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Published: January 29th 2014
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With the prospect of either a 35 hour bus or the alternative option of a 4 hour flight, we decided to bite the bullet and fork out the extra money for the latter option. With torrential downpours heavy enough to bring the UK to a grounding halt, our flight from Buenos Aires domestic airport was delayed an hour. This did however bring some delight to the nervous flyer among us, and the opportunity was taken to buy a bottle of wine and swig it from a plastic bag; more reminiscent of boozy hobo down Edmonton Green than a tourist in an airport departure lounge!
After a butt clenching, white knuckle roller coasters of a flight we arrived in the Patagonian town of El Calafate. The number one attraction in the area is the Perito Merino glacier, and with rumours that everything books up fast, we headed down to the bus terminal ASAP and booked ourselves a return tickets for the next day.
Up early and with butterflies of anticipation of viewing our first glacier, we had brekkie, trotted down to the bus terminal and hopped on for the 50km journey to the glacier. Another 130 pesos each later, we
had entered the park boundary and in no time we could see the impressive sight in the distance. With the option of getting of at the first port of call and taking a boat trip up the west flank of the glacier we decided we would take them up on the opportunity. With 100 or so other keen sea/lake dwellers, we set sail full steam ahead up to the glacier. An impressive introduction with spectacular views, however, we felt a little bit underwhelmed by the trip. Too many other photo hungary tourist once again maybe!?
Once back ashore, it was another 5 minute bus ride round to the main viewing platforms that lead down and around to various glacier viewing points. This is where the real fun began. With the immediate thunder like cracks being heard in the not so far distance, the excitement began to build once again. Like with Iguazu, each and every turn produced another 'better than before' view, which in turn produced yet another must catch photo opportunity. Once we had got down to the waters edge, we were then treated to the sight of the ice cracking off and hitting the water; even the
smallest of pieces creating impressively deep thuds as they hit the water.
After some time, we decided to pop a squat and get stuck into our tuna sarnies which we had prepared earlier whilst continuing to watch the glacier produce more and more fresh icebergs. As all amateur geologists do, we started to speculate which might be the next bit to fall off. With the glacier stretching for well over a mile it's not the easiest task. However we both took a keen fancy to a certain large block of ice perched precariously on the top corner of the glacier face. After some time of attempting to prize it down with mere mortal eyes, we debated leaving. Just as we were pondering over whether to leave or not, more and more small pieces began to crumble around the piece we had been watching for the past hour. We decided to wait with our cameras poised in anticipation and hope...then a few moments later, an almighty cracked reigned out and the huge lump of ice was sent plummeting into the lake below, in a moment of shock and ore, we did not expect what was coming immediately after. In a
crescendo like display, a far larger lump behind the initial piece broke away and created an even more spectacular result. With all the aforementioned captured on both video and photos, we were even more elated to be able to share with others what were were fortunate enough to see, and not just another "it was this big" story.
Happy as Larry, we headed off back to our hostel footage in hand and looking forward to sharing our experience. One more night and El Calafate and we were onto Patagonia destination number 2; across the border to Chile and Puerto Natales.
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ritawetton
non-member comment
Buenos Aires
Fantastic We went all over Buenos Aires really enjoed it you brought all back to us the weather here is really awful l know you think it is very hot l will swop you. Keep up the good work love you both lots Nan and Grandadxxxxxxxx