Argentina

We crossed the border to Argentina at Iguaza Falls some time in early May - much to my relief.
Iguaza Falls truly is tremendous at certainly outclasses Niagara but not Victoria Falls (apart from it's size)
From there we bused it down to Buenos Aires where we saw the local Boca football team play. They were Maradona's 1st team and he attends every game still!
On my B'day we went to see a Tango show as BA is where it was invented - superb.
Then we got the ferry to Uruguay and spent a lovely hot day (well remembered as it was our last hot day)at the border town of Colonia and then bussed it to Monte Video - av. strange place with not much charcter and considering it more wealthy than Argentina & much more expensive it no sole. We couldn't wait to leave so thankfully we did v. quixckly back to BA
for more sight seeing. This city is incredible it's alive 24Hrs and we had some of the best food I've ever had anywhere. 2 fillet steaks, bottle of wine, water, pudding and 2 cokes for under a tenner- what more can you ask for!
From here we headed down south for Patagonia and a lovely new town of El Calaffate & the Perito Merino Glacier which was incredibly huge, beautiful, and cold.
Then another 4 Hrs south to El Chalten the southern part of the Glacier National Park to see Mount Fitzroy and it's surrounding mountains and 2 do 3 days walking. I can't begin to describe how beautiful this area was but on our last days 6 Hr walk we went up 2 c Lake Capri and drink the water ( you can drink any water you come across in this National Park) and not wishing to sound like a 1980's Yuppy it was the best water we have ever tasted!We tracked deer & Pumars prints in the snow, saw a fox walked through frost, snow, sunshine, bitter cold, more sunshine and then rain on the way down which was in fact the snow on the trees melting. It was a day neither of us will forget in a hurry and well worth the constant taking off and putting on of layers as the climate changed.
We then headed Nrth East for Southern Right Whale Watching at Puerta Madryn - which we were lucky enough to see 2 of aS they only arrived a week ago
Then our 24 Hr bus journey to the Border town of Mendoza for a wine tasting tour - not recommended with a hangover!! - but a great Feast at the end of it and horse riding in the mountains at the base of the Andes which too was stunning. The whole country was stunning and very enjoyable.
Now our great bus journet through thew Andes to Santago Chile.
Thankfully the bus was quiet so we could keep changing sides to view the changing climate and terrain.
It's the highest border crossing in the suthern hemisphere as the snow told us and once through to Chile there was a winding roaD WITH ABOUT 21 360DEGREE bends in it. It was like a scalextrix track - Amazing
We managed only 24Hrs in Santiago and until we did the city tour we would have both said this was enough but seeing the city as a whole we realised how nice it was. I thibk perhaps the riot police with their water cannons parked down the road from our hostel because of demonstrating students didn't help our view at 1st!
It seems Pinochet took away all their funding and thewre's problemsa ever since, we've seen alot of trouble on the news since being in Sth America re-students, but you have to feel for them amd their cause.

Onto NZ