As we reach the border with Argentina at Cerro Castillo we stop over for few minutes.
Just to rub it in we are actually met by 35 BMW travelling in the area and enjoying themselves!
Even though the distance as the bird flies between TDP and El Calafate is only 100Kms, it takes us over 8 hrs to get there.
Our first excursion is at the Estancia Cristina.
In 1914 a brave British family settled in the northwest part of the Lago Argentino, near the Upsala Glacier.
Due to the extreme weather conditions and lack of any sort of infostructure their daughter (Cristina) died of pneumonia few years later.
Over the years this excursion has been organised via boat.
However in 2008 the glacier Upsala broke down and a huge amount of icebergs covered part of the lake making it impossible to navigate.
Instead it is still possible to cover the distance by foot with a 2.5 hrs boat trip + 6 hrs hike.
As there are no trails in the area it is quite essential to have a guide to show you where to go.
The place is 100% nature with wild horses and pumas wandering around.
As we are looking around the beautiful sceneries nothing can prepare us for what is about to happen next.
Few condors appear at the horizon and one makes a dive just above our heads.
To hear the sound (like a glider) this huge bird makes while its flying is an amazing experience.
The Condor leaves as quickly as it comes, also because it can fly at a speed of 100kms p/h.
As we reach the mirador a spectacular view of the glacier Upsala welcomes us.
To top up a wonderful day, for dinner we rewarded ourselves with a speciality of the area: patagonic lamb.
If this was only an appetizer we wonder what we are going to see tomorrow at the Perito Moreno glacier......
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