2012 Cuenca Perspectives Collage

2012 Cuenca Perspectives Collage
VIVA CUENCA

VIVA CUENCA!

My mission in publishing this blog is first to provide a living history of my settlement and life in Cuenca, and to provide myself and the reader with a journal account delineating my reasons for why I have chosen to settle in Cuenca. Second, the posts are my way of staying in contact with family and friends back in the states, and to provide them with an understanding of a country and culture that most North Americans have little knowledge and awareness. Third, the blog is open to one and all who wish to compare and contrast the experiences of expat bloggers living in Cuenca, so that you can determine whether or not from your perspective Cuenca is an appropriate move for you. Fourth, my blog provides another example of how expats view and interpret life in Cuenca. Ecuadorians and Cuencanos who may read this blog are especially invited to post comments that may enhance all expats understanding and appreciation of Cuneca and its people, or to correct any misinterpretations in my assumptions and perceptions of Cuencano culture. Finally, I hope I can convey the feeling of love and appreciation that grows within me each passing day for this heavenly city nestled in the Andes and its very special people.

Friday, July 24, 2020

CALAFANTE, ARGENTINA: GLACIER NATIONAL PARK


Well, I need to progress toward completion of my trip to Argentina, even if no one is traveling at this time.  There is always hope for another time in the future for those who enjoy traveling.

When Paul, Juana, and I arrived in Buenos Aires, they spent a couple of days with me.  Paul and Juana, being from Ecuador, had only seen snow once before in their lives in the high altitude area of the Andes in Ecuador.  They were excited to go to Calafante, Argentina to the National Glacier Park. The National Park is located southwest of Buenos Aries almost to the tip of Argentina and close to the Chilean border.  In air miles, Calafante is approximately 1,266 miles from Buenos Aires and takes about 3 and 1/4th hours to fly.  

I have seen all the ice and snow and cold I ever want to experience in my life being from the Midwestern U.S.A.  I chose to remain in Buenos Aries, and complete our plans for the last part of our trip in Argentina.  Paul and Juana were off, stayed the first night upon their arrival, explored the National Park the next day, slept in Calafante that night, and by the following afternoon, they returned to Buenos Aires. 

Juana, being older, took a different trip from Paul.  Paul went with a group who were allowed on the glacier itself.







The silence was something to behold, and the quiet and stillness was greatly enjoyed by both Paul and Juana, especially after their time in the large noisy cities of Lima and Buenos Aries and being around such large crowds of people. Often the sounds to be heard were from voices in the group, or the crunching of snow as they walked.





















The tranquility and beauty of the ice and snow made Paul and Juana's visit to the glaciers the highlight of their trip to Peru and to Argentina.  Both very much enjoyed the town of Calafante, and wished they could live there as well.





In the photo below, you can see the group as they trek through the glacier surrounded by its open isolation.



People often think that South America is hot the year round, which is generally not the case.  The Equator, located in northern South America and running through Ecuador,  and the attitude of the Andes,  as well as ocean currents all play a role in the heat index in South America.  The further one moves south of the Equator the more likely, like in Argentina, one will experience the four changes of the seasons.  Buenos Aires, for example, can get snow and get cold in their winter months, which would be the North American summer months; but even then it will not be as cold and snowy as the North American Midwest or Northeast in the United States.  As one continues south toward the tip of Argentina, which is also the tip of South America, one is getting closed to Antarctica; and therefore, glaciers like in Calafante become a reality.






Naw, there were no penguins in sight.  I just threw this photo in to amuse you or to amuse me.

*Photos taken and provided by Paul Tacuri.

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