Blogs from Santa Cruz, Argentina, South America - page 91

Am Fritig am Morge bin ich zämme mit dr Daniela (Dütschland), dr Yolanda (Holland) und dr Misha (Tschechoslovakei) mit em Bus vo Puerto Natales witer nordwärts zrugg nach Argentinie nach El Calafate gfahre. Kenneglernt han ich die 3 zämme mit em Thomas und dr Ariane im Hostel Backpacker Magallania in Puerto Natales, bzw. uf em Camping im Torres del Paine Nationalpark. El Calafate liegt nur öbbe 300 bis 400 km nördlich, aber dr klimatischi Unterschied isch mindeschtens an däm Tag riesig gsi. Während es in Puerto Natales mit 15 Grad und Windgschwindigkeite bis 60km/h ziemlig frisch gsi isch, het me in El Calafate doch scho wieder in T-Shirt und kurze Hose könne uf d Stross go. Au sunscht isch dr Unterschied zwüsche däne beide Tourischteort riesig. Während Puerto Natales nur us Wällblächhüser bestoht, isch El Calafate ... read more

People go to El Calafate to see the big glaciers- Perrito Moreno, etc. I enjoyed the town (great food!), a good trek up a mountain one evening followed by a rustically elegant barbque, and glacier watching all equally. We had a blast doing the trek, as we had a fun guide and met two silly British girls and a dog named Garcia. The girls joined us at the bar later and again for dinner the next night. They left for a cruise to Antarctica today from Ushuaia (in Tierra del Fuego), for 13 days! They are traveling for an entire year and I got the travel blog web site from them. A group of guys followed us around town one night and one thought his English would impress us into joining them. As all he could ... read more

"I have the feeling that Patagonia is the most desolate of places...a land of exiles, a place of de-territoriality" (Jean Baudrillard) was right. El Calafate is now the worst type of tourist trap. But it wasn't always that way. Mass tourism in Patagonia is a recent thing. Once upon a time it was very different. The old Patagonian Wild West was a land of Pirates, outlaws and rebels. (Maybe its their pirate past that explains the desire to empty the tourists wallets!) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were the most famous of the outlaws who made Patagonia their home. When things were getting too hot for Cassidy and Sundance they settled down for 5 years as respectable stock farmers. The neighbours had no idea that the polite gringos were criminals. But the rural retirement couldn't ... read more

Hiya, I am having a grand ol' adventure here in Patagonia. The trip has got off to a great start. I left Ushiaia (Cape Horn) two days ago, and am now further North at El Calafate. Its higher up in the Andes and has some amazing glaciers cracking into huge mountain lakes. Will forward photos. This afternoon I tour the most infamous ´Peurto Moreno'´ Glacier. - 60 meters. I'm in a hostel for these 3 days, and it feels good not having to carry my larger rug-sack every day... phew! It took 30 hours Door-2-Door to get to Cape Horn. I was hoping to check out a trip to Antarctica, but the 8 days required exceeds my stay in Patagonia. It would have been deadly to make the trip all six continents. Meeting lots people, ... read more

This is what many people come to see in Patagonia, the Perito Moreno Glacier. We saved it unitil last as it is supposed to be the most impressive... read more