El Calafate, Bariloche, Santiago, Valparaiso and Mendoza

Hi, 

Its been a busy few weeks. From Puerto Natales we got a bus up route 40 (kind of like Argentinas version of route 66) to El Calafate which was pretty long and the majority of it along gravel roads. El Calafate is where the Perito Moreno Glacier is, it is one of the biggest glaciers in the world an one of the few that is still advancing.

Perito Moreno Glacier

  You had the option of going out on a boat and sailing near to the Glacier, however you get just as close by doing the balconies, which was what we did and was a lot cheaper. The boats can´t get that close anyway as bits are constantly falling off.

The Balconies

Large chunk falling off,

Perito Moreno Glacier

View from bus window along route 40, it didn´t vary much for a good 10 hrs.

 From El Calafate we went again along route 40 to Bariloche, again more gravel roads and an even longer journey. In Bariloche we rented bikes and did the Circuito Chico around the lakes close to Bariloche.

Miriador (Viewpoint) near Bariloche

Circuito Chico, Bariloche

Circuito Chico

Then from Bariloche we got another bus to Santiago over the Andes. Santiago was a really nice if very busy city, lots of nice architecture, parks, Museums etc.

Cathedral, Santiago

Overlooking Santiago near to Virgin Mary Statue.

Virgin Mary Statue

Museum in Santiago

From Santiago we took a short 2hr (finally) bus journey to Valparaiso which is just North of the Capital. It is a Unesco Heritage site. The City itself was very nice and set against very steep cliffs which the neighbourhoods rise into. You can get up via very steep streets or old Ascensores (lift like thinks) which take you up. There are about 8-12 ascesores in the city.

Naval Building, Valparaiso

Street near our hostel in Valparaiso

Ascensores

Then from Valparaiso we got another bus again across the Andes to Mendoza, the wine capital off Argentina. There we rented bike, me and Mitch got a tandem and went wine tasting! Was a great day, and to top it off "Mr Hugo" who we rented our bikes off of provided unlimited free wine when we got back.

Winery, Mendoza

Mevi Bodego, Mendoza

Mitch the conisour, (exceptional sense of smell)

Familia di Tommasi Bodego, Mendoza

Our Tandem, we got pretty good... check out the no hands!

Mr Hugo, after the free wine... good beardage!

Finally some Beesley Birdies...

Not sure saw it in Bariloche

Condor in Perito Moreno

Rights thats it for now, we are currently in Salta and are going to San Pedro de Atacama later this week and the to Boliva and hopefully some money saving!

Cheers Will x