On the Way to Calafate…

10:58 2-3-09
Avion al Calafate (Plane to Calafate)

I’m currently in the air heading to El Calafate for Spring Break as part of an included excursion with our program! In order to save money, ISA is using LADE, the Argentine military airline, so we actually have to make several ‘hop stops’ before we arrive at our destination. None of us really know what to expect from our trip to the south, but we know we will be spending a day at the Glacier National Park and seeing the Perito Moreno, one of the few stable glaciers (advancing and receding in equilibrium) in Argentina. Hopefully we’ll witness some of the famous ice calving (falling). Everyone is excited to leave the heat of BA for the cooler weather down at the southern tip of the country, and I’ve brought every warm clothing item I packed, so hopefully my Florida-acclimated self will survive…write more when we land!

14:15 (Ushuaia time, minus an hour from BA)
Aeropuerto (Airport) in Ushuaia

After our plane stopped in a random city, whose terrain Jessi described as Idaho (lots of flat land and bush), our plane took off again and we were en route to Ushuaia, the world’s most southern city. The landscape this time couldn’t have been more different – large snowy mountains and majestic blue lakes. We stepped off the plane this time to be greeted with 8 degree C temperature (40 something degrees) and lots of wind. All the people from Michigan and such were excited but I was COLD. And now we are in the airport waiting for the flight to our final destination. It’s gorgeous here and although I’m excited to go to El Calafate, I wish we could spend more time at the ‘end of the earth.’ I’m sad I can’t officially claim that I’ve been here since I haven’t ventured out the confines of the airport tarmac, but some of us are considering coming back on a 26 hour round-trip bus ride. We will see what I end up doing the next few days.

21:47
Pizzeria in El Calafate

My first impression of El Calafate was that it was a compromise between our last two plane stops – mountains, but with lots of bush and rocks. It reminded me a bit of the U.S. southwest. When we got out of the airport, we were in the middle of nowhere with no buildings or people in sight. After settling into the front of the top floor on our Double Decker bus, I took in the amazing panoramic views of the countryside and the city as we first approached it. Many of my compañeros (friends/companions) have likened this city to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with the whole expensive, classy tourist feel, and I’d have to agree.

Our hostel is ridiculously cute, like a giant ski cabin. After dropping our stuff off, a group of us walked down the main street, just two blocks away from our “lodge.” We spent some time looking at all the artsy shops and sat in the outside portion (brr!) of the café Librobar to grab a little bit of overpriced food (like all things here). We resumed our perusal of the different stops and I tried Calafate jam, which is made from a unique berry down here, best compared to a blueberry. The legend is that once you’ve tried the Calafate berry, you will return to Patagonia. Let’s hope this is true, because I know this is a place I will want to visit again. Well, looking forward to tomorrow when we head to the Glacier National Park!

Coli