scubacruiserx2

We were starting to run low on dollars here but that is all they would accept so I kept the buying to a minimum . A map that you can't here in the us very easily . We did like some other things though . The Tile of Cave of Hands in particular . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cueva_de_las_Manos

We have found that most ship worker like routine including servers . If they see the same people at the same time at the same table they establish a rapport and routine with you . That's why when we eat in the MDR we choose a fixed time . The same goes for the room attendants if know when we're out they usually tidy up when they know that we're gone . The advice from @VMax1700 works well also to help correct issues . But we mainly use it to commend good service which helps deserving people move up in pay scale with promotions . It may help if you with future HAL cruises , while you're on the cruise . Cheers Mic and Rosie

We have driven by this place a number of times and just pass by , but nature was calling and we decided to take the call . It's on the La Leona River which runs from Lago Viedma in the North to Lago Argentino in the South on the East side . It's a good place to get your bearings or bathe your plants .

A river or a lake would be a near or distant companion as we headed East and then South . And the memories would fade but not soon as we were looking forward to the past .

Here's a video of us leaving taken near the Puerto Bahia Tunel Road . They used to offer a boat tour to the glacier but we could not reach them . It looks really cool if it's running when you go there . https://en.patagoniachic.com/el-calafate/tours/chalten-full-day-viedma-navigation_47.html

The day that we had dreaded had arrived , Saturday January 27th - time to head North for the Winter . The night before our water looked a little suspect which the front desk gladly exchanged for sealed bottled water . They were having some trouble with Aerolineas Argentinas both checking us in and printing the boarding passes at the front desk . It was still the same during breakfast and when we left El Chalten . We had paid extra to drop the car at the Airport in El Calafate instead of downtown where we rented it . The man at the desk helped us with our bags , again refusing a TIP . It's about a 3 hour ride to the airport if I don't take too many pictures , which I always do , but look where we are ! The Puerto Bahia Tunel turnoff

Dinner was at the hotel where we usually had breakfast Pat had more of the Gunaco and it's still a little chewy A nice glass of wine came with dinner but we had some Pisco Sour in the room

Our Son , DIL and our grandson Dante gave us a facetime call from Machu Picchu on December 27th , not long before we left on our trip . Carmen's family lives in Lima and this was their 3rd or 4th trip there . Switzerland sounds like the best bet in 2025 if we're still around . Fall is a great time for us to beat the heat and Hurricane season and we like to see the leaves changing . We do have time to plan add on stops . BTW I'm 73 and the hike to the waterfall was only about a mile total and mostly flat . Much less than Punta Tombo .

Passing by our hotel to lunch because we knew that we had a free dinner there we went back to try lunch at La Tapera . The menu was the same as the night before but we were the only people there which gave us time to interact with the staff who are very laid back . We sat next to the firepit the night before . Here's the ladder on the right ( the naval term for stairs ) which led to the washroom . We forgot that they collected plates or we would have brought a Florida one . Here's one from where we spent our 46th marriage birthday . I ate light with soup and an empanada We split a dessert skyscraper We really like this place and would recommend it . We did indulge in a siesta as an old tradition from my Firefighter days when we worked 24 hour shifts . It works well in Florida to stay out of the hot midday sun .

The return trip to the town . The Hotel on the hill .

We thank you for sharing your input and ideas . The BIG 3 trips that we would like to do is Egypt and the Holy Land . Switzerland and the countries of the Alps and the Big boy . That would be Australia and dive the Barrier reef on a liveaboard for a week and cruise to New Zealand and back through Tahiti and Hawaii to the West coast of the US . We haven't been to Rome but our son and DIL with their son have and loved it . She is from Peru and they were down there for Christmas , and her brother's birthday . The last time that they were down they wanted our son to give a 30 minute speech at his niece's speech at her Quinceañera . Needless to say they are all fluent in English and Spanish . Our next cruise will be our annual family holiday which falls between Thanksgiving and Christmas . We do it then because our oldest daughter and our DIL are both nurses and usually have to work on one or the other holiday . It's only a week on the Neuiw Amsterdam but there's 4 stops including Grand Turk , Bahamas , the DR and Key West .

