Big Ice

See and download the full gallery on posterous

PERITO MORENO GLACIER

Four hours trekking on the large glacier. Seeing how the surface changes from the edge to the middle, discovering winding streams, and deep holes where the water drains under/through the glacier.

Different Days In BA

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Due to the sudden death of former Argentinian President Kirchner travel in BA is I am sure different from say last Thursday. Traffic is very bad due to the many that want to travel to pay their respects. Tv's it seems in every cafe/bar and coverage is nonstop. The good news is that the metro was free, not sure of this is related or not. Today I head to El Calafate where he is from and where he died. We will see what awaits there.

Yesterday was a full day of walking seeing the tourist areas, wealthy, crowed, and less common. People are very friendly and accepting my lack of Spanish. Cafes everywhere, several ice cream shops, chocolatiers in the wealthy areas and Florida Ave is a pedestrian street lined with shops that is so noisy and crowed. Pedestrians are seem to be nonexistent to drivers.

The day was capped off with a typical parrila (grilled) dinner. Starting with fried, pan fried not battered, provolone cheese, huge sirloin steak and salad. This I ended up join three Americans as they were at the adjacent table. From there it was on to a couple of bars in the Rocelta area.

One last comment, they love dogs here. Several dog walkers as well as individual owners and independent dogs that seem to do well on their own in BA.

Now on to El Calafate.

Traveling Warrior

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Thanks to my friend Amanda for my traveling companion, appropriately named I think anyway.

Let The Games Begin!

Here we go. My trip is starting in ATL. After 10 hours in a cramped space sitting cm from one I don't know we will land in Buenos Aires. The itinerary is as follows:

Day 1: BA
Walking tour, 2 blks of yarn shops, leather, museums...suggestions?

Day 2: BA & fly to Patigona (El Cafalate)
Day 3: Big Ice Tour
12 hour tour, huge glacier, crampons, hiking, ice calving.
Day 4: Bus to El Chalten, hiking capital
Maybe another Glacier tour or hike.
Day 5: Big hike up Fritz Roy
Bus back to El Cafalate
Day 6: Bus to Puerto Natales, Chile
Start of 10 day backpack trip
Day 7-15: Torres de Paines National Park
Day 16: rest
Day 17: ?
Day 18: fly to Santiago
Day 19: Santiago

Going there is only one hour time difference and returning there will be two due to daylight savings.

Thanks for coming along for the ride!

Test

Last Minute

If you ever travel to Argentina best to use a travel agent and contact 45 days in advance! They save you money, so I hear, and it seems to be the way to go as I have had difficulty booking with hotels directly. Hostels are easier.

So after being turned down by one agent, ignored by another, I am hoping my hostel in BA will come through with bus tickets and a tour on the glacier. And then I will book my last hotel, knowing that I can get there!

And Chile, well we will just have to arrange that when I arrive in country. After back packing/camping for 8 nights I think anything will do.

Freakin' Out

oh so much to do and i am spending time on THIS? oh well it will be worth it in the end for those who are interested to follow and in the end this will serve as my travel diary. so sign up, get ready, and hopefully i will post daily...if i have a signal.