Glaciers, fjords etc
Wednesday, April 12th, 2006
Spent close to a week in El Calafate, the highlight of which was seeing the Perito Moreno glacier in the national park. It´s a huge monster of a glacier and very impressive, though we didn´t hang around for too long indulging in the local sport of ice watching due to the rain starting. Luckily we had a hire car so we took off when the weather turned and drove around the rubble roads to see more of the park, which was pretty spectacular in itself. Other than that the time in El Calafate was pretty chilled out, waiting around to take the Navimag ferry.
The Navimag is an old cargo ship converted to take cargo as well as passengers, and was due to leave from back in Puerto Natales over on the Chilean side of the border. Rather than hang around that oddball town again we took a bus back the same day as the ferry was due to leave, only to find it was delayed for a day due to bad weather. Another day in Royston Vasey it was then, woohoo!
The ferry finally departed with it´s passengers (some human, some animal) and we´ve just spent the last four days sailing up through the Chilean fjords in Patagonia (Patagonia as a region covers both Argentina and Chile hence all the hopping back and forth across the border). The weather wasn´t the best, but managed to see seals and dolphins swimming by along the way, and what could be seen of the scenery was pretty impressive. One day we had to leave the fjords and go out around the coast on the Pacific ocean, which meant a rough ride but it added some exitement to the trip, though those puking might not agree.
The last night provided entertainment in the form of bingo followed by a disco, a tragic comedy every bit as bad as it sounds, but it was at least amusing. After a rude awakening the next day to get us off the boat we struggled into the Chilean port town of Purto Montt. Christ, what a shithole, Puerto Natales – all is forgiven. A few hours to kill in this place and then onto a bus, back across the border to the civilisation of Argentina. Now in a town called Bariloche which is set on a lakeside with plenty of activities to keep us amused. Going to stay here at least until monday when the Easter holiday weekend finishes, then head north and leave behind this beautiful land of Patagonia.
Gwyn, is that spare Flickr account still going begging? I´ve used up my allowance on the free one so can´t add anymore photos until the start of next month.
Ed