Guanacos out the wazoo!

Lazy morning, soothing and restful, drove a long while on a gravel road out of the park, but watched lots of wildlife on the way. But the weather was overcast, quite cool and breezy! The mountains were mostly obscured, what we have been told is their usual state. We have been unusually fortunate AND we are grateful for calm winds and sun! So on the bus for a long travel day.

To the visitor center for a chat about the major hiking circuits and photos of more lupines and parts of mountains (see above.) Back on the bus to Guanaco Land all along the route out of the park and beyond! We saw singles, doubles, and massive herds. Stopped a couple times to even stand quietly 30 yards from them. After the cameras stopped clicking, we could hear them calling to each other, kind whinnying. They are lovely, so elegant the way they hold their heads, chins in the air. Sometimes they almost freeze into position.

We also saw a family of geese: father mother and three babies. Then--condors sitting on a low hill, obviously too full to take off, also not much wind there; they are certainly Large birds!!! A family of rheas--father and three juveniles.

Geologic formations were also interesting with sedimentary layers in graceful curves having been pushed up by igneous extrusions--does that sound possible, you geologists out there? Anyway striking and beautiful!

Now, Kay and I have just had wine with our dinner and words are not coming as swiftly as we would like, so if we sound a little vague, we are. Forgive our lapses, we're doing the best we can.

Lunch at some minute town with a large shop (more lapiz lazuli to appease Jackie's delightful addiction)  and some kind of Chilean soup/stew that was very tasty. After lunch we crossed out of Chile and into Argentina, changing buses, drivers, and local guides. As the local guide droned on, we took a short nap, no offense to the guide, but it's difficult to stay awake sometimes.

Stopped again at La Esperanza, a community of only 47 people out nowhere in eastern Montana-like terrain. Had there a drink that sounded something like 'submarine' which is hot milk with pieces of chocolate in it; you have to stir a lot, but it's very tasty!

Another two hours to reach Calafate, a pleasant tourist town. We'll have a drive of an hour and a half to reach the glacier in the morning. We took a taxi downtown to shop a bit, then dinner (spinach raviolis for Kay and lamb raviolis for Jackie) with some Malbec wine; all was tasty, even if the wine did elicit a sneeze or two from Jackie.

That's all the news that's fit to print. Really just one more day of sightseeing then the flight to Buenos Aires, a festive dinner all together, and the long trip home. It's magnificent so far and promises to be continue so tomorrow.