Primed and ready for a change of pace following our explorations for the last several days it was time to switch gears and begin our discoveries in the rugged land of Patagonia. Early yesterday we flew to El Calafate, a town near Argentina’s border with Chile. For 65 million years, the land here has been raised by chaotic volcanic eruptions and carved by massive glaciers, creating a series of jagged islands, interconnected fjords and channels, and mountainside glacial lakes.
The area is named for the indigenous calafate bush. Locals say eating its berries will ensure your return to this mystical region and it must be true as Randall and I were here 15 years ago and longed to return. We arrived on time for lunch and had the afternoon to explore at leisure. It was time for a smaller town and a slower pace.
The area is named for the indigenous calafate bush. Locals say eating its berries will ensure your return to this mystical region and it must be true as Randall and I were here 15 years ago and longed to return. We arrived on time for lunch and had the afternoon to explore at leisure. It was time for a smaller town and a slower pace.
 Estancia entrance |  Geraldo |  Shearing a sheep |
Today we enjoyed a window into a Patagonian ranch life when we visited Bon Accord, a working estancia. The area’s sweeping grasslands are ideal for sheep farming, which has been one of the primary sources of income here since the end of the 19th century. At the estancia, we meet Geraldo who regaled us with his family history and what life is like living and working on a ranch in Patagonia.
 Lamb roasting over calafate wood | After a tour around the ranch house, we visited the BBQ fire where our lunch was being prepared. The lunch was wild hare, salad and barbecued lamb. It was delicious.
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