El Calafate, friends and an unforgettable adventure in the Glacier Rally
El Calafate, old cars and friends: an adventure that remains alive in my memory
There are experiences that remain intact in our memories, not only because of the places we visited, but also because of the people with whom we were fortunate enough to share them.
This is how I remember our trip to El Calafate in 2014, when together with my husband Pablo and a close group of friends from Necochea we undertook an unforgettable adventure to participate in the Glacier Rally.
We were a group united by friendship and a passion for old cars: Gloria, Salvador, Marga, Abel, Pascual, Mónica, Tito, Gastón, Pablo and I and what began as a trip to participate in a competition ended up becoming a much deeper human experience.
The adventure began even before arriving in Patagonia.
While we all traveled together to Buenos Aires to take the flight to El Calafate, our old cars began their own journey in a car transport truck and after several days we would meet them again at the destination.
There was something exciting about thinking that people and vehicles were moving towards the same destination along different paths.
The Glacier Rally has established itself over the years as one of the most attractive events for lovers of historic vehicles.
More than a speed competition, it is a test of regularity where precision, navigation and teamwork are essential, all framed by some of the most spectacular landscapes of Argentine Patagonia.
When we finally arrived in El Calafate we understood why so many people return again and again to this corner of Santa Cruz.
The intense blue lakes, the pure air, the mountains and the proximity to the imposing Perito Moreno Glacier make the region one of the most extraordinary places in our country.
Each day of the rally perfectly combined the passion for classic cars with the possibility of exploring natural settings of a beauty that is difficult to describe.
However, beyond the competition, what made that experience really special were the moments shared, the conversations during dinners, the anecdotes that appeared again and again, the laughter among friends and the joy of living together an adventure that took us away from the daily routine for a few days.
One of the most exciting moments came when our friends Pascual Turano and his wife Mónica obtained first place in the Regularity category. Seeing them receive that recognition was a huge satisfaction for the entire group and a source of pride for those of us who had traveled from Necochea accompanying them in this experience.
But if I look back today, I feel that the real reward was much more than a classification or a trophy.
It was the possibility of discovering one of the most impressive landscapes in Patagonia alongside people we deeply appreciated.
It was the opportunity to strengthen friendships, share stories and create memories that the passage of time has not been able to erase.
And when remembering those days it is also impossible not to think of Salvador who is no longer physically with us today. Unfortunately he left early, leaving a void among those of us who were lucky enough to share moments with him.
Salvador was one of those people who leave their mark. His human quality and sincere friendship made him loved by everyone. It was part of that Patagonian adventure and many other moments that remain etched in our memory.
Perhaps that is why writing these lines is also a way of paying tribute to him. To travel those paths again, remember the conversations shared, the laughter and the experiences we lived together.
Because as long as memories exist, the people we have appreciated never completely leave and every time we talk about that trip to El Calafate, Salvador is present again.
More than a decade after that experience, the memories of the glaciers, the Patagonian roads, the classic cars and, above all, the friendships that made an unforgettable adventure possible are still alive.
Because some trips end when you return home and others remain forever in the heart.