Early in the morning we were picked up by a bus which brought us to the National Park 'Los Glaciares', where the famous Perino Moreno glacier lies rocksolid, glistening and fascinating.
It's the only glacier in the world that is increasing in size and not deteriorating.
You can't actually imagine the size and impact of it, until you're right in front of it and view it from different platforms and angles.
Perino Moreno is the world's third largest glacier. The part above the water surface is comparable to the height of a 65-storeyed building, but you have to keep in mind that the biggest part (2/3 of the entire glacier) is beneath the water surface!
We were absolutely stunned, and even witnessed a few bits and pieces (which is a big understatement) falling off with big thunder-like sounds, resulting in almost tsunami like waves in the Lago Argentino around it.
Next we took a boat to the other side, to the north face of the glacier.
After a brief stop in a shelter in order to warm up and to leave all unnecessary luggage (like e.g. water bottles, as you can drink the water from the glacier itself), together with our guide and a small group, we made our way to the glacier.
Fitted with our own 'crampons', which are metal, spiked devices fastened to your shoes, we climbed the glacier. Crampons are certainly less glamorous than high heels but a good deal more practical for ice!
Actually walking a glacier was of course amazing and unique. For security reasons, the small hiking group always has to walk one after the other and is constantly accompanied by two expert guides who explain the particularities of the ice, the glacier and various specific features. They also check for hidden crevices that might collapse under foot.
The icing on the cake (no pun intended....) was when we stopped at a cute wooden table in the middle of the glacier to have 'Whiskey on the rocks' - as literal as you could possibly have it: everybody got a glass of Whiskey from the bottles on the table, which was then filled up with fresh ice cubes from the glacier.
This was of course - especially for John - a most unique and 'spiritual' experience...