StephenDMalone

 Nov. 30 - Dec 2, 2025 Things are coming fast and furious and I am getting behind with documentation.  Where was I?  Finally we were to do some hiking.  There are lots of warnings by our guides (Jorge and Paco (local guides) about  being prepared.  Be ready for anything.  Have many layers, including water proof everything.  Warn warn warn.  I don’t know if this is normal for OAT or these warnings are because of a terrible accident that happened here about 10 days ago when a group of “O” hikers were caught is a REALLY terrible storm and 5 died from hypothermia.  In any case we were prepared.  But, as can happen the hike was a piece of cake in wonderful warm weather with little wind.  The trail was almost a super highway with lots of other tourists, little elevation change and only a little over 3 km one way.  However it was interesting and beautiful in many different ways.  I don’t like walking/hiking in a big group an...

Nov 28 -  Nov. 30, 2025 It took a while to get here but so far what a place.  We have been advised over and over by our guide, local guides and even friends from home to be ready for strong winds, rain, mist, clouds, cold…. Uhmm we arrived in weather and scenery that could have been an extension of Las Vegas trip; why bother with all this travel.  Nothing but blue skies, bright sun and terrain that could be easily anywhere east of the Sierras greeted us on our arrival from the four hour flight from Buenos Airas.  AND it was in economy class, whine whine. From near El Calefate looking west A short bus ride from the airport and a quick check-in to the lovely hotel here in Calefate and we were off for another home hosted dinner in a lovely ranch-type house on the edge of town.  Our host, Gabo was a self taught cook who moved here 20+ years ago with his kids to get away from the rat race of the big city.  The meal was a hearty down-home sort of vegetable soup f...

 Heading South.  Nov. 24 - 28, 2025. The trip. .   I was up at 4am. Having everything packed the night before there was just getting dressed. The Uber was early so got to the airport just before 5am. There were no lines to check one bag (carry-on size) or for security.   I am a little embarrassed to say that I am flying business class. I have never bought such an expensive ticket before.  My daughter say I should spend their inheritance and after my super cheap but very unpleasant return flight from Morocco a year ago it was time to splurge. Lyn swears by business class for long overnights so here goes.  However, I am not sure all the perks were worth it for the first leg to Huston.  One gets to board first. But, why add another 1/2 hour to sitting on the plane.   I waited until boarding was half done before joining the crowd and was told I should have boarded earlier….. right. The seats are almost too big with so much leg room it is hard to get m...

  A three week trip to the far south of Chile and Argentina Nov. 22, 2025 I am torn if I should try to write up a travel blog as I have done in the past.  When I have time I enjoy trying to keep a record of where I went, what I did and how things went. I find it useful to have the record of such when looking back.  But, it does take time and without Linda, my muse and editor I feel my writing is lacking something it may have had in the past.  Never-the-less here goes.                                                   Background:   In the fall of 2023 I spent a week in Hawaii with my good friend Lyn Savage.  Lyn’s husband, Woody (who was one of my two best friends in the world) had just died and Linda’s death, while over a year earlier, was still very much with me.  The week was one of lots of recounting o...