Jacaranda Journey

Pristine, windswept wilderness encompassing half of Chile and one-third of Argentina. We visited El Calafate, Bariloche, and Peninsula Valdes

Bare desolate brown steppes contrasted with bright white snow capped mountains; iconic Ruta 40 traverses the region

From the air we could identify the exaggerated spires of the dazzling mountains of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, including exalted Mount Fitz Roy.

We arrived in Patagonia wearing our warm eponymous fleece jackets ready for the cold.....and the adventure of glaciers.

The town sits at the edge of Lago Argentino. View from our hotel room.

View from our hotel room

View from our hotel room

Av. Libertador is the main street, filled with tour companies, outdoor clothing shops, cafes and even a casino.

The quality of the lamb is excellent!

He worked at El Bulli in Spain. Here he makes Linda a special drink with 2 million year old glacial ice

A birdwatcher's heaven with several different habitats and loads of different bird species

The small buildling in the background is a viewing blind

A painted blind affords good bird viewing and a place to get out of the wind.

Chilean flamingos

The male is white and the female is brown; it was the beginning of breeding season.

Walkways get you up very close to the face

Satellite photo from NASA

Walkway to the glacier; all we needed was to wear crampons on our shoes

Walking on the glacier

Chuck pausing on our glacier walk

Glacial ice formations

Glacial ice formations

Chuck walking on the glacier

Whiskey on the rocks with glacial ice

Comfortable boat trip to view several other glaciers.

We finagled our way on to the bridge and had the privilege of spending time with the captain

View from the bridge

We got as close to the glaciers as the ice-choked frontages would allow

Sculptural icebergs

Nicknamed the Switzerland of the Americans

Ski resort and outdoor adventure town on the shores of the Nahuel Huapi Lake National Park

In 1934, architect Ezequiel Bastille adapted Middle European styles into a tasteful urban plan. Bariloche is now known for its alpine architecture, given a unique Patagonian twist through the use of local hardwoods and stone construction as seen in Bastille’s civic center.

Bariloche is known for its alpine architecture, given a unique Patagonian twist through the use of local hardwoods and stone construction

Abundant chocolate stores