La Leona and Sunsets at 11:00 p.m.! Yes, we are at the bottom of the world!

Believe it or not, they actually DO have internet at Helsingfors. You can't always count on accuracy of information in Argentina. It's actually quite surprising since we are literally in the middle of nowhere, yet simultaneously in one of the most beautiful locations I have ever been in.

















We left BA early Monday morning and then a 3 hour flight to El Calafate. From El Calafate, it was then a 3 hour drive to Helsingfors Ranch, but we had a very delightful guide, Natalia and our driver Juan.






We stopped in La Leona Ranch for lunch - yes, Empanadas once again, this time with a lovely glass of Malbec. It wouldn't be a day in Patagonia without Empanadas! A bit of trivia about Le Leona Ranch is that Butch Cassidy, Sundance Kid and his wife hid out there for a month.

When we reached Helsingfors, our guide Diego greeted us and showed us to our gorgeous room. Not a phone or a TV in site! It is a little primitive but very easy to disconnect from the "real world". We walked around a bit, Carl took some photos and then we sat in the Lodge Living room by the fire visiting with some German tourists. They are doing 4 WEEKS in Patagonia!

Dinner is served any time after 8:00 and we headed into the dining room about 8:30. Then about 8:45, after appetizer, but before main course, Carl gets up and excuses himself saying "I will be right back". Now, understand that I have been watching him for the past fifteen minutes staring out the window and watching what the sun is doing on the mountains. Knowing that he wants to go shooting. Well, the entrees show up, I SLOWLY eat mine, still no Carl, our Server Lupe asks me if I want her to take his plate and keep in warm, yes. I finish my meal, still no Carl. 45 MINUTES later there he is, rushing in, only to get his plate of chicken, wolf it down and head out again.

I must admit that the opportunities were too hard to resist, but, let's just say we came to an agreement, via a "conversation" that in the future, he would be a bit more considerate about leaving me stranded by myself at dinner. The thing is, the sun doesn't set here until about 11:oo, so sunset pictures are quite late.

We just finished a morning Zodiak boat ride on the Viedma Lake and the Moyano arm of the lake which took us very close the a Glacier. We had the MOST beautiful weather. No wind, which is unheard of, not a cloud in the sky. Even the guides were shocked. Said they never get this type of weather. Our German friends have waited three days for the weather to improve so they could go out on the lake. They said it is "honeymoon weather"!

Well, it is off to our Asado (BBQ) lunch and then a hiking adventure this afternoon. More later!

We hike to Laguna Azul (Blue Lagoon) tomorrow!

Ciao!