Melanie Hamlett - Wandering Narcoleptic

I Will Be At A Week Long Techno Festival in The Patagonian Mountains With a Bunch Of Hippies Who Like Electronic Music. I’ll Be Back Soon (Especially If It Sucks)

melaniehamlett — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:21:23 +0000

Just Blame Chile

melaniehamlett — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:58:29 +0000

This is a pool in the other town I’ve been living in. It’s not closed because of funding or normal reasons but rather because of a volcano. A volcano that has covered the town in ashes for six months now even though it’s located in Chile, an hour away or so. Behind the pool is a lake and behind the lake is a huge mountain range that you can’t see on windy days and it’s super annoying.

My friends here tell me to call it “volcan de mierda.” Or, “volcano of shit.”

Also, most Argentineans sort of hate Chileans, so they prefer to blame Chile for the volcano, not mother nature.

(Bariloche, Argentina)

This Lady At The Craft Fair Makes Hand Made Furniture For Barbie Dolls

melaniehamlett — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:41:50 +0000

(El Bolson, Argentina – the hippy town where I pick strawberries)

This Is Who Picked Me Up Hitch-hiking in Patagonia Today

melaniehamlett — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:01:52 +0000

A dad, his little girl, and their dog “Cookie.”

The little girl had never seen an iphone before so we took a bunch of pictures together with Cookie, which made her giggle a lot.

We didn’t speak a word to each other, which makes this all the more amazing. They, like many folks down here, can’t understand my Spanish since I haven’t nailed the Argentinean accent yet. Moments like this make you realize how much you don’t really need words.

p.s. I’m sure my parents are reading this. Don’t worry – I don’t let men pick me up when I hitch-hike unless there’s a woman or a kid with them.

(Patagonia, Argentina)

I’m Picking Strawberries For 6 Hours a Day

melaniehamlett — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:18:37 +0000

And my back is killing me!

So I crawl now.

(The German guy behind me was also holding his back for this photo to demonstrate our pain, but he wasn’t a very good actor. A good sport, yes, a good actor, no.)

Hey Look! I’m Living In a Trailer Again!

melaniehamlett — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:59:18 +0000

My trailer in Argentina isn’t nearly as nice as my last two in New Mexico….

but it’s still nicer than my cubicle made of sheets in New York City

Squat

melaniehamlett — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:39:14 +0000

In Patagonia (and in mountain ranges around the world) they have these things called refugios where you can sleep and eat pizza and drink wine and beer. This one is 10k up the mountain (or a four hour brutal hike) in the middle of Patagonia. Most people sleep in tents around the area because it’s free. Anyone is allowed to use their bathrooms though.

This was so confusing to me when I first saw it! Apparently you are supposed to stand over this hole.

Luckily they had a drawing to explain.

What I don’t understand is why they have toilets sitting outside the bathroom!

(Refugio Frey, Patagonia, Argentina)

This Made Me Smile Today

melaniehamlett — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:54:12 +0000

(Bariloche, Argentina)

Dogs Acting Like People

melaniehamlett — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:47:39 +0000

(Bariloche, Argentina)

They Have The Most Amazing Candy Bars Here In Argentina

melaniehamlett — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:37:14 +0000

(Bariloche, Argentina)