Patagonian | Blue Lapis Road

DAY 71 (5 OF 5) – KAUPE RESTAURANT, USHUAIA, TIERRA DEL FUEGO, ARGENTINA

With a nice view overlooking the harbour, Kaupe Restaurant is perhaps the best place in town to taste the seafood of Ushuaia. We had scallops, king crab, Patagonian sea bass, and octopus from Beagle Channel.

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South America 2013 – Our Destinations
Buenos Aires (Argentina), Iguazu Falls (Argentina/Brazil), Pantanal (Brazil), Brasilia (Brazil), Belo Horizonte & Inhotim (Brazil), Ouro Preto (Brazil), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Paraty (Brazil), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Samaipata & Santa Cruz (Bolivia), Sucre (Bolivia), Potosi (Bolivia), Southwest Circuit (Bolivia), Tilcara, Purmamarca, Salta (Argentina), Cafayate (Argentina), San Pedro de Atacama (Chile), Antofagasta & Paranal Observatory (Chile), Chiloe (Chile), Puerto Varas (Chile), Torres del Paine (Chile), Ushuaia (Argentina), El Chalten (Argentina), El Calafate (Argentina), Isla Magdalena (Argentina), Santiago (Chile), Valparaiso (Chile), Afterthought

December 27, 2013 | Categories: Argentina, Day 71 to 80, Ushuaia | Tags: Argentina, destination, food, journal, Kaupe, king crab, octopus, Patagonian, photo, restaurant, sea bass, seafood, South America, things-to-do, Travel, Ushuaia | Leave a comment

DAY 64 (3 OF 4) – PALETTE OF SPRING, TORRES DEL PAINE, CHILE

Spring is a great time to visit Torres del Paine because of the colourful blossoms of wild flowers, orchids and Calafate berries. Most flowers are tiny here because of the strong wind and cold nights. We met some experienced trekkers who told us that there are 9 types of wild orchids in the park. We saw a few of them during our hike between Refugio Grey and Paine Grande.

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December 18, 2013 | Categories: Chile, Day 61 to 70, Patagonia, Torres del Paine | Tags: Chile, destination, flowers, journal, mountains, park, Patagonia, Patagonian, photo, South America, things-to-do, Torres del Paine, Travel, W trek | 1 Comment

DAY 64 (1 OF 4) – GREY TO PAINE GRANDE, TORRES DEL PAINE, CHILE

Some people came to Glacier Grey as a long day hike (8 hours return) from Refugio Paine Grande, but we preferred to stay a night at Refugio Grey so that we could have more time at the lookouts at the glacier. After some good rest and a simple breakfast, it was time for us to return to Refugio Paine Grande. Glacier Grey was in shade in the morning, but the deep blue colour of the ice was still a beautiful sight. As we approached Laguna los Pasos, we noticed the wind was significantly stronger than yesterday. When we entered the valley near Refugio Paine Grande, the wind had really picked up and at certain spots it was so strong that we could hardly walk up straight. From a distance, we could see high waves and water splashes on the surface of Lago Pehoe. We were glad to arrive at the door of Refugio Paine Grande at about 1pm.

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December 18, 2013 | Categories: Chile, Day 61 to 70, Patagonia, Torres del Paine | Tags: Chile, destination, Glacier, Grey, ice field, journal, mountains, Paine Grande, park, Patagonia, Patagonian, photo, refugio, South America, things-to-do, Torres del Paine, Travel, W trek | Leave a comment

DAY 63 (3 OF 3) – GLACIER GREY, TORRES DEL PAINE, CHILE

After dinner at about 8:30pm, there was still plenty of light outside. We went out to the nearby lookout (15 minute walk from the refugio) for a closer look of Glacier Grey. As part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, Glacier Grey is regarded as one of the biggest highlight of Torres del Paine. No one was around at the lookout. We were glad to be alone for at least a moment to be embraced by the Patagonian wilderness. We stopped at a beach where carved icebergs gathered. Angela spent the time observing the moving clouds, distant mountains and wild flowers, while Calvin climbed up onto the ridge of a rock peninsula to get an unobstructed view of the glacier. The wind was very strong and cold, but the majestic beauty of Glacier Grey was just irresistible. From the other side of the peninsula, we were excited to discover an ice arch just off from the main glacier. On our way back, we made a detour down to another beach by Lago Grey to have a last look of the glacier and the ice arch from another angle. What a fruitful evening!