South America

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South America skip's retirement travel
Volcán Osorno
January 17, 2019 in Chile ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
An active volcano whose last eruption was in the 19th century, although a nearby volcano erupted as recently as 2015. This is also a ski resort in winter. Even at the height of summer here (as it is now), the glacier doesn't fully melt. First is a view if the volcano from a distance. Then riding the chair lift up to the glacier. Next is at the edge of the glacier looking up to the top of the mountain. The rest give a sense of the spectacular views from up there.Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Punta Arenas
January 19, 2019 in Chile ⋅ 🌬 15 °C
Town located on the Magellan Strait, which, for those of us who had geography more than a half century ago, was the main route around South America before the Panama Canal. The economy is undergirded with oil and gas extraction and supporting industries. Also agriculture, fishing and tourism. The first pic is the main square, followed by a street scene. Then several of the Strait of Magellan from the waterfront at the end of the main square. There are some ships that still use the Strait, sone of which are visible.Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Isla Magdalena
January 19, 2019 in Chile ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Island in the midst of the Strait of Magellan. A breeding site for Magellan penguins, skuas and gulls. The first pic looks across the island to the now unused lighthouse. The 3 pic of penguins, includng some juveniles, a skua and gulls, including a juvenile.Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Cueva del Milodón
January 21, 2019 in Chile ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Very large cave formed from glacial, tectonic and ocean wave forces that was used for shelter at least 11,000 years ago. The milodon is an extinct bear-like mammal related to the modern sloth. The second pic is a life size statue of the milodon in the cave. The first pic looks at the cave entrance from outside. The last looks at the view from the cave, and the others are various pictures inside the cave.Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Torres del Paine
January 21, 2019 in Chile ⋅ 🌬 11 °C
Patagonian national park here in Chile, named for the Paine (pronounced PIE-neh) river and the Massif of the same name. Torres = towers, but the clouds didn't cooperate much in being able to see them. The first 2 pics are of some of the Torres, though not all are visible. Then looking across Grey Lake to Grey Glacier in the background where it directly feeds the lake. Then a water fall, Blue Lagoon and some guanacos.Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Fiordo Ultima Esperanza
January 23, 2019, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ 🌧 7 °C
Final Hope Fjord near Puerto Natales. The first 2 pics are views of the Fjord. 3rd is the Balmaceda Glacier: it reached the water in the 1980s, clearly showing that the glacier is retreating and another sign of climate change. Next is Condor Cliff, so called because the birds breed here. That is followed by a condor in flight. The last pic is of Scotch with glacier ice: A nice treat on the way back from the glacier (see next post).Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Serrano Glacier
January 22, 2019 in Chile ⋅ 🌧 8 °C
Various shots of a glacier. The tree in the foregound has a marker, probably not visible, of the location of the foot of the glacier in 2001. There are markers farther out showing the extent of the glacier in 1968 and 1987. Clear evidence of climate change. Other pics are of the glacier and icebergs that calved.Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
El Calafate, Argentina
January 23, 2019 in Argentina ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Patagonia town whose economy is based on tourism. As the Glacier Capital of Argentina. It had been sheep/wool based until the 70s. The first pic overlooks the city with a bit of Lago Argentino and the second looks along the lake. Lago Argentino is the largest lake in Argentina. The next is a look at the main Street in town. Then a look at the Patagonian steppe, a semi-arid landscape. The last is a rural farm.Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentinia
January 24, 2019 in Argentina ⋅ 🌬 9 °C
Part of the 3rd largest complex of glaciers after Antarctica and Greenland. It's hard to description be the scale if this, but if you look closely at the first pic, you will see a tour boat just of the edge of the glacier. The glacier wall is more than 200 feet high. The pictures are various views from several angles, looking along the faces, across the top, etc.Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Estancia Nibepo Aike
January 25, 2019 in Argentina ⋅ 🌬 8 °C
A former sheep farm now working primarily in tourism. They raise sheep for meat. The cattle is all strictly grass fed and sold live. First is the main house then looks at the critters and finally lambs being grilled for our dinner.Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Ushuaia, Argentina
January 26, 2019 in Argentina ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Described as the southern most city in the world, located at the tip of South America. The first two pics look across the bay at downtown and the port where cruise ships dock. Mostly they go to Antarctica, as well will have n the 28th. Then a street scene with background typical here. Last is a look out from the hotelRead more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Ferrocarril Austral Fueguino
January 27, 2019 in Argentina ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Southern railroad at "the end of the world.". Aka prisoners railroad. Narrow gauge railroad built 100 years ago by prisoners. They are still operating steam engines. First is the train. Second is the station near Ushuaia. Third is Macarena Falls where the trains refilled their water reservoirs. The rest are views from the train. Tree stumps that you see are left from prisoners logging operations, either for RR ties, fuel for the steam engines or to supply the sawmill.Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego
January 27, 2019 in Argentina ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
National park. Pics are of the park. The sign is on the park and marks the end of the Pan-American Highway; hence the reference to the other end in Alaska.
