into the travels, trials and tribulations of a white American man in a foreign country. Oh yes – and lots of photos will be coming your way.  Click on the tab ‘Argentina’ above to read the adventure in chronological order, much as our modern day books are written. Cheers!