After breakfast we decided to take a short hike because of the wind and our old knees . Additionally being flatlanders our breathing is not as easy as someone who lives at altitude . So slow and steady it was with hiking poles . We enjoyed it when we were told to go take a hike It had warmed a bit but was still very pleasant My mom's parents lived in the country and had no running water in their house so they had an outhouse like the one that we used in the woods , only not elevated . And this one was more fancy , a 2 seater !

The view of the dining room The view from the dining room The room that we stayed in on our first trip there was on the 1st floor The room that we stayed on the second trip was directly above on the 2nd floor The reading or lounging room on the 2nd floor All of the people that worked there were very nice and it was quite at night . All of the people at the desk were from Buenos Aires . Like us when we were their age we moved from the city . Unfortunately , the city has followed us with people who don't like things quite and /or nature . We had about 40 years before the city caught up to us .

Breakfast back at the Hotel And a breakfast sandwich

Entering El Chalten by crossing the Fitzroy River which was moving fast As busy as bees The city is big with backpackers And Skiers High risk of fire hazard

Thank you Madeleine for you kind words and we're glad that you enjoy the photos and hope that you will enjoy the Star and your trip . If you have any questions please don't be afraid to ask . We hope that you will enjoy your TA cruise . We are sorry that you didn't have good weather and that's why we recommend a longer visit to Antarctica . Our first visit was 4 days and had 2 good and 2 not so good plus the trip to Patagonia first , before the cruise which we liked better Our 3 favorite cruises over the years have been the 22 day Santiago to BA with 4 days in Antarctica and 9 in Patagonia . The Baltic from London including Russia , but not with the current President . We have friends there and none of them approve of the invasion of the Ukraine . We try not to allow the bad behavior of a couple of rotten eggs spoil most of the good people but it's hard when he is the leader . We have had some here in our country that we didn't much care for . Lastly , a Transatlantic on the Eclipse from my home town of Miami to London . We did stay in Russia with a visa but Medvedev was in office . We really liked London and and had a great tour in Lisbon . We would recommend Inside Lisbon there if you've never been .https://insidelisbon.com/ The account of our TA and London / Russia stay was our most successful thread with 380 K views before CC closed it to further replies . But it and the photos can still be seen here .

In this photo you can see our Hotel . It's the red one set on a hill . Here's a video of the ride up the hill . I can't imagine having to walk up the hill with luggage

A Canon with a telephoto

Some photos from my Sony pocket camera . I use it for food , panoramas and video mostly . Mount Fitzroy . What I thought were shadows at a distance were just greenery . It's over 11,000 feet tall ! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitz_Roy No gas lines at the only station

Before breakfast the sun out and we took the cameras for a ride . It looks like the mushrooms were sprouting While we were watching the lenticular clouds we were being watched You can hear how windy it is . It's always windy in Patagonia . Mount Fitzroy ( the Captain of the Beagle )

After dinner and a nice warm bath in the bubble tub we sat down to relax and check out the e mail and the weather . It was still raining a little but the wind was fierce . And yet we opened windows a bit . They tilt open at the top a bit but slammed shut . So a square box of dental tape wedged the window open . It sounded like a hurricane was coming , just like the last time we were here in 2019 - not long before Covid hit .

We were told that we had a free dinner at the hotel so we made it for the next night . The first night we wanted to go the place where we ate the last time that we were there . It's small inside and it's 2 stories with the wash rooms up a steep stairway . I had the soup of the day and someone else had Gunaco Berry Cheesecake and a sugar tower

When we checked into our hotel they were as nice as they could be with warm cookies and helping us with our bags , but refusing a tip . The shower The tub They even had a drinking fountain for our service dog , which we don't have . The view

We must be getting close to El Chal'ten now The turn marker at 23 , head West old man . Entering the town on a cold, windy , rainy day The strike had a far reach . The gas line was an hour long but the locals got a short cut . It had been 4 hours since leaving El Calafate so we stopped at the Tourist Reception for a map and to wash our hands . No maps , but I got lucky and got the handicapped stall . In many countries unlike the US , cruise and airline industry , people don't acknowledge the ADA by giving front row seats . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_with_Disabilities_Act_of_1990

Thank you well spotted ! Our favorite spot was the cabin as it had a forward and a Starboard balcony . Our normal preferred spot is aft , out of the wind so Spice was a good spot also . Here's our video of the cabin.