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South America skip's retirement travel
Port Lockroy
January 31, 2019 in Antarctica ⋅ ⛅ 0 °C
Former British research station and post office now primarily a tourist location and post office. Started during WW II for research into long distance radio transmission. The original building has been restored as a museum, store and post office to show how things were, including the original equipment for ionosphere research for radio. And yes, the Gentoo penguins are neighbors, including some nests to under the buildings.Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Lemaire channel, Antarctica
February 1, 2019 in Antarctica ⋅ ⛅ -2 °C
Sometimes called the Kodak channel as the most photographed spot in Antarctica. Pics are taken from the MV Plancius, the ship I was on. BTW, a great crew and a good trip.
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South America skip's retirement travel
Antarctica 1
February 1, 2019 in Antarctica ⋅ ⛅ -1 °C
My seventh continent. This is a series of pics looking at the scenery. Simply spectacular. I wish I had a way to give a true sense of scale. Epic would not be an overstatement.
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South America skip's retirement travel
Penguins
February 2, 2019, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 0 °C
Gentoo penguins, the most common species in this part of Antarctica. The last pic includes a couple of chicks with the parent. It could be either one as both share duties. BTW, that's a juvenile elephant seal napping in the middle of the colony--very unusual.Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Whales!
February 4, 2019, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌧 0 °C
Humpbacks. Taken in 2 sitings. The latter 4 pics are of 2 whales feeding. They swim down and come up through the krill with mouths open and close at the surface. The head breaks the surface. Notice 2 heads in the 5th pic. That is likely mother and young. The fluke in the last pic is a unique to each whaleRead more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Seals
February 4, 2019 in Antarctica ⋅ ❄️ 0 °C
First is a leopard seal then some crabeaters, a Weddell seal trying to nap and various species pulled out on to sea ice. Sea ice is frozen salt water. Bergs are frozen fresh water. Seals like sea ice as it is flat and easier to pull out of the waterRead more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Antarctic ice
February 5, 2019, South Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ❄️ 0 °C
These are pictures from several locations of the amazing ice formations. Some bergs, so me not yet bergs but probably will be. The last is an example of some of the amazing light we climbed experienced.Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Buenos Aires
February 7, 2019 in Argentina ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Beautiful city some call the Paris of Latin America. And rightly so. Many wide boulevards, classic architecture, great food, lots of green and more. The first pic is the Pink House, the building where the president works and is the center of national government. Second is the colonial administration building. Then the Metropolitan Cathedral, where Pope Francis used to work. Then the central market and the obelisk in the center of town. Last is a pic of the city from the Rio de la Plata.Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
La Boca
February 8, 2019 in Argentina ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Funky neighborhood located at the original port at the mouth (Boca) of the small river where it enters the Rio de la Plata. The was the immigrant area where people found homes in the tenements. They would get off the boat and walk up La Caminita, the street in the first pic to look for a place to stay. The second pic looks into a typical tenement and the third is a musician playing a bandeon on a stage in that tenement's courtyard. Then a street market at the port end of La Caminita that is overlooked by "Pope Francis" on the balcony. There are many similar sculptures and street art. Fun neighborhood.Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
More Buenos Aires
February 8, 2019 in Argentina ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Too much to see in this city. These examples include a mechanical sculpture with a solar panel that powers the flower to open in daylight and close up like a tulip at night. Then a street scene. Next is the oldest city cemetary that is all private family mausoleums, many with up to 4 levels below ground. Evita's is interred here in her family tomb. Then the Japanese Garden and the Botanical Garden, both beautiful.Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
February 10, 2019 in Uruguay ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
Small city across the river from Buenos Aires originally founded by the Portuguese. The first pic is the original city gate followed by a street scene in the old town and the lighthouse. Next is the original main square in the old town, followed by a look across the remains of the first house of the Portuguese governor. Last looks across the yacht marina to the 5 km of beaches along the bay.Read more
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South America skip's retirement travel
Montevideo
February 12, 2019 in Uruguay ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Capital of Uruguay. Another city with a European feel. First pic is the sign along the Rambla, the seaside walk and road that goes on for over 20 km. Next is the original city gate, all that remains from the old city walls. Behind the gate is Independence Square, the main square in the city. Next, in the center of that square is the statue of Artigas, the hero of independence, with both the old and new national government executive office buildings in the background. Then a city market, the famous bronze statue of the gaucho, oxen and wagon and a city street.Read more
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