Patagonia

Hello everyone

Thanks to all of you that sent news or Easter wishes. Happy Easter to you too!!!!! Easter is celebrated here big time. You should see some of the amazing chocolate shops. Some of the easter eggs are about 50cm long. Yummy, Baz has promised he´ll buy me an easter egg (probobly quite a bit smaller tho). Cant wait. Our tour leader is even organising an easter egg hunt tomorrow.

Well, I last wrote when Baz and I were split up due to my visa. I flew down to Ushaia on my own and caugth up with the Truck there. My flight in was spectacular. The scenery was so ruggard (looked like we were flying over volcanoes with glacial blue lakes in the tops of some of them). There was a bit of snow about and the bay we flew over was also stunning. Ushaia is the most Southern city in the world and the Ant-artic boats leave from there. The town itself is not very big but is on the water front and surrounded by mountains. All the trees were changing colour and the reds, oranges, and yellows were spectacular. I got there 1 day earlier than the truck so I went horse riding up in the mountains, behind the national park (Tierra del Fuego, which means land of fire). I think that must have been the most beautiful ride I´ve ever done although my horse was about as lazy as Trigger (our fat pony from home)and had a deformed neck. He went really well once the guide gave me a stick and his canter was like riding a rocking horse, we never quite made it into a gallop.

Baz had arrived when I got back, and I was so pleased to see him!!!!! The next morning a few of us adventurous lot decided to see the whole of Ishaia in 2 days so we got up early and took a small plane ride (6 seater) which was bumpy as hell over the bay down to the national park. It was stunning but the one girl could not take the bumps and was holding a sick bag by the time we landed. Poor girl. Then we went up to Marshals glacier which was not my favorite adventure I must admit. We had to hike up a huge hill then try rock climb over the rocks to get to the glacier. We had no guide so did not know where the best routes were. Some guys in our group saw a beautiful blue cave the day before so we were determined to get up there. baz and I went exploring trying to find a route and I got up a crevis and could not get down again as it was too steep. Baz came up to help but I was so scared that I just wanted to cry. Not a nice feeling. We finally made it to the glacier and stood under the ice in a cave but it was not the nice blue one the others saw as that had colapsed the day before. I was so petrified our cave would also colapse and was very relieved to go down the mountain again. In the afternoon we took a mad boat ride in a rubber dingy across freezing cold water to go see coromants and seals. The trip was such fun but some people got soaked and were freezing. The next day we explored the Nat Park the whole day and walked our little feet off. Baz walked about 20km and I about 17km. I think i over did it as I have been a bit sick eversince.

We drove to Torres del Paine next which is a stunning Park but unfortuantely the winds and the rain were horrific. I have never experienced such strong wind that it blows you off your feet. Because I was sick we opted out of the all day hike to the glacier (weather was appauling anyway) and we explored the hill behind our camp, called "condor hill". We found their nests (caves) and even saw condors. We were sitting on the hill watching them when we met a lovely american couple in their 50's. It was so nice to be with different company and we spent the rest of the day with them. The next day was pretty much the same (windy) so we went for a walk to a waterfall about 5km away (and bumped into the Americans again) and came straight home again. We left a day early for our next destinaiton which was El Calafago, a stunning tourist town in the middle of nowhere. We drove another 80km to go see the Moreno glacier which was amazing. Then we went on to El Chanten to see the 3rd biggest glacier in South America. Baz went on a fairly big hike and then ice climbing with a few of the boys (he absolutely loved it) and I went on a more leisurly boat cruise to another glacier then went ice trekking. I think that has been my highlight so far too. I was the only one to get my boot stuck and fall off the ice slope. Nevermind, only have 2 bruised knees. We are in Barilochi now, another stunning town. We have left the dry harsh terrain behind and are in the stunnning lakes district with lots of trees and hills now. Had such beautiful weather and are booked to go paragliding tomorrow - Yippee, cant wait!!!!!!!

Sorry this is so long, I havent written for an while.
Steve and Margret, hope you are both well. How is Denusia getting on at the Elms?
How is Mr Reynolds? Hope you have got some of my post cards.
Mum, Dad and Karoi-ites, hope you are all well. Please sent me some news every now and then.
David, hope you enjoyed your trip to Kenya and are having fun at Grannys now. Give her and Bid John a big hug from me.
Alan and Anita & family, hiya, we are still having a ball!

Must end off. Until next time!
Love Jen and Baz x x x x x x x

Argentina pictures