Memories of the Blue Lagoon

Today was going to be a long day no matter what we did........on the schedule was a six hour drive from Torres del Paine, to the Helsingfors Lodge, a couple of hours outside El Calafate, Argentina.  This was a destination we had chosen some time ago, and we hoped the views were as good in person as they were online.  It was kind of pissy weather outside, so not a bad day to be in the van.  Everything was going along great until we reached the border between Chile and Argentina........took us an hour to get through.......this little fox below was the cutest little mooch you can imagine.


The drive into the lodge was really stunning.

Two ranches encompassed all the land from the main road into the lodge........the road went on for 55 miles, and the ranches were at least 10-15 miles wide covering two valleys beyond the one we were driving through.
We finally reached the lodge
If you plant it in a strong prevailing wind like they have in Patagonia......this is what you end up with.......bizarre

Time to go and explore the property
That is Mount Fitz Roy in the distance.......the one on the Patagonia label!




We awoke the next day to beautiful sunny skies and a horseback ride on the agenda.......we would be joined by Terry and Karen, a couple of Aussies, and the only other guests at the hotel......destination, Laguna Azul (Blue Lagoon)...........we rode uphill for 5km before leaving the horses in a clearing in the trees, and hiked the last 2km of steep uphill to reach the lagoon.

Horse corral by the lake

This little baby (5 months) would be joining us on the ride
Jutta drew the old grey mare, and her baby would follow her everywhere she went
My trusty steed........felt sorry for him the whole way
Very sad to mention, but they never give the foals a name until after they survive their first winter.......no shortage of food or shelter..........they need to survive the pumas
Jutta was in her glory having the young one along
Approaching the lagoon, this is the waterfall down the moraine 
Check it out........a beautiful place, and we were the only ones there










The young one went over to visit some retired ranch horses on the way down


Amazing memory

We have an early ride in the morning taking us to the airport for our flight to Ushuaia........will be getting on the ship in about 48 hours, and will be virtually cut off for 20 days........a couple more reports to go before we leave.













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