Saturday 10 January 2009

Tuesday 6 January 2009

Mendoza Wine Yard Tour.



Above pic: Our tour guide at the Tommasso wine yard getting our tasters ready.



Above pic: Having a FREE taster at the wine museum.




Above pic: Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

Sunday 4 January 2009

Penguins in Puerto Madryn

Swinmming and playing around at the beach.

De alskar att simma ut i havet och sen in igen. Ur sota var de =)

Parque National Los Glaciares.



Above pic: A view point of the Moreno Glacier.



Above pic: The two of us.



Above pic: Not good with my birds of prey but someone may know?




Above pic: Almost identical pic to the front cover of our ´Lonely Planet´guide book.



Above pic: Left to right, Beadle, Joanna, Me and Gabby half of the couple we met form Norwich.


First Film

Southern Argentina up to Mendoza.

Had a change of plan and joined a couple we met in Puerto Madryn and travelled way down south to El Calafate and El Chalten. El Calafate is 80km from ´Parque National Los Glaciares´where we hired a car to go view the Moreno Glacier. Apparently its one of the only glaciers still expanding and we were lucky enough to see and hear parts fall off.

From El Calafate we travelled on to El Chalten which was founded just over 20 years ago so was very basic, but had a good micro brewery. From here there are numerous hikes to other glaciers and also the chance to view Fitz Roy Peak, which we did.

Another reason for travelling to El Chalten was the route back up north to Mendoza, Ruta 40. The journey was made famous by ´Che Guevara´ in the book ´The Motor Cycle Diaries´ but to be honest was nothing but flat desert land and the odd bird that the ´Road Runner´was based on.

We arrived to Mendoza on Christmas day staying at a hostel with a pool and huge BBQ. Spent the week up to New Year lounging around the pool having BBQ´s taking it easy. The only day we did anything of note was to do the vineyard tours which was the reason for travelling to Mendoza. This involved being given a bike and a map of all the vineyards in the area (aprox 14 in all) and visiting as many as you can before having to return the bikes.

After recovering from that we organised a big party for New Year, all putting some money in to have a big BBQ and plenty to drink.

Currently we are in Salta, another 19 hours further north close to the Chilean border. On Tuesday we are catching a bus to Iguazu Falls and then on to Beunos Aires, but I will try to be quicker to update the blog next time.

Pictures from Puerto Madryn



Above pic: Overlooking a beach full of Penguins near Puerto Madryn, look closely and you can see them.



Above pic: A close up.


Above pic: The three of us overlooking the beach.

Above pic: A better idea of how many there were.



Above pic: The dolphins that looked like baby killer whales.

Pictures from Barriloche.



Above pic: Me holding a bottle of Quilmes beer down at the lake in Barriloche, 90p a litre, not bad.



Above pic: Barriloche main square.



Above pic: Half way through a bike ride before taking a dip in the lake.




Above pic: One of the view points on the same bike ride.



Above pic: Joanna at the same view point.