Paola vs. Patagonia - Round 1, ding!

On Friday I took a flight down to El Calafate, in Patagonia. I was so excited for this trip. When people ask me "Why Argentina?"... I sometimes mention my reaction to the cover of the Argentina Lonely Planet-- showing El Perito Moreno Glacier. I was like... oooh pretty... I'll go there. (And sometimes I come up with a more intelligent explanation.) So I went!

The morning of the tour, it was raining. I thought - eh, it'll let up. Oh, it sure didnt. I also thought, eh, no problem, I've got waterproof clothes. Oh, I sure didn't. We took a bus to The Parque Nacional Los Glaciers, and from there walked a long path to the glacier. Once I saw this massive thing, I forgot all about the rain. It was stunning, huge, massive and a total spectacle. To hear and see chunks of ice falling into the water was so incredible! It was awesome and so worth the rain. So we (me & the German roomates) kept walking along this path, and I soon start feeling a little damp in my knees. Eh. Then a little damp on my arms. Hmm. Soon I was totally drenched. We head back to the lodge, and it is THEN that i see they sell ponchos. So i bought one, AFTER i was already drenched. At least I can use it for the next stop right?

On the bus I start thinking walking on the glacier while freezing and soaking wet can't be a good idea. I start wanting to bail out. We take a boat to another lodge, and I decided to man up and keep trekking. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, duh! After I RIPPED my newly bought poncho, (F!) the kind glacier guide gave me a giant yellow parka and off I went. I was fine once I was moving. And WOW, what an experience to walk on the glacier!! I loved it! We got our ice crampons on and started on a little one hour hike. At the end, we had some rum at the ice bar. Good times, good rum.

On the bus ride home, I was freezing and soaking wet, and decided to air dry my wet feet on the heater vent for the hour long drive home. BRUTAL.

So, Round 1 goes to Patagonia for throwing excruciating elements my way, almost making me quit, and turning me into an icicle. Also, low blow by Patagonia for breaking my ipod in the rain.

I still had fun though, I swear :)

More El Calafate Pics