argentina

we approach glaciar perito moreno in parque nacional los glaciares...

the glaciar descends into lago argentino...at some points 60m above the water and some 5km wide.

on a boat for a close look...

...and the view from above.

occasionally pieces break off and float off as icebergs...

impressive.

the trekking continues. now outside the town of el chalten and walking below the peaks of the fitz roy massif.

pointy cerro torre and laguna torre.

heading towards our next camp, just beyond laguna hija.

another camp, another kitchen.

monte fitz roy.

monte fitz roy's reflection in laguna de los tres.

with our backs to fitz roy we look down towards el chalten town.

back at camp for an afternoon nap.

scrambling through white granite boulders to reach laguna piedras blancas...

...below glaciar piedras blancas.

yet another view of monte fitz roy, this time from the shores of laguna sucia.

luckily we were able to use this 'climbers cabin' when the weather got bad...and it got awful with rain/snow/wind gusts. still sleeping in our tent, we passed the day in the shelter by reading.

moving on...our campsite next to laguna capri.

glaciar piedras blanca from a distance.

one last glance at fitz roy...

nearly back at el chalten and the view down valle rio de las vueltas.

all the basics are so much better after camping...hot showers, soft bed, and home cooked meals at albergue patagonia.

a photo of a photo showing part of the ice mass known as hielo sur just beyond monte fitz roy.

the lovely couple that kindly drove us to the town of esquel.

el bolson and its popular market.

finally we make it to bariloche on the north shore of lago nahuel huapi in the lake district. the view from our hostel was spectacular.

our good friends mark and jenny from london join us for the adventure.

we head out for the day west of bariloche to the viewpoint atop cerro campanario.

cold home-brew beers at cerveceria blest.

more trekking...

we venture up through lenga forests from the ski village of villa catedral.

up towards more rocky surroundings.

laguna tonchek and the peaks of cordon catedral.

the pointy columns around cerro catedral.

steep steep up...

...and more up...above laguna schmoll.

a quick stop on top cancha de futbol.

then going down the other side.

steep steep down.

and up again on paso brecha negra...

...and down to our campsite at laguna jakob.

set up.

with some time to spare before nightfall we check out laguna los tempanos.

definitely not a secure bridge. mark hangs on.

back in bariloche.

now weore in wine country outside mendoza. we hire bikes, cruise around, tour wineries and sample wines.

bodega familia di tomaso, one of the oldest wineries in argentina. founded 1869.

easter sunday...

...out for a stroll and picnic in plaza independencia.

another winery tour and museum at bodega la rural.

next stop...and our last on the continent...super cool buenos aires.

the very old lift in our lift in our hostel's building.

laura and mark, on their way back to the uk from new zealand, stop by for drinks.

a maze of tombs in cementerio de la recoleta.

just a touch?

a big metal flower in plaza de las naciones unidas. the pedals open at dawn and close at dusk.

old theater turned book shop.

mmm steak and wine.

tango mural along our walk from san telmo to la boca.

one of many many maradonas

the port district of la boca.

brightly coloured tin and wooden houses along caminito.

puerto madero dock...19th century warehouses are now restaurants and bars and apartments.

back in san telmo for some drinks...

soda and grenadine.

mesmerized by the steps and music of the tango...

palacio del congreso.

more wine...

the widest avenue in south america, avenida 9 de julio and plaza de la republica and obelisk.

our last day and its a busy one. its sunday so the famous antiques market in san telmo is on in plaza dorrego.

loads of interesting stuff to look at...

one last argentinian steak...

...and then football. boca juniors.

...and drinks with carli and augustina, friends we met in bolivia.

now...the trip is over. well...nearly over. before we head to australia we have to make just one more stop...