Xelena Deluxe Suites Hotel El Calafate

... both 60ísh)- the problem was that I had thought of a heart attack- and once thought of- we agreed it was a (small) possibility- although a virus was most likely. Anyway we had no choice- we rested Douglas for 2 days- and when I went down with the same virus the next day (mildly- better now)- the diagnosis was happily confirmed. (heart attacks can just present with tirednessand vomiting- especially on a severe hill after a meal on a ...

... much like the environmental blunders that have led to problems with the Chilean sea bass, poor management of salmon fisheries is causing a manageable disease to have a catastrophic impact on the species and its fishermen. When I considered the size of its extractive industries (Chile's copper mines are the largest in the world) that are owned by foreign multinationals, it makes sense that Chile is bleeding its waters dry ...

... just say that as far as long-distances buses go, it was the best service we've had - Andesmar bus company rocks!! Anyway, we arrived in Rio Gallegos with just enough time to wander into the city centre and grab a good breakfast before the next bus to El Calafate. Nothing much to report about Rio Gallegos, it was nice enough but nothing much to draw the average tourist really. The breakfast we had was good though so we were quite sated for the 5hr journey to El Calafate ...

... the third biggest ice shelf in the world (Antarctica is No. 1 followed by Greenland) and hundreds of tour agencies all selling slightly different tours. I booked on the 4 hour BIG ICE tour and it was amazing. I was quite dubious as I have seen many icebergs and glaciers now.. they are becoming a bit like European churches. My friend Toni had recommended it before I left, and to my surprise it was amazing. I hiked on ...

... re crowded *round your TV screens. I, on the otherh*nd, *m in the middle of nowhere on *nother continent with * we*k internet sign*l. I'm *fr*id I won't be *ble to c*tch the g*me tonight, for * TV with *n intern*tion*l ch*nnel is h*rd to come by here. I hope you *ll enjoy Super Bowl Sund*y *nd Springsteen's h*lftime show. I guess I'll re*d *bout it tomorrow. We le*ve El C*l*f*te, Argentin* by bus tomorrow morning *nd will *rrive in Puerto N*t*les, Chile 5 hours l*ter.

... that. First we took a quick boat trip right up to the 60 m high face of the glacier. The multiple shades of blue were incredible. We then took a hike along the many little walkways and terraces available to get a good view of the main face of the glacier. All were full of people waiting and eagerly watching to get a glimpse of a huge chunk of ice to fall. This is apparently the thing to do here, to see and maybe take a picture or film of ...

... about 2 hours and once we were within the confines of the National Park the dust and shrubs turned to beautiful snow capped mountains, huge lakes and greenery. We could see the glacier in the far distance but it didn't seem real. We first viewed the glacier by a short, inexpensive, boat ride. This really enabled us to feel the shear power of this almighty triumph of nature. The boats got pretty close the glacier. You could actually HEAR the ...

... and the wine is better- fact! (Well opinion, our opinion which is as good as fact ;-)) Then along comes a town like El Calafate, the home to the Perito Moreno glacier.We had booked this as our way to get to Buenos Aires as the flights from Chile to BA were very expensive and this would give us another opportunity to see a Glacier. Not that we needed to as we had seen plenty of spectacular glaciers in Chile and around Torres, Or so we had thought ...

... for the next two hours! <br><br>It was really cool walking on the glacier ice and it was funny being a bit nervous about walking on some of the more 'watery' (melted) sections. You occasionally forget that there is about 100 metres of solid ice below you and you're able to see down deep crevaces and holes in the ice!<br><br>As I said earlier, the ice itself had a blue hue to it which is apparently because ice crystals can absorb every colour of the spectrum ...