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Published: December 23rd 2005
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We caught the bus to El Calafate in Argentina, a short 6 hour journey where we planned to go to see the Perito Moreno Glacier and then move further Northern towards Santa Cruz our Christmas destination.
When we arrived we went throught the usual procedures, find somewhere to stay, book tickets to leave then organise trips. El Calafate is quite a touristy little town so finding somewhere to stay was quite easy, however trying to get out on a tight time schedule proved a little more difficult. We tried to book air tickets but unless we wanted to pay about 400 pounds each for Business Class then we could forget that option till the 23rd December. We then went to find a Bus all bus journeys are at least 2/3 days with a hotel break and quite expensive. After trying several companies we evenutally found a sevice heading to Bariloche, it was north and apprently had good transport conections to other cities including Chile, only problem was it was a non-stop 36 hour journey and a regular bus (not the usual Semi-cama or cama we've been used to in Argentina and Chile). Feeling we had no option we booked it,
Perito Moreno #2
Large lumps of ice the size of buses fell off regulary moved over to the next stall and booked bus tickets to the Glacier.
We spent the rest of the evening exploring the few shops that El Calafate has, which mainly consisted of trekking, skiing and general outdoor gear, leather goods and chocolate shops, Sue thought she was in heaven!
Since we'd returned to Argentina we thought we'd best sample the national dish just once more so we went for steak yet again. Sat in the restraunt Sue had this funny feeling everyone in the restaurant was looking at us, until we relized we we'd sat just beneath the TV screens and football was on. This was not just a football match it was the South American equivalent of the Champions League, Boca Juniors v's Puma's (from Mexico). Of course with Boca being the Manchester United of Argentina Football and us being thousands of miles away from Buenos Aires (the home of Boca), the place was packed with Boca fans, a last gasp goal from Boca took the game to extra time and penalties, which Boca won and the party started on the streets of El Calafate.
In the morning another two hour bus journey to Perito Moreno
Perito Moreno #3
To get a scale on the size of this Glacier, check out the size of the ferry on the right hand side of the screen. got us to the glacier, this thing is huge it has a face measuring 5 kilometers long, and a hieght above the water of upto 55 meters and twice as much below. The glacier is the only one in the world that is in equilibrium. It moves at a rate of 2 meters per day, causing the glacier to constantly groan under the pressure and every now and again letting off a huge thunderous crash where it's broken under force when moving over the rocks. Everybody comes here in hope of seeing large chunks fall off in to the river, and just as we arrived one did causing splashes to go over the top of it's huge 55 meter structure.
One piece of ice at the far edge, which looked the size of several double decker buses hung precariously, with several hours to spare here we planted ourself in a prime spot waiting with camera posed ready for the photo opportunity. We soon got bored and went for a coffee, on our return it only took a few minutes before small pieces of ice were falling off in the area we had been watching. That gave us the fore
Perito Moreno #4
We sat for ages waiting for this peice to fall, then missed it due to my camera's slow start up time. warning it was about to go, quickly I rushed for the camera only for me to miss the shot due to the slow start up time of my camera only catching the secondary splash. Still we saw it go and it was quite impressive throwing water hundreds of meters in all directions.
After watching a few more smaller pieces of ice break off from the glacier it was time to head back to El Calefate and get ready for a monster of a bus journey.
Our punishment for not booking the flight well ahead was a journey on a rickety bus on an unmade road. As the result of the bumpy road Sue´s sleep was disturbed by a full 2 litre water bottle falling out of the overhead racking and hitting her on the head, it was more of a shock than any injury! It was slightly concerning that for the journey we had the same two drivers and they seemed to rest very little between their driving duties. The bus journey went quite well considering the length of time it was, I managed to break the boredom by reading the Da Vinci code cover to cover.
Bariloche is another touristy town surrounded by lakes, mountains and forests one could be forgiven for actually thinking you were in Switzerland with everyother restrauant advertising it's main speciality Fondue, and more chocolate shops, which Sue went in on hourly basis.
Most activities in Bariloche take a few days and as Christmas approaches (you wouldn't notice it here tho') we booked our tickets for our next port of call Osorno. Therefore having to satisfy our trip to Bariloche by just wondering round the town centre and chocolate shops!
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Sally
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Merry Christmas, we will be on West Street later raising a glass for you both xxxxx