The next day we went out on horseback. We went slowly with our guide, and gradually climbed the hills in back of the Estancia up to some amazing views. We could actually see the Perito Moreno Glacier from where we went to. The country that we were riding in was amazingly beautiful and exactly as you would picture the classic horseback ride.

Niyati in front of the horses Gautam on his horse Riding towards the hills Niyu at the top with the guide Niyu and the view Niyu at the top of the hill The view from the top In the valley Gautam and his horse

After lunch, we headed out to see the sheep being sheared. They are only really sheared once a year for about 2 weeks, so we were lucky to be there at the right time. The whole process is exactly as it was done in 1910. Same razors even. The workers can shear a sheep in 3 minutes, less if they didn't have to do it for 10 hours a day. They are paid by how many sheep they can shear.

Shearing the sheep Shearing the sheep Shearing the sheep Sheep Sheep Us and the sheep Sheep Sheep Operator of the machine which runs the razors A child sitting on the sheep Sheep waiting to be sheared

In the evening, we took a flight to Buenos Aires, where we overnighted before our flight to Trelew, near Peninsula Valdez. Peninsula Valdez is a protected area where wildlife thrives, and the main attractions are the Southern Right Whales that migrate here, the Elephant Seals, the Sea Lions, and the massive Penguin Colony, as well as the Orcas that are known to actually beach themselves to catch baby sealions straight off the beach.

Our first point of business was to go see the Magellenic Penguins at Punta Tombo. The colony here is 500,000 strong, and you had to be careful not to accidentally step on any of them. All the penguin couples had just had their babies about 1 month ago, so one parent was always guarding the nest while the other fed. The nests were in burroughs in the dirt, and if you were in a high rent district, this burrough was covered by a bush. If you were in the slums, it was just a lot of holes in the ground with no cover and a long way from the Ocean.

Penguin and babies Penguin and baby The Penguin Highway to the Ocean Penguin at nest Penguin Penguin Penguin Penguin Penguin Penguin Penguin Penguin Penguin entering water Penguins in water Penguins at the beach Penguin Public Housing Penguin Public Housing Penguin contemplating

Watch a video of a penguin cruising the penguin highway

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