Wednesday, January, 2nd
El Calafate, Argentina
Stayed at Folk Hostel

Dear Obiwan,
Today we walked on a GLACIER! Our day began with us trying and failing to find a place to get take away lunches, but we both had some snacks and knew it was going to be okay.

Soon we were on our way! We had a bus ride through the Glacier National Park with an incredible guide telling us about the park and the glaciers. As we were driving in we saw a CONDOR FLY SO LOW, next to the bus, IT WAS HUGE. Then moments later we saw a GROUP OF CONDORS all sitting on the ground together, just hanging out like the gang!

TAKE THAT COLCA CANYON! (Obi that was the hike from hell in Peru that is famous for Condors and we saw NONE)

Here are the Condors!:

Okay, so you can’t really see in the picture but, trust me Obi, it was SO COOL!

After this we stopped at the Mirador, or view point, of the south side of the glacier.

Then we drove for an hour to the North side where there is a huge path you can walk on to get to pretty close and we got to watch the glacier for an hour!

It was so beautiful and SO LOUD when it would break off! But don’t worry environmentalist Obiwan, this glacier is in balance! So it’s all good when it breaks!:

Also we stopped for lunch at this place and I bought a ham and cheese and lettuce and tomato sandwich that was actually delicious!

Next, we took a boat to the glacier! We said chau to our lady bus guide and said hola to our new boat and glacier hiking guide! He asked if I was drunk when I almost lost my boat ticket and almost tripped and fell while getting on the boat.

After a little break, we we’re divided up into 3 groups and we chose the ‘mixed Spanish and English speaking group’ (which ended up being all in English). And soon after they were sizing up our feet and putting on CRAMP ONS. Obi, cramp ons are these super simple shoes that strap on over your shoes and have SUPER SHARP SPIKES! So you can WALK ON ICE! Our lovely guide ended up putting on mine and I told him, “I’m a clumsy person on land, I’m worried.” And he told not to worry but to make sure I walk with my feet a ‘V’ shape or ‘duck foot-ed.’ Obi, as you know, I am pigeon- toed, so my feet naturally turn IN and I had walk with my feet turning OUT! He also said to never walk with crossing your feet, because if you stumble YOU’RE STABBING yourself.

I was very nervous, BUT once on the ice, it was actually super easy! I was an ice-walking natural Obiwan!

Next, our guide gave us lessons on how to walk with the cramp-ons. Always keep your feet a part, when going up, walk duck-footed and when going down point your feet straight!

We then HIKED ON A GLACIER. It was so cool and fun Obi! The Glacier is ends on this side against a forest and some mountain, which meant it was very easy to just walk up on it. And it was so gorgeous! And cold! Our guide walked us around and told us some Glacier facts. One of the coolest parts was witnessing the water melting and how it carves through the ice creating the glacier’s shape. The water was so beautiful and SO FRESH AND CLEAN.

You could crawl down and scoop it up into your mouth! Which I did, and it was FREEZING but it tasted so incredibly. I won’t ever forget that water taste in my whole life!

The glacier was gorgeous, there are tons of little Rivers cutting through not and the rivers will form sink holes! We saw crevasses that were small and big and deep. The pointy tops are called Serac.

This glacier is one of the biggest glaciers in THE WORLD, besides Greenland and Antarctica!

I asked our guide, how did you end up HERE?! Leading glacier tours?! He said he is from Buenos Aires and has always loved glaciers and has traveled all over the world to see glaciers! And now here is here, and loves it!

At the end they suprised us with whiskey and ice FROM THE GLACIER! It was cold and delicious.

Wow. What an amazing day OBIWAN. I hope you’re doing well and can’t wait to be snuggling with you soon enough!

Love tú Madre,
Carly