HIGHLIGHT SEASON 2010/11

Darwin, Textiles, Ice and Wildlife

Especially designed custom trips make a “whale” of a season for Carol and me.
Enjoyable, diverse, thematic, intense, and rewarding -not only for us or our travelers-

but for all the people who gave us their services, hospitality and knowledge at every place we visit…

And believe me; some were far beyond of the beaten path.

Enjoy our photographic report.

Weaving Andean Stories (October 15-30, 2010)
Tracing Argentina's Cultural Heritage and Textiles
 

Learning from mapuche artisans in Gualjaina - Patagonia

Local mapuche artisan

Piedra Parada - Patagonian steppe

A genuine vicuña scarf must pass through a ring Jujuy Northwest Argentina

Landscape at Quebrada de Humahuaca - Jujuy Northwest Argentina

Mapuche designs - Patagonia

Cloud Ridge Director learning textile techniques

  The textile group enjoying pristine landscapes

 
2011 Tours - OCTOBER 21st to NOVEMBER 4th - Small group departure, limited space still available
NOVEMBER 13th to NOVEMBER 27th Cloud Ridge Naturalist Private Tour

Enjoy and learn with Carol and native artisans from NorthWest and SouthWest Argentina our rich cultural heritage!
 
(Next -Darwin Footstepes I)

Walking with Whales II

Hearing the whales

“Long time ago I read, in an article from an old natural history magazine, that Inuits –in the Arctic- have a place were they go “to hear the whales…” Seated on the pebble beach -located only a few kilometers from the city of Puerto Madryn, in Patagonia- I remembered that article and smiled grateful. The Southern Right Whales swim in front of me only a few meters from the coast. I can see their evolutions, their behavior, hear their voices and –also occasionally- smell their breath…”

(From Dinosaurios “Relatos y Sueños de un Guardafauna by Carlos A. Passera)

Last year I wrote in this blog a post called “Walking with Whales”. Again I feel the need to share a bit of that incredible experience of being so intimate with the whales. Nothing, photos or descriptions, can explain the privilege of that incomparable rendezvous with them. But let me try again. Since April to end of October we go almost every day to the beach called El Doradillo –distant only 17 kilometers from the city of Puerto Madryn- to enjoy the gentle giants: the Southern Right Whales. Year after year the feelings are the same: astonishment, fascination, harmony and gratitude… Even though we are enormouslly privileged to rise every morning and see the whales through the window of our home in the city, and spy them at any time during the day on our way to the bank or doing shopping or driving to work, going to El Doradillo is a balsam.

Not one or two whales living freely their lives, no, dozens of them pass by in front of the people, no further than 5 to 10 meters from the shore. Nursing their calves, mating, breaching, lob tailing, doing –not more and surely not less- than living their own life.

Enjoy the photographs.
Carlos & Carol Passera Photos: Carlos & Carol Whale season at Peninsula Valdes: End of April to end of November; At El Doradillo area and from Puerto Madryn waterfront end of April to end of September.