The South American and Antarctic experience on the Zaandam

[scubacruiserx2]

We noticed something funny in the clouds

 

 

Stripes 

 

 

We decided to drive to the North side of the city where the road becomes gravel for a different view of Fitz Roy

 

 

 

 

Goose and goslings

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We hated to leave such a scenic area but we about a 3-4 hours drive with only 1 gas station between us and El Calafate

 

 

Not including stops for just 1 more photo

 

 

 

At this stop Pat found a stone split in half

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Our route would be taking us East on 23 , South on 40 and West on 11 to El Calafate to spend several days there in Glacier country .

 

 

Rear view mirror cam

 

 

getting smaller

 

 

Lake Viedma

 

 

A drive by pinnacle

 

 

Lago Argentino and our first iceberg sighting

 

 

 

 

 

[California Dreamer]

Thanks for the map too! We feel like we are following along with you and we hope to do this someday. 

[scubacruiserx2]

4 hours ago, California Dreamer said:

Thanks for the map too! We feel like we are following along with you and we hope to do this someday. 

 

You're welcome and we're glad that you could make it . This was our 3rd and last trip to SA with the 1st on the NCL Dream in 2007 , and the 2nd on the  Zaandam in 2013 . You can see that completed review here :

 

 

We didn't get to Antarctica or Stanley on either one of those trips , so this completes the cycle . We may borrow some photos from that trip to portray SA in it's best light .

[scubacruiserx2]

Another map of El Calafate

 

 

We stayed at the same hotel which we visited in 2013

 

 

 

 

It has a distant view of Lake Argentina

 

 

On the first night that we stayed , the dining room was filled with tourists and so we could't eat there . Room service brought a pizza .

 

 

The group had left early in the morning

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

After breakfast and picking up a box lunch we were ready to head out to The Lonely Planet's # 1 pick in Argentina - Perito Moreno Glacier .

 

 

It about and hour' s ride from the hotel to the entrance

 

 

There are a number of catwalks to get you down to the glacier face .

 

 

 

 

It would a good idea to unpack your jacket if you haven't already 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

It's hard to tell how large the glacier is from the photos but it's about 3 miles wide , 240 feet tall and about 19 miles long .

 

 

 

 

There are different colors on the glacier white , black  , light blue and a dark blue that we had never seen before 

 

 

 

Once again it hard to measure the scale of the ice chunk  until we saw a boat next to it . It was leaning a lot as all of the people rain to one side .

 

 

We did see more calving here because we stayed longer here , but this glacier is advancing instead of retreating .

 

Our video clip of calving :

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

At a lunch in the park we heeded the warnings 

 

 

 

 

 

We were calling it an early day because we had a full day ahead of us on the Gourmet Glacier cruise on the following day

 

 

 

[TayanaLorna]

On 1/16/2019 at 7:43 AM, scubacruiserx2 said:

Another map of El Calafate

 

 

We stayed at the same hotel which we visited in 2013

 

 

 

 

It has a distant view of Lake Argentina

 

 

On the first night that we stayed , the dining room was filled with tourists and so we could't eat there . Room service brought a pizza .

 

 

The group had left early in the morning

 

 

Hotel looks really cute.  Love all the big windows.  Do the rooms have big windows too?

[scubacruiserx2]

15 minutes ago, TayanaLorna said:

Hotel looks really cute.  Love all the big windows.  Do the rooms have big windows too?

 

Yes they did . We opened them when we were in the room . Would like to go on a trip to some glaciers this morning ?

[scubacruiserx2]

The trip to Puerto Bandera is the same way as to Perito Moreno only to turn right instead of left . It takes about 40 minutes by car .

 

 

The door to the smaller private area has a map of the trip . The door nob is where we begin .

 

 

Eight of us sat at the dining table .You can see our camera bags at the bench where we sat .

 

 

The first offering was the carb course .

 

 

The first ice berg

 

 

The black ice has it's color from the rocks and sand that it rubbed against sliding down the glacier .

 

[scubacruiserx2]

An ice cave

 

 

 

Like people , icebergs come in many different sizes and shapes

 

 

 

Gauge the iceberg by the trees growing on top of the hills

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

More icebergs from this beautiful area

 

 

 

 

 

[mocruzer]

Enjoying your review and outstanding pictures!  

[scubacruiserx2]

Damn the icebergs , full speed ahead !

 

 

 

We need to get closer for a selfie

 

 

Selfie poles ready ?

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

2 minutes ago, mocruzer said:

Enjoying your review and outstanding pictures!  

 

Thank you and stay tuned - we're just getting warmed up . 

[scubacruiserx2]

I believe that the first glacier that we saw was the Upsala 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

I liked the silver riverlets flowing over the black

 

 

I believe that we were at the Spegazzini glacier now

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Another ship joined us at this time

 

 

Compare it to the size of the glacier

 

 

At the water line , lower left corner

 

 

 

 

Edited January 17, 2019 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

We then entered Puerto Las Vacas and we told to take a hike . We didn't see any cows but this greeted us instead 

 

 

and this small bird singing at the top of his lungs 

 

 

Both of us were having some knee issues so we walked around the boat a little

 

 

 

Entrance to the private area 

 

 

We did wander down to the beach for a little bit .

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

A calving sequence of the block in the center

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

While everyone was at the beach the table was set for lunch

 

 

 

 

Glacial ice for the water

 

 

Lamb for lunch

 

 

 

The bubbles in the water glass came from the glacial ice cubes .

[TayanaLorna]

Will you be giving details like the name of the hotel, company for the glacier boat ride etc. for those who may wish to follow your steps.  Did you do the planning yourself or use a travel agent?

 

All I can say is WOW.