December 27, 2007

Crossing Borders

Today was another cool, dreary day.


We crossed out of Argentina...


into Chile

There was a long line-up again, much to our surprise.




We rode the ferry across the Magellan Strait.


The ferry was empty this time as we were in “mid vacation” time so why was the border line up so long? Probably short staffed due to the holidays.

A couple hours later...


we crossed out of Chile back into Argentina. What a lot of paperwork and waiting in line for nothing! I suppose the government of Chile wouldn’t agree it was for nothing. They have been able to keep control of the Strait, and that is probably important to them as it seems to be a major shipping route.



The scenery was boring, mile after mile of flat, windswept land. The pampas of Argentina are not our favourite places to ride through, and the wind was very strong again.

We saw lots of guanacos, nandu petisos (aka rheas – I finally got a few pictures… look very closely to see some chicks with the adult), a few cows, and of course lots of sheep.




We assume that most sheep ranches (estancias) are huge in area. The ranch-houses are very impressive.





Sandwiches are typical Argentina lunches, although these ones were huge! Ham and cheese sandwiches in various forms and combinations with other items such as lomito, millanesa or primavera are a common lunch menu item.




Tonight we stopped in Rio Gallegos, which is where Highway #3 intersects the road to El Calafate and the Perito Moreno Glacier our scenic highlight for tomorrow.