An Incredible Glacier

Trip Start Aug 25, 2010

Trip End Ongoing

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Flag of Argentina El Calafate, Patagonia, Argentina
Saturday, January 8, 2011

We arrived in El Calafate with just over 200 pesos (approx. $80) and as we knew we wanted to see the Perito Marino glacier and then head to Puerto Natales in Chile we thought we would organise it all from the bus terminal. We managed to buy our bus tickets to the glacier on card, but we had to buy the bus tickets to Puerto Natales in cash (160 pesos), so we were almost out of cash and like many other places in Argentina El Calafate had no money in any of its four banks. Luckily we had some Christmas dollars from Carla's dad so were able to pay for our accommodation, as they do not accept cards, we were also able to give them a few extra dollars to change into pesos, so we would have enough money to enter the glacier park, which we had been told was 50 pesos each.

The next day we caught the bus to the glacier, but when we arrived at the park the entrance fee was 100 pesos each, so we were 30 pesos short, luckily we had been speaking to a couple the night before in the hostel and they were also on the bus, so offered to lend us the 30 pesos so we could enter the park

Perito Moreno Glacier 1

. It was so nice, because the alternative would have been to have to get off the bus and wait at the park entrance until it returned without even seeing a glimpse of the glacier. We were so relieved and grateful and were able to continue to the glacier.

The glacier was incredible; it is 30 km long and 75 m high above the surface of the water. It is also one of the only glaciers which is still advancing and will periodically reach the other shore and dam the L-shaped lake it is in. When the sun shone on the glacier it was possible to see brilliant blues in the glacier. There was also the occasional thunderous sound as a piece of ice fell off and crashed into the lake.

The following day we got a bus to Puerto Natales in Chile and left yet another country behind us.

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Perito Moreno Glacier 2	Perito Moreno Glacier 3	Perito Moreno Glacier 4	Perito Moreno Glacier 5
Perito Moreno Glacier 6	Perito Moreno Glacier 7

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Comments

The Dad fellow mentioned in dispatches on

Oh, I think I deserve a CDM for saving you from sleeping rough. A CDM? Cadbury’s Dairy Milk chocolate, but I’ll have a Lindt Chilli choc instead, thanks.

Now, banks without money: that’s not novel – it’s just like our banks over here!!

Me again on

The glacier was featured in Wonders of the Universe on TV last night (6th March) to explain the Arrow of Time, namely that the cosmos is moving inexorably towards a steady state of ……. nothingness. Don’t worry, it will take about 6 zillion years and you will have finished your adventure by then. :-)