Day 28 Oct 31 2026 El Calafate to Ushuaia Argentina

This is our last day in El Calafate, and we only had a few hours before our flight. We went for a walk to the museum, which showcased local history, some of it older than other. We returned to the hostelería, where the owner, who also served as our taxi driver, took us to the airport for our flight to Ushuaia. Upon arriving in Ushuaia, we began planning what to do the next day. We were very fortunate to get in touch with the taxi driver who had transported us from the airport to our hotel. He offered to take us to the train and drive us around the park. We arranged the taxi at 11 PM and were picked up the next morning at 8:30 AM.

EL CALAFATE HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION CENTER

A COUPLE OF DINOSAURS

HOPE IT IS NOT HUNGRY

Day 27 Oct 30 2026 El Calafate Argentina

We took a tour to the Glaciar Perito Moreno which is about 80 km from El Calafate.  Even though we are traveling outside of Canada to avoid the snow and cold, it was very interesting and beautiful to see the mountains and the glacier.  We were lucky enough to see some fairly large ice burgs get calved. 

VIEW OF AN ICEBERG FROM THE BOAT

A VERY GOOD PLACE TO WATCH THE GLACIER CALVE ICEBURGS

WHERE ARE WE?

GLACIAR PERITO MORENO

LOOK, MORE ICE

VIEW OF AN ICEBERG 

Day 26 Oct 29 2026 El Calafate Argentina

We took a tour the the La Leona Petrified Forest about 120 KM from El Calafate, it is a very cool, amazing landscape, I have seen nothing like it in the past.  We saw lots of guanacos, both dead and alive. The majority of the dead ones were from winter kill with a fair number of unfortunate ones that died caught in fencing.

 I LIKE THESE SIGNS

BEAUTIFUL RUGGED LANDSCAPE

ONE OF THE MANY PETRIFIED LOGS

EVY PLAYING PALEOBOTANIST

LA LEONA PETRIFIED FOREST

KIND OF FEELS LIKE SITTING ON A ROCK

LUCKY TO HAVE A FANTASTIC HUSBAND WHO LIKES TO TRAVEL

THE GREETER AT THE RESTAURANT, WE HAD TO STEP AROUND HIM TO GET IN

Day 25 Oct 28 2026 Buenos Aires to El Calafate Argentina

Our flight departed Buenos Aires in the very early morning, arriving in El Calafate at 8:30 a.m. We spent the next four hours walking around, exploring the town and visiting the bird park. After such an early start and long days of travel, we turned in early that night.

OBSERVATION PLATFORM IN THE BIRD SANCTUARY

OUR FIRST STOP IN EL CALAFATE AS IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO OUR HOSTELERIA

A PHOTO TO CAPTURE THE SCENERY OF THE PLACE

EL CALAFATE IS ON LAKE ARGENTINO

Day 24 Oct 27 2026 Buenos Aires

We arrived at our hotel around 3:30 a.m. and caught a few hours of much-needed sleep. The room was clean and the location was excellent, but it was quite small, leaving no room to keep our luggage open.

Once we had rested, we went out for brunch, visited the Arms Museum, explored the city on a hop-on hop-off bus tour, and finished the day with a tango show. Afterward, we returned to the hotel for a solid three-hour nap as we have to be at the for 2:30 am. With another busy day ahead, tomorrow promises to be a long one.

I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE NEEDLESSLY KILLED WITH THESE GUNS

THE MUSEUM OF ARMS OF THE NATION IN BUENOS AIRES

OUTSIDE THE TANGO SHOW

Day 23 Oct 26 2026 Cancun Mexico to Medellin Columbia to Buenos Aires Agentina

Today was another day spent flying. We left Cancun around noon and arrived in Buenos Aires at about 3:30 a.m. on the 27th, ready to begin the next leg of our journey and get some sleep.

HEADING TO THE GATE IN MEDELLIN FOR THE FLIGHT TO EL CALAFATE

Day 22 Oct 25 2026 Merida to Cancun Mexico

Today was a transit day as we made our way to the Cancun airport. Before leaving, we stopped at a laundromat to wash our clothes. We then set off for Cancun, making a stop in Valladolid along the way. While there, we visited Choco-Story, browsed the artisan market, and spent some time walking around the town square.

After checking into our hotel in Cancun, we headed out for tacos. The drive was quite an experience, as heavy rain severely reduced visibility and traffic was heavy.  At times, Evy could barely see the road, making for a difficult drive.                                                                                 

TACOS IN CANCUN

Day 21 Oct 24 2026 Merida Mexico

Today we traveled to the town of Cuzamá, where we took a horse-drawn ride on a "truck," a small rail buggy pulled along tracks that date back more than 200 years to the henequen hacienda era. The journey was about 9 km each way and included stops at three different cenotes.

All three cenotes were beautiful, but the last one was absolutely stunning. It was located within a small cave system, with the cenote hidden inside, creating a truly unique and breathtaking setting.

Visiting cenotes in the Yucatán Peninsula is one of my favorite activities in the region. Exploring the less touristy cenotes is almost always an adventure. Safety standards are often not a top priority, but the experience and natural beauty make it well worth it.

ENTRANCE TO THE CENOTE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TREE ROOTS

THERE GOES EVY

ON THE WAY TO THE WATER

THE SWIMMING HOLE IN THE CAVE

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THE SAFETY CAGE GOES ALMOST TO A SAFE HEIGHT FROM THE BOTTOM

Day 20 Oct 23 2026 Merida Mexico

We picked up Evy's uncle and headed to Celestún to see the flamingos. While the massive flocks that gather later in the year were not there, we were still able to see plenty of them.

We have visited Celestún several times in the past, but this was probably our best visit yet. We were fortunate to see many other species of birds, as well as several crocodiles.

Shortly after purchasing our tickets, a heavy rainstorm moved in. Fortunately, the boat operator waited for the rain to let up before starting the tour. Once the weather improved, we were able to enjoy a very pleasant trip through the mangroves and surrounding waterways.

After the tour, we had dinner at an oceanside restaurant before returning to Mérida. In the evening, we went for a walk and ended up at a bar called Mercado 60, where we enjoyed a few drinks while listening to live music.

CRUSING AROUND CELESTUN WITH EVY AND HER UNCLE ERNESTO

SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THE FLAMINGOS NOT THE CAMERA

WHY NOT

LUNCH IN CELESTUN

ENJOYING A DRINK AT MERCADO 60 IN MERIDA

Day 19 Oct 22 2026 Merida Mexico

We started the day by picking up Evy's uncle, Ernesto, and heading to Progreso, where we enjoyed lunch at our favorite seafood restaurant, Eladios. One of the highlights of dining there is the botanas they serve before the main meal arrives. 

After lunch, we took a drive along the coast and stopped in Uaymitún to see the flamingos. From there, we continued on to Xcambó to explore the ancient Mayan pyramid and archaeological site.

In the evening, we returned to downtown Mérida for a walk around the city center. We finished the day by enjoying marquesitas and sorbete, two of my staple food items when in Merida.

THE OBSERVATION TOWER AT UAYMITUN, WONDER HOW LONG TILL THE STAIRS FALL

XCAMBO

IN THE CENTER SQUARE OF MERIDA

UAYMITUN MEXICO

IN PROGRESSO WITH THE LONGEST PIER IN THE WORLD IN THE BACKGROUND

Day 18 Oct 21 2026 Merida Mexico

This was our first full day in Mérida. We started the morning by meeting Ernesto for breakfast. Afterward, we visited Dzibilchaltún. The last time I was there, visitors were still allowed to climb the pyramids and swim in the cenote. Those days are gone. The Mexican government had to crack down because a small number of tourists were either ignorant, stupid, or both, and were damaging the ruins. As usual, a few people ruined it for everyone else.

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at La Gran Plaza and then visited a beauty salon because Evy had decided it was time to take care of her "hairy legs."

In the evening, we headed downtown for a walk around the historic center of Mérida. We finished the day with marquesitas and sorbete, two of our favorite local treats, before calling it a night.

YEP, WE ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE!

THE DOLL HOUSE IN THE BACKGROUND

SIGN IN THE TOWN (CITY) SQUARE

BECAUSE ONE SIGN PICTURE WAS NOT ENOUGH

Day 17 Oct 20 2026 Toronto to Cancun to Merida

This marks the beginning of the international portion of our sabbatical year of travel. Today, we flew from Toronto, Ontario, to Cancún, Mexico, where we picked up our rental car at the airport.

We then spent far too long sitting in traffic while looking for a restaurant. We eventually ended up at a buffet that Evy and my daughter had visited in June 2025.

After lunch, we hit the autopista and headed toward Mérida. The drive was easy and quick, making for a nice start to our time in Mexico.

That evening, we went for a walk and treated ourselves to gorditas and sorbete, a perfect way to end the first day of our adventure and kick off a year of travel outside Canada.

WAITING FOR THE SHUTTLE TO THE RENTAL CAR

Day 16 Oct 19 2026 Kincardine to Toronto Ontario

We left home in the late afternoon and stopped for dinner at a Thai restaurant in Orangeville, Ontario. After supper, we continued toward our hotel near the airport.

My son, David, served as our chauffeur for the evening. He dropped us off at the hotel before making the drive back to Kincardine.

With an early flight ahead of us, we turned in for the night so we would be in good shape for the flight to Cancun and the drive to Merida.   It was kind of an exciting day as we are actually starting to travel.

Day 15 Oct 18 2026 Kincardine Ontario

This was a day of getting last minute things for the trip, packing and a few jobs around the house.

Day 14 Oct 17 2026 Kincardine Ontario

Today was getting the cars ready for winter.  I changed to winter tires on the pickup, crv and van.  

Day 13 Oct 16 2026 Wawa to Kincardine Ontario

Today we traveled from Wawa back to Kincardine. Unfortunately, our day included a minor fender bender in Sault Ste. Marie. Fortunately, no one was injured and the truck remained fully drivable, although the damage was estimated at about $10,500 and was entirely cosmetic.

David and Isabel, who were driving the van behind us, turned around and came back to make sure we were okay. 

We spotted three moose, including a cow and two calves, about half a kilometer from the location where we had seen a large bull moose on our trip to Kenora.