El Calefate

After enjoying a long bus journey for my 30th birthday it was time to meet up with Jodie and Lewis for some celebrations... in El Calefate.

The hostel - Amercia del sur - was just out of town and had stunning views of the nearby lakes and snow capped mountians.

As we were shown to our room, 4 bed dorm with private bathroom and underfloor heating, i recognised the clothes left lying around by our room mates... sure enough we were sharing with our pals Jodie and Lewis.

We had a few beers whilst we waited for them to return from their trekking on the glacier and that night we cooked dinner and caught up over a few drinks.... whilst planning the next day.. picnic by the lake followed by casino night (on the condition that boys cooked dinner and supplied the girls with alcohol)!! The boys were chuffed with this deal!!

So next day we made a picnic and headed up to the lake.

The wind was ice cold and finding shelter to stop for lunch was far from easy. Jodie and Terry found a rock to shelter us, Terry made a table and chairs from smaller rocks and we had a very cosy lunch.... after lunch,

a few snaps before heading back to the warmth of our hostel!!

The journey back was interesting.... behind the stunning scenery, a huge wasteland, with thousands of seagulls and unpleasant smells. Its ironic that something so nasty has been formed next to such a beautiful place!

That night as promised the boys waited on the girls and then we headed out to the casino about midnight for Becs first gambling experience. Needless to say we did not win fortunes!!!

Lewis and Jodie left us the next morning...

Our reason for visiting El Calefate was to see the Perito Moreno Glacier... This Glacier one of the only stable glaciers in the world - which basically means for all the ice it looses, the same amount is formed. The glacier is approximately 97 square miles (250 sq km) and measures 19 miles (30 km) in length. Its also 3 miles wide wow.....

So we catch a bus to Lago Argentina (Lake). The view as we started to approach the glacier.....

And catch a boat to the island where we are to do our trekking.....

Before the trekking we must put on our high tech crampons...

And then off we went ... starting our walk over this huge ice cube...

Amazing...

The ice looked blue - its reflection from the sun...

It was just so big and we were only walking on the outer parts...

There were blue ice crevasses...

And pools were the ice was melting...

We walked for about 1 and a half hours. Bec's was so cold Terry decided to be a gentleman and offer his coat.... (more like pose for the camera)...

At the end of our trek we were rewarded and warmed up by a spot of Whiskey (on ice of course)...

heading towards land..

Glad to get off the ice to feel my feet we headed back for lunch. After finally warming up we waited for the boat to head back to land....

Ice was falling from the glacier - it sounded like thunder when the ice cracked...

Once back on dry land the coach took us to a different side of the glacier where there was a purpose built view point....

The wind had crept up so after a few views and photos we headed into the warmth of the coach - before driving back to El Calefate.

El Calefate well worth a visit... the glacier wasunreal!!!