Glaciers at El Calafate

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El Calafate 21st - 24th October 2007

WOW.......is really all I can say about Perito Moreno Glacier....

The scenery was amazing from the plane window, the lake is massive and the mountains huge....El Calafate is an interesting town, no town planning seems to have taken place and there are buildings dotted about the landscape with lots more being developed. But it´s a nice town..rather more expensive than other places but I guess it survives on tourism alone pretty much.

My hostel was lovely, very friendly staff, warm and clean - Lago Argentino Hostel.

I booked to go horseriding on the day I arrived. That was lovely (very cold!) we rode up quite a high hill and the views were stunning, you could see a mountain in Chile. After a couple of hours riding we had dinner, consisting of lots of beef and chicken....yum...it is now confirmed I am a steak eater...well at least while I am in Argentina..the steaks are fantastic!

Now for the highlight of the trip....Perito Moreno Glacier.....

After a longish bus ride we entered the national park and soon after rounded a corner....the view was just stunning, you could see the glacier from the road and it was soooo impressive. I can´t even describe it, but take a look at the photos. We went on a boat for an hour and sailed within 300meters of the front of the Glacier, large sections regularly break away which makes an impressive sound and of course is amazing to see. We also walked along the balconies, which are a series of walkways and viewing areas. Even when I was walking up the steps and looking where I was going, every time I looked up and saw the glacier again...I just said WOW again and again!!

The following day I took another tour which visited several more Glaciers including a small one called Glacier Seco which is a hanging glacier, Spegazzini and Upsala...all very amazing. We also passed by huge icebergs, that was very impressive to be sailing so close to them all. We also walked in the national park and saw small icebergs up close and watch the huge condors flying around overhead!

Next.....Bariloche (The Lake District) and Chile......

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