This one is for you, Mary!!

Mendoza, Argentina is the Napa of South America. I hate to tell ya´Chile, but Argentinian wine is way better. We rented bikes and rode from one winery to the next. They actually pour you almost half a glass for each taste. With the bike riding and perfect blue skies it was nice to get back and relax with a big Steak and a nice bottle of "Vino Tinto." The Malbec is especially good and Mendoza is famous for it. It has been very difficult controlling Jamie since we have been in wine country.

Glacier Frias was the location of our second night of the Paso De Las Numbes hike in the Lakes District of Argentina. We camped across the river from this dynamic glacier. From our camp we could see 19 waterfalls. There were at least 10 more that were just our of view from our campsite. At one point in the late evening there were also between 20 and 25 Andean Condors circling overhead above the glacier.

Maté is the official drink of Argentina. It is enjoyed by placing loose tea leaves in a gourd or other small container. Hot water is then poured over the leaves and sipped through a slotted metal straw. What a great place to share some hot tea.

Sunrise on Mt. Tronodor in Argentina. ´Tronodor´means Thunder in Spanish because there are numerous glaciers surrounding the mountain. As these glaciers calve the thunderous sound of the pieces of ice crashing down the mountain echoes throughout the valley. We were camped about 100 yards from the edge of one of these glaciers. There was a group from the Argentinian military that was up there training on the glacier in order to be stationed in Antarctica.

The Lakes District at it´s finest. Craggy peaks, year round snow, cold lakes of every size and, yes, more clouds.

Parque National Nahuel Huapi in the Lake District of Patagonian Argentina is the most ´Like Home´place we have found in South America. The scenery reminds us of Colorado, not to mention a ski area on the backside of the mountain and large rustic wooden lodges with nice smelling fires burning. We started on a five day trek that turned into a three and a half day due to weather. We did have a nice time hanging out in the tent for a day playing cards. Jamie always wins.

This really puts things in perspective. We had no idea that the ice looked that high, or that we looked that small. This was truelly an amazing experience to be this close to a glacier on the water with it rumbling and cracking. We had a chance to paddle around a bunch of little ice-bergs, touching them and watching them glow blue in the sunlight. Other than a short time on the last day, the weather on our Kayaking trip was horrible. Rain, high winds, and cold, cold, cold. You thought your hands get cold when you ski? You havn´t experienced paddling in glacier runoff in the rain with 30 mph winds. The crazy thing is that we both loved the experience and want to continue kayaking when we get back to the States.