Christmas at Franz Joseph Glacier

The glacier can be seen from the town, if it is not hiding behind the clouds.

On Christmas eve, we went for a walk in the forest at night. The information was, that you could see glow worms at night on this path. And glow worms we did see ! I just can't get them with my little camera and my little photographic skills, so you just get a picture of the path...

Coming back to the hostel, I found my dorm filled with candle light. Mili and Fabian were having a little private Christmas party and I got invited. This was my first Christmas with cherries on the menu ! And I got my only Christmas present this year: a little bag of salt ! Always handy, when you travel !

Fabian making English breakfast for his girl friend Mili. As I was there, I got a treat too. Thank you !!

On chistmas day, I wanted to do something, but most of the activities were not open. So I arranged with a local kayak guide to get out on a lake: Lake Mapourica (or something similar..). With a newlywed Indian couple, we went on the other side of the lake and into a small river. The water was still and reflections were great... just the sun was missing.

... on the little river...

...more impressions...

...upside down??

The next day, I went on the Franz Joseph Glacier. Of course with a tour, you are not allowed without and I don't have the gear anyway.

Just the proof that I have been on the glacier !

The rain from the days before Christmas has washed the glacier clean... can you see it ??

And this is where the glacier ha been a hundred years ago: all this was full of ice then !

You remember the blue penguins from the Catlins? On the glacier, I found a different species...

Ice hole

Walking through this was always with the same foot in front...

...more penguins...

Scale is getting lost: this was only about 40cm wide...

jfff