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Moreno Glacier

Wednesday 18th March 2015

Check out of the hotel for the long drive south to El Calafate, starting with a 3 hour drive along the shores of Lago Viedma following the Rio Leona to Lago Argentina. Along the way we stop for the usual lovely hot chocolate at La Leona also visited on our way north.

We stop briefly in El Calafate to buy snack food from the local bakery, a procedure that takes an eternity as the staff seem strangely reluctant to take my money. I enlist the help of Lelia and eventually I manage  to settle my debt!

We drop Shan off at our accommodation Hotel Estapa as she has no desire to  see the Perito Moreno Glacier, which just happens to be one of the most important tourist attractions in Argentinian Patagonia!

The drive to the glacier takes us along the southern part of the Magallanes Peninsula and the shores of Lago Argentino.

Some information on Perito Moreno Glacier-

Situated 78 kms from El Calafate in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the world’s 3rd largest reserve of freshwater the glacier is named after Francesco Moreno who studied the region in the 19th Century and played a major role in defending the territory of Argentina in the conflict surrounding the international border dispute with Chile. He is known as the Father of Patagonia.

The 250 square kms glacier is a truly awe-inspiring sight, especially when it calves off huge slabs of ice, visible at close quarters from one of the many lookouts.

We stay a couple of hours to take in the majesty of PMG and then head back to El Calafate with the driver Julio kindly dropping some of us at the very fine Glaciarium Museum.

After a tour of the museum we catch the shuttle bus back to town and our request to be dropped off at La Estapa is met with a less than friendly response from the driver. Lyn, however, does manage to get a smile out of him or maybe it was just wind!

The hotel is situated on a hillside looking out over El Calafate and it’s a ideal venue to enjoy our last meal together.

Tom gives an excellent speech thanking Lelia for her splendid work. This educated, stylish young lady has been an absolute delight and the whole of the Patagonian experience, due in no small part to her efforts, has been unforgettable.

Many of the group linger in the restaurant, Mick and Heinz get half- sozzled and I sit up late in the lounge using an all-too-rare internet connection.

Cheers

The Obese Ferret.