Thu Dec 31
-ahhhh
. A needed rest day to ring out 2015. We slept in until almost 9 and then went down for a leisurely bfast. The idea of a short morning hike was quickly scratched and instead we packed our bags and tried to send final emails over the incredibly slow internet.
-our car arrived at 10:30 and we off to El Calafate. On the way we stopped at a hotel were butch Cassidy and Sundance spent a month. Worthy of a photo.
-we checked into our hotel and enjoyed a leisurely hour waiting for an riding from a guide. We were enjoying the slow day. The guide came and told us about our final activity: a glacier hike
-after the briefing we went out and found a yummy rotisserie with good empanadas. We also scouted the local gelato places.
-we went back to the hotel so Finn could lounge. I explored the town on my own and then went back and grabbed Finn for the promised gelato. An excellent rest day
-after some ping pong and chess, we went to bed relatively early for New Years Eve and slept soundly through any revelries that may have been happening
Fri Jan 1, 2016
-Happy New Year!!!
-we started the new year on the early side as we were scheduled to be picked up at 8
. I was skeptical about a big group activity and the late bus full of people seemed to confirm my suspicions.
-however once we got into the park, we broke off from the group and went to explore the balconies overlooking the Petito Moreno glacier. At first we were snobby stating "we saw bigger glaciers than this in Antarctica." While true, we had never been this close to hear the cracking, creaking and thunderous splashes as the glacier calved. It was really cool. And the fact that we had left the group early or perhaps because it was New Years meant that we had many of the balconies to ourselves. It was definitely more spectacular than I had expected
-after exploring around and getting a sandwich for lunch we boarded the bus and then the boat. Again it was a little commercial but so be it. We landed and were divided into groups of English speakers and non English speakers.
-our English speaking guide Walter had a great sense of humor and it was clear that we should stay in his group. He immediately bonded with Finn and kept him at the front of the group whether for commeraderie or fun or control. Finn was happy to b at the front of the group.
-we learned how to penguin walk up hill and how to walk parallel downhill. It was great fun. R
-we stopped to refill our water bottles. Again an amazing thing to me but I now understand glacier fed water of streams.
-we also stopped to view an ice cave. We had a great picture there. Descending was interesting and fun
. going down with crampons is both a dance and an art. Fun. Finn just hopped his way down and also punctured a slice in his pants.
-the glacier was way more fun than we expected. What a fun experience for us and so good compared to the commercial experience that we expected. So fun.
-we returned home and had our usual dinner of empanadas. We played chess and pong and celebrated the new year and our trip. Tomorrow we journey home.
Hiking on a glacier - much more fun than expected
Friday, January 01, 2016
El Calafate, Patagonia, Argentina
Other Entries
-
1Planes, airports and delays
Dec 1220 days priorMiami, United Statesphoto_camera3videocam 0comment 0 -
2Trying to fathom the scale, volume and splendor
Dec 1517 days priorIguazu Falls, Argentinaphoto_camera24videocam 0comment 0 -
3We make it to the southernmost city in the world
Dec 1715 days priorUshuaia, Argentinaphoto_camera6videocam 0comment 0 -
4We join the other travelers and board our ship
Dec 1814 days priorBeagle Channel, Argentinaphoto_camera14videocam 0comment 0 -
5Queasy stomachs for the first day at sea
Dec 1913 days priorDrake Passage, Costa Ricaphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 0 -
6Setting foot on Antarctica!
Dec 2012 days priorAntarctic Peninsula, Antarcticaphoto_camera30videocam 0comment 0 -
7Devil Isle and a snowball fight in 1200' of water
Dec 2111 days priorAntarctic Peninsula, Antarcticaphoto_camera39videocam 0comment 0 -
8Steaming through glaciers and light snow
Dec 2210 days priorAntarctic Peninsula, Antarcticaphoto_camera14videocam 0comment 0 -
9Huge day of hiking, sliding and the polar plunge
Dec 239 days priorAntarctic Peninsula, Antarcticaphoto_camera44videocam 0comment 0 -
10Kayaking, ice walk, post office and Xmas party
Dec 248 days priorAntarctic Peninsula, Antarcticaphoto_camera40videocam 0comment 0 -
11Final day of cruising - just an amazing expedition
Dec 257 days priorAntarctic Peninsula, Antarcticaphoto_camera17videocam 0comment 0 -
12Sailing back to South America
Dec 266 days priorDrake Passage, Antarcticaphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 0 -
13Last night on board as we return to Ushuaia
Dec 275 days priorUshuaia, Argentinaphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 0 -
14Off to the Patagonia for our mountain adventures
Dec 284 days priorEl Chalten, Argentinaphoto_camera9videocam 0comment 0 -
15Amazing hike to views of Mt Fitz Roy and El Torre
Dec 293 days priorEl Chalten, Argentinaphoto_camera22videocam 0comment 0 -
16A different view of Cerro Torre
Dec 302 days priorEl Chalten, Argentinaphoto_camera18videocam 0comment 0 -
17Hiking on a glacier - much more fun than expected
Jan 01El Calafate, Argentinaphoto_camera33videocam 0comment 0 -
18Homeward bound: 6 airports and 30+ hours of travel
Jan 021 day laterBuenos Aires, Argentinaphoto_camera3videocam 0comment 0
2025-02-09