One of the Most Breathtaking Things I Have Ever Seen
I confess to having had second thoughts about going to El Calafate. Travelling without a plan is fun, but once we got here, we realized that we have to go back to Buenos Aires to get to our next destination and we can’t hack the bus system again. I had assumed that we could head north through Chile, but that is impossible. So here we are, stuck in a freezing town, perpetually cold, with no easy way to get back with the exception of back tracking by airplane.
So this morning as we took a bus to the famous glaciers, tired and sneezing and cold, I was thinking that maybe it wasn’t worth it to come here. Why did we? You might ask. Well, everyone, and I mean everyone, said we had to see the glaciers. I’ve seen a glacier in New Zealand and it was cool, so the idea of glaciers wasn’t especially appealing to me. But if everyone says do it, you gotta do it, right?
Glacier Moreno Goes On For Miles
I have been blessed in life to see many spectacular sights. From the beaches of Thailand to the safaris of Africa to the lush greenery of New Zealand, I have been blown away by nature time and time again. But nothing, and I mean nothing, prepared me for the feeling of awe I experienced when I saw the glaciers. Suddenly it was all worth it- the bus rides, the permanent chill in my bones, the cold I just can’t get over, and the looming and inevitable backtracking. We walked around them for about an hour and my finger was so trigger happy on the camera it was annoying me, but I couldn’t help myself. I just kept exclaming, ‘This is so magnificient. I have never seen anything like this.’ And I haven’t. Maybe it’s because my expectations were low, but I have never been as awestruck by anything as I have by these glaciers.
Part of what was cool was the color. They reminded me of blue cotton candy. They were a laundry-detergent blue and John said it best: You just want to eat a bite of it and expect it will be delcious, like the best frozen treat you have ever eaten.
We walked around them and also took a boat ride to see them on the water. It was freezing of course, especially on the boat with the wind. Everyone was bundled up and shivering on deck. John once again took an opportunity for shock and awe and posed for a picture while everyone stared at him in disbelief.
The sounds were amazing, too. We only saw two minor chunks fall, but the sound they made was loud and stately, like a mean crack of thunder in a summer storm.
Everyone's Freezing on the Boat, and John Typically Goes for Shock and Awe
It’s a good thing the glaciers were so stunning, because our trek back was not so good and involved some low points. But more on that later…after all, I can’t just talk about the good, right? If I’m capturing my experiences out here, I need to fess up to the bad.
A Striking Shade of Blue
Reminds me of the Rockies went I went mountain climbing and was 1 week climbing glaciers. Have fun.
Sounds amazing. The pics are pretty cool – especially that shirtless hottie. John, you’re hilarious.
Now I’m really curious about the bad stuff that happened. You know how to keep us in suspense.
I miss you girl. I was playing Counting Crows in my car and my thoughts kept going to you and what you are doing.
Wish I was there with you, like always! They look breathtaking in the photos, so I can only imagine how much better they look in real life.
Those pics are incredible! I’ll have to add that to my list of things to see! Perhaps I am spoiling the “low points” but i hear that John is sick…there’s nothing worse than being sick while you are traveling. Tell him that I am with him in spirit, because I am sick with the flu here (although thankfully, I am in the comfort of my own home). Love you lots!
Hey, it sounds like you’re having an amazing time so far! I’m glad you haven’t found too much trouble yet. The only way John might shock me in that picture would be if he had a shirt on. How often do we see him clothed?