Made it to El Calafate in Santa Cruz – leaving behind the seemingly endless broad flat expanse of the Chubut province for the mountains, huge lakes and glaciers of the south.
El Calafate reminds me of places like Jasper and Banff. My home for the next 3 nights – Calafate Hostel – looks like a log cabin and the main street is flanked with souvenir shops, ski-gear and tour sellers, there’s far more restaurants than the local residents could support themselves and every second person is wearing a slightly weary expression and a bum bag.
The view on the way in was grand and I’m really looking forward to my trek tomorrow on the Perito Moreno glacier. I swapped from the “Big Ice” to the Mini-trekking tour, exchanging 7 hours hiking for about 2. These knees and ankles of mine won’t survive the crampon-torture I’ve decided after talking to some young, fit and capable Irish girls in the hostel who did it today. If it almost beat them, it could certainly kill me! Plus, I need to save some energy for a full day horse ride and hiking trip, followed by 3hrs at a rappelling, rock climbing and zip line adventure…talk about living each day like its my last! 🙂 however, as you can see from my pile of spinach and a couple of empanadas for dinner, perhaps my food could be upgraded if it really was my last day haha!
