Last day in El Calafate

Spent the day wandering the small town of El Calafate today- sunny and crisp weather. Feels like Colorado in late autumn. My favorite season.
Anant tried Matte today- a classic Argentinian tea brew, meant to be incredibly therapeutic and incredibly addictive!
The little cafe we found was darling(Elbar), with sweet country decor and home cooked food- Anant had his matte and I had my delicious 'non carne' homemade cannelloni's- cream, potatoes and squash I think! Yum.

As for the gay friendly sign (not at the cafe) we thought peculiar as nothing seemed overly conservative!! Must've mean't Gay and Friendly shop.

Perito Moreno Glacier in El Calafate

One of the few glaciers that is surrounded by Rain Forrest ... Stunning!!!! The glacier is growing and eventually touches land (across the lake) and forms a dam. The ice carries on growing until its over 100m high. Water runs underneath and causes a tunnel to form. When it's about 100m in diameter, the roof collapses (called a rupture). The last rupture happened March 4th 2012 ... You can still see the remnants of the crushed ice tunnel

Breakfast of champions!!!

Going to get my crampons on!!!

Starting our day and getting excited over the prospect of glacier hiking!!!

Arrived in El Calafate to find...

The most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed in...
I never want to leave.
Patagonia/Andes check!!!!

Iguazu Falls

Iguazu falls ... Argentina side

This is First Class ..... BITCHES!!!!!!

So to make everything better ... We found out we have First Class Seats .... OH YEAH!!!!!!

Gus, you were right!!! :o)

Our tour guide in Iguassu called out the many failings of Aerolineas, a former private airline, which is slowly finding its way back to the government flock. Gus teased us all the time, and made the trip highly entertaining! Although, he was not teasing us about this airline-- we are delayed for the THIRD time for this flight.

Will I ever get my crampons on??!! Sigh.

4am and everyone is flying! Weirdo's!!!

So back at Buenos Aires airport early early early and off to Perito Moreno in El Calafate, to get my crampons on for a little glacier trekking...

Why are so many people at the airport at 4am?! Seems wrong.

Had a lovely cappu, which came with a small shot of soda water, must be an argentinian thing. However strange, it was oddly refreshing!!! Will be swigging soda water after a cappuccino from now on. I think I am slowly but surely turning Argentinian.

After less than 12 hours, goodbye Buenos Aires...

Hello Buenos Aires...

Now pay attention folks, you may have dengue fever if...

Courtesy of Aerolineas

These beautiful pics of the Buenos Aires skyline at dawn were brought to you by Aerolineas and their crappy airline service which has delayed our flight to El Calafate by two and a half hours!!!!!

UPDATE!!!!
Our flight status has changed from "Delayed" to "Ask Agent" ... So fearing the worst, we go to see the agent ... After seeing a bunch of people ask and getting cryptic replies in Spanish, we finally get our turn. We ask the agent what the delay was all about ... And their answer was ..... "we don't really know"!!!!!

Well thanks a lot for no information ... And us losing our warm seats at the airport!!!! Aaaarrrgggg!!!!!

UPDATE PART 2!!! - the wrath of El Calafate
Our flight status now says 9:15am ... Hmmmm we'll see ....

UPDATE PART 3 - Well ... We didn't leave at 9:15 and our flight disappeared off the screen ... Everyone was crowded around the agent desk screaming and yelling in Spanish ... The agent got on the phone and 5 security police (3 with batons) turn up!!!!

After a few more minutes ... Are flight is suddenly ready for boarding!!!!!

Iguassu 2nd day and hello Argentina

After a day of pouring rain, we relaxed at the amazing jungle lodge on the argentinian side- another very early start marked day two. We walked the many trails of the Argentinian side of the falls- and the rain which started at the beginning of the day fortunately started to ease. After a day of touring, we prepare to catch our flight out... but before that can happen we decide the best way to end this leg is to take a trip (with ponchos in hand) INTO the falls!!! We were drenched and actually it was quite refreshing